China Business 中国商务

For decades, Holmes has successfully worked with multinational companies regarding their business activities and operations in Ireland.   Our China unit has the experience and expertise to service Chinese clients who wish to invest and/or establish their business here. Our solicitors have extensive international experience, including a Solicitor qualified in Hong Kong SAR and proficient in Chinese, and can provide clients from China and the wider Asia region with legal assistance and advice on all matters relevant to Ireland.

Ireland has long been an attractive destination for international business and foreign investment. We are home to the European, regional or international headquarters of numerous tech, aviation and pharmaceutical multinational companies.

According to 2024 estimates, there are now over 40 Chinese companies operating in Ireland, with the likes of Huawei, WuXi Biologics, TikTok, Temu and Shein having set up their European headquarters here. Further, the Irish Development Agency, Ireland’s agency in charge of foreign investment, operates offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, tasked with attracting Chinese business and investment into Ireland.

Why Ireland?

Ireland provides many advantages and benefits to businesses and individuals looking to operate and invest in the European and wider global markets.

Ireland has a low corporation tax rate and a legal system similar to England & Wales, as well as being the only English-speaking country in the European Union. Geographically, Ireland is located between the US and the UK and European Union, which has lent itself to being a prime location for conducting business between these two regions.

Many multinational companies have set up their European regional or even global headquarters in Ireland, including the big US tech companies of Google, Meta, Apple and Microsoft, and financial services firms such as JP Morgan, CitiBank, Zurich Insurance and Accenture. This has resulted in a booming business-friendly tech-savvy climate that only looks to increase in the coming years.

Irish and Chinese relations

Ireland and China have had strong foreign relations since 1979. Direct investment from China into Ireland reached €9.2 billion in 2021 and created over 5,000 jobs, a significant increase from €8.3 billion just the previous year in 2020. Similarly, bilateral trade volume between the two countries has been increasing year-on-year and hit new records from €3.7 billion in 2014 to €25.3 billion in 2022. China is now Ireland’s fourth largest trade partner, fifth largest goods export market, and seventh largest service export market.

China has firmly established itself as Ireland’s largest trading partner in the Asia Pacific region and shows signs of continued and fast growth.

On a cultural level, Ireland has a growing Chinese population, with over 60,000 people living on the island, and continues to be keen to strengthen its ties to China and the Chinese diaspora, including hosting numerous summits and events for Irish and Chinese businesses, as well as celebrating Lunar New Year in Dublin since 2008.

How can we help?

We are a full-service law firm based in Dublin, Cork and Limerick, three of the major cities in Ireland, with 42 qualified Solicitors. We provide clients with assistance, support and advice across a range of services, including Corporate & Commercial, Banking & Finance, Conveyancing, and Litigation & Dispute Resolution issues.

One of our Solicitors based in our Dublin office, Geoffrey Fung, joins us as a fully qualified Solicitor from Hong Kong SAR, as well as having qualified in England & Wales and recently in Ireland. He joins Holmes having had almost 10 years of experience working in the Litigation, Insolvency & Restructuring and Dispute Resolution practice areas in Hong Kong and offshore law firms. He is a native English and Cantonese Chinese speaker, and business proficient in Mandarin Chinese, and has extensive experience with assisting and representing clients from China and the wider Asian Region on legal matters.

Holmes is fully equipped to provide expert legal services and assistance to clients from China interested in furthering their business in Ireland. If you require any assistance, please contact Geoffrey Fung at geoffrey.fung@holmeslaw.ie for a discussion.