UB China – China Lawyers: legal advice for doing business with China
UB China is the China practice of Ubilla & Cía. For more than 20 years we have advised Latin American, Spanish and North American companies that buy, sell or invest in China, and Chinese investors coming to Chile and Latin America.
Our team combines Chilean lawyers and lawyers licensed in Shanghai, working in English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese, so every contract, trademark and dispute reads the same in both countries.
Why UB China
- 20 years in China: commercial and investment transactions in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
- Offices in Santiago and Shanghai: a team that knows Chilean and Chinese law from the inside.
- Chambers and Partners recognition: Jaime Ubilla and Shi Wen are listed as Notable Practitioners for their China work.
- Long-term relationships with Chinese state-owned and private companies, financial institutions and government agencies.
Our China practice areas
China due diligenceWe verify that your Chinese supplier or partner exists, holds its licences and can sign. Through China Legal Check. Read more →
China trademark registration and IPChina is first-to-file. We register your trademark before someone else does and act against copies. Read more →
China contractsSupply, distribution, OEM, licensing and NNN agreements drafted to be enforceable in China. Read more →
China litigation and arbitrationDebt collection, breach of contract, CIETAC arbitration and enforcement of judgments. Read more →
Setting up a company in ChinaWFOE, joint venture or representative office, with tax planning. Read more →
Chinese investment in ChileCompanies, subsidiaries, joint ventures and corporate governance for Chinese investors. Read more →
China M&A, private equity and venture capitalDue diligence and multi-jurisdiction structures.
China compliance and risksData protection (PIPL), anti-bribery, antitrust, customs and export controls.
China Legal Check: verify before you pay
Before you wire a deposit or sign with a Chinese counterparty, check that it exists and can perform. China Legal Check delivers legal verifications signed in China on your counterparty’s existence, licences and legitimacy.
Who we work for
- Companies buying from or selling to China: importers, retailers, agricultural and mining exporters, and SMEs sourcing suppliers.
- Chinese investors in Chile and Latin America: incorporation, acquisitions, contracts and dealings with authorities.
- Investors and funds: M&A, private equity and venture capital deals with a Chinese element.
We have worked with companies such as Falabella, Walmart, Casa Ideas, Unimarc, Cruz Verde, Anasac, Fruna, Multi X and WSL on their business with China and Asia-Pacific.
Ten risks of doing business in China
Summary of the annex to our guide Doing Business in China (2026):
- Fast-changing rules, applied differently in each province.
- Cross-border data transfers: fines up to RMB 50 million or 5% of annual turnover.
- Registered capital must be paid within five years; older companies by June 30, 2027.
- Closing a deal before antitrust clearance (gun-jumping): fines up to 10% of group turnover.
- Personal liability of the legal representative.
- Trademarks and patents: first to file wins.
- Simplified deregistration: shareholders remain liable for undisclosed debts.
- Commercial bribery in healthcare, pharma and dealings with officials.
- Falsified environmental monitoring data: criminal liability.
- Invalid arbitration clauses: “arbitration in Shanghai” without naming an institution may void the clause.
The UB China team
Track record
- Offices in Santiago and Shanghai.
- Participation in the First China–Latin America Law and Business Summit.
- Columns in El Mercurio Legal on legal contingencies in Chile–China trade.
Free guide: Doing Business in China (2026)
51 pages on the legal system, foreign investment, tax, employment, environment, IP, trade, disputes, data, antitrust and anti-bribery, with 10 key risks and 10 compliance priorities. Coming soon as a free download when you subscribe to our newsletter.
FAQ
Can I register my trademark in China from abroad?
Yes. Do it before you sell or manufacture there, because China protects whoever files first, and include a Chinese-character version of your mark.
How do I know a Chinese supplier is real?
With a legal check of official Chinese registries, such as China Legal Check.
Can I collect a debt from a Chinese company?
Yes, through negotiation, arbitration or the courts; your contract and dispute clause decide how fast.
What is a WFOE?
A wholly foreign-owned enterprise in China, the most common vehicle for foreign investors.
Can a Chinese company set up a company in Chile?
Yes. A foreign company can incorporate a company or a branch in Chile. It needs a tax ID (RUT) from the Chilean tax authority and a representative in Chile. We advise on the best vehicle.
Do you work in Chinese?
Yes: Chinese, English, Spanish and Japanese.
Contact
Santiago: Gertrudis Echeñique 275 F, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile.
Shanghai: 11F, Tower B, Central Towers, No. 567 Lan Gao Road, Putuo District, Shanghai, China.