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China consulting services

Foreign investors entering or scaling in China face transaction, governance, and regulatory decisions that cut across legal structure, finance, HR, and licensing, often under time pressure from partners, boards, or acquisition timelines.

Consulting support should clarify what to verify before you sign, how to restructure operations without breaking compliance continuity, and how to protect IP and market access as rules evolve.

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Consulting capabilities

Due diligence

Due diligence covers corporate, financial, tax, and operational review of Chinese targets, partners, and suppliers, validating AMR registration, licence scope, litigation, and accounting records before you commit.

We support buy-side and sell-side mandates, JV entry reviews, and ongoing partner monitoring so red flags surface in structured reports rather than post-closing disputes.

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Best for

  • Acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships in China
  • Pre-investment review of distributors, manufacturers, or franchisees
  • Periodic supplier audits for import-export and supply chain programmes

Key considerations

  • Public registry data alone rarely confirms operational licence scope
  • Financial records should be read alongside tax filing and social insurance status

Company restructuring

Restructuring addresses legal entity design, operating footprint, supply chain alignment, and HR models, sequenced so approvals, filings, and business continuity stay coordinated.

We help foreign-invested groups diagnose cost and control gaps, define target-state structures, and govern implementation across finance, tax, and HR workstreams.

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Best for

  • Groups consolidating multiple China entities or branch networks
  • Companies exiting unprofitable structures or preparing for sale
  • Post-merger integration requiring entity and payroll harmonisation

Key considerations

  • Restructuring triggers tax, AMR, and SAFE filings that must be sequenced
  • Employee transfer rules affect social insurance continuity

Mergers and acquisitions

China M&A requires navigating approval regimes, valuation norms, deal structuring, and post-closing integration, with different playbooks for domestic and cross-border counterparties.

Acadia supports buy-side execution, sell-side preparation, management buyouts, and board-level integration planning alongside your legal and financial advisers.

View M&A advisory

Best for

  • Foreign strategics acquiring or divesting China operations
  • Private equity carve-outs and platform builds in Greater China
  • Sino-foreign JV restructurings and shareholder realignments

Key considerations

  • Asset vs share deals carry different tax and licence transfer implications
  • MOFCOM and sector regulators may apply beyond standard AMR filings

Supply chain consulting

Supply chain consulting covers sourcing strategy, de-risking, compliance alignment, and financial control across China-based operations, from vendor qualification to ERP and bookkeeping integration.

We help manufacturers and distributors localise operations, manage FSCM reporting, and align HR outsourcing or EOR models with logistics and production footprints.

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Best for

  • Companies shifting production or sourcing within China
  • Brands building distributor networks with compliance guardrails
  • Groups needing finance and tax control across multiple supply chain entities

Key considerations

  • Supplier verification should precede large purchase commitments
  • Cross-border payment flows require SAFE and tax alignment

China trademark registration

China follows a first-to-file trademark system. Brand owners must register early in relevant Nice classes, including Chinese-language marks, to prevent squatting and enforcement gaps.

Acadia supports search, application, opposition monitoring, renewal, and coordination with administrative and judicial enforcement pathways.

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Best for

  • Foreign brands entering China e-commerce or retail channels
  • Companies launching Chinese brand names alongside English marks
  • Rights holders responding to infringement or parallel imports

Key considerations

  • Registration in home markets does not protect marks in China
  • Class selection affects enforcement scope across product lines

Internal restructuring

Internal restructuring aligns legal entities, systems, HR, and operating models inside China, without necessarily changing external ownership, to improve margins, control, and compliance.

We diagnose friction between departments, map filing and approval dependencies, and support implementation so finance, tax, and HR stay synchronized.

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Best for

  • WFOEs outgrowing initial scope, headcount, or city footprint
  • Companies separating trading, manufacturing, and service functions
  • Groups preparing operations for new investors or regional HQ governance

Key considerations

  • Business scope on the licence must match restructured activities
  • Intercompany agreements may trigger transfer pricing documentation

Government affairs

Government affairs helps foreign businesses navigate regulatory change, local authority relationships, incentive programmes, and licensing follow-up across central and sub-national levels.

Structured GA support reduces friction when approvals stall, policies shift, or multi-agency coordination is required for sector-specific investments.

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Best for

  • Policy-sensitive sectors requiring ongoing regulator engagement
  • Investments relying on local incentives or development zone benefits
  • Companies managing licence renewals and inspection readiness

Key considerations

  • Incentive eligibility should be validated against current FDI rules
  • Local implementation of national policy varies by district

China company verification

Company verification confirms that a Chinese counterparty exists, is properly registered, and is authorised for the business scope claimed, before contracts are signed or payments sent.

We retrieve and interpret AIC registration records, licence details, and related filings to help you assess fraud risk and supplier legitimacy.

View company verification

Best for

  • First-time sourcing from unknown Chinese manufacturers or traders
  • Due diligence on distributors, agents, or JV partners
  • Ongoing vendor monitoring in high-value supply chains

Key considerations

  • Business licence copies can be forged. Registry verification is essential
  • Scope on the licence may not cover the activity being proposed

Franchising in China

Franchise expansion in China requires compliance with the Commercial Franchise Administration Regulation: franchisor qualifications, disclosure, filing, and contract terms that survive local enforcement.

We support foreign brands on market entry structure, master franchise design, regulatory filings, and rollout sequencing alongside your legal counsel.

View franchising in China

Best for

  • International F&B, retail, and service brands entering China via franchise
  • Franchisors evaluating master franchise vs direct investment models
  • Brands updating disclosure and filing after regulatory changes

Key considerations

  • Two direct-owned outlets and mature operating history are typically required
  • Chinese-language disclosure and filing timelines are strictly enforced

Discuss your China consulting requirements

Share your transaction, restructuring, or market entry context, and we will outline scope and how our team can support.

Request consultation