China Inbound Legal Guides · Business & Contract
China legal decision desk
Business & Contract
China contracts fail on authority and execution as often as on price. Map counterparty, chops, language and remedy before performance starts.
gates mapped before the next move
BUSINESS & CONTRACT
COUNTERPARTIES & AUTHORITY · CHOPS & CONTROL · BILINGUAL DRAFTING · E-SIGNATURES & EXECUTION · PERFORMANCE, BREACH & EVIDENCE
Use a clock only when a contractual notice or limitation period actually changes the next action.
Decision desk / 01
Where is the
pressure point?
Matter statusCLASSIFY FIRSTConfirm the current route
Counterparties & authority
Identify the legal person and signing authority before negotiating price.
Open routeChops & control
Map which chop is required and who holds it before treating a stamp as a contract.
Open routeBilingual drafting
Decide language, prevailing text and the risk clauses before circulating a bilingual pack.
Open routeE-signatures & execution
Match the execution method to whether a China court or bank will need to rely on it.
Open routePerformance, breach & evidence
Name the live performance issue and preserve the file before rewriting the contract.
Open routeSituation-based routes
Start where
the matter is.
10 bounded routes turn a broad concern into the next useful question.
Counterparties & authority
Who the other party is, and who may bind it — before the first draft.
Open route 02ChopChops & control
Company chops, custody and the acts that look signed but may not bind.
Open route 03DraftBilingual drafting
Chinese/English texts, prevailing language and the clauses that fail in translation.
Open route 04ExecuteE-signatures & execution
When an electronic signature or scan is enough, and when a chop is still the file.
Open route 05PerformPerformance, breach & evidence
Delivery, payment, deposits and the record that supports a later remedy.
Open route 06ForumDispute clauses & forum
Governing law, court or arbitration — then hand off to the disputes hub.
Open route 07Commercial franchiseCommercial franchise
China commercial-franchise registration/disclosure, franchise contracts and operating compliance.
Open route 08E-commerce & platform operationsE-commerce & platform operations
E-commerce operator duties, platform terms, seller relationships, consumer and data interfaces.
Open route 09Powers of attorney & authenticationPowers of attorney & authentication
Drafting, scope, notarisation/authentication and cross-border use of powers of attorney.
Open route 10SME & general business operationsSME & general business operations
Day-to-day legal operations for SMEs, recurring contracts, governance, compliance and dispute-prevention handoffs.
Open routeDecision shortcuts
Already know
the issue?
Jump to the narrow question changing your next move.
Quick answers
Orient first.
Then go deeper.
Short explainers for recurring questions beneath this practice route.
Editorial & legal review
Research with
professional boundaries.
Route logic and substantive content require review when current rules change.
No lawyer is presented as the legal reviewer until an appropriately qualified specialist is assigned.
This hub routes research; it does not provide legal advice or promise regulatory clearance.
Editorial policyCounsel hand-off
Need contract counsel?
This hub organises parties, chops, drafting and performance. It does not create a binding contract or decide a breach on your facts.