Kinds of practice
Registered foreign law firms in Hong Kong: what they can do
A registered foreign law firm practises foreign law from Hong Kong under a Law Society registration. It is precluded from practising Hong Kong law.
At a glance
- Registers with
- The Law Society of Hong Kong
- Registration required since
- 9 September 1994
- Hong Kong law
- Precluded
- Hong Kong office
- Within 2 months of registration
- First registration, 1 Jul 2026 to 31 Mar 2027
- HK$35,000
A registered foreign law firm is a law firm that has registered with the Law Society of Hong Kong so it can practise foreign law from an office in Hong Kong. The Law Society says it may practise the law of the jurisdictions where its partners and associates are qualified, and of third jurisdictions where they are competent to practise. It is precluded from practising Hong Kong law. If your matter turns on Hong Kong law, you need a Hong Kong solicitor firm, even if the foreign firm’s name is the one you know.
The legal basis
Foreign law firms have had to register with the Law Society since 9 September 1994, following the implementation of the Legal Practitioners Ordinance and the Foreign Lawyers Registration Rules. The Society’s foreign law firms page points to sections 39B and 50B of the Ordinance and rules 2, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 of the Rules.
What a registered foreign law firm can and cannot do
| Activity | Position, according to the Law Society |
|---|---|
| Practise the law of jurisdictions where its partners and associates are qualified | Permitted |
| Practise the law of third jurisdictions where they are competent | Permitted |
| Practise Hong Kong law | Precluded |
| Employ Hong Kong solicitors | Precluded |
| Take Hong Kong solicitors into partnership | Precluded |
| Share fees, profits, premises, management or employees with a Hong Kong firm | Only through a registered association |
That last row matters because some international groups run a Hong Kong firm and a foreign firm side by side. Our guide to registered associations of law firms explains how those links work and why the two firms stay separate.
How to check a foreign law firm
- Search the exact name in the Foreign Law Firms section of the Law List and note the jurisdictions shown.
- Check that the jurisdiction matches the law your matter needs, for example Mainland, Bermuda or Luxembourg law.
- Search the Hong Kong Law Firms section for the same brand. A related Hong Kong firm may be listed there as a separate firm.
- If both appear, check the Registered Association of Law Firms list.
- Look up the individual lawyer in the Foreign Lawyers section. Our guide to foreign lawyers in Hong Kong explains that record.
- Check which firm your engagement letter names as acting for you.
Registration rules for the firm
The Law Society’s June 2025 information package says a firm may apply if all the partners who intend to practise in Hong Kong are foreign lawyers, or its sole practitioner is a foreign lawyer, and it intends to have a place of business in Hong Kong within two months after registration for practising or advising on foreign law. If the firm does not set up that place of business within two months, the Society may cancel the registration.
Fees from the Society’s 2026 fees schedule and information package:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| First certificate of registration, 1 April to 14 May 2026 | HK$17,500 |
| First certificate of registration, 15 May to 30 June 2026 | HK$29,500 |
| First certificate of registration, 1 July 2026 to 31 March 2027 | HK$35,000 |
| Renewal of certificate of registration, from 1 July 2026 | HK$12,000 |
| Adding a jurisdiction after registration (June 2025 package) | HK$35,000 |
| Registering an association with a Hong Kong firm | HK$15,000 |
Fees change. Check the current schedule on the Law Society site before paying.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a well-known international name can advise on Hong Kong law. Check which registration the office actually holds.
- Treating a Hong Kong address as proof of Hong Kong qualification. A foreign firm registers on the basis that it will have a place of business in Hong Kong.
- Missing the Hong Kong law element in a cross-border deal, such as a Hong Kong company, Hong Kong property or a Hong Kong court process.
Our law directory lists registered foreign law firms separately from Hong Kong solicitor firms and chambers. For the wider picture, read solicitor firm, foreign law firm or chambers. We are not the Law Society, and nothing here is legal advice.
Questions people ask
Can a registered foreign law firm advise on Hong Kong law?
No. The Law Society says registered foreign law firms are precluded from practising Hong Kong law. If your matter turns on Hong Kong law, use a firm on the Hong Kong Law Firms section of the Law List.
What law can a registered foreign law firm practise?
The law of the jurisdictions where its partners and associates are qualified, and of third jurisdictions where they are competent to practise, according to the Law Society.
Can a foreign law firm employ Hong Kong solicitors?
No. The Law Society says registered foreign law firms are precluded from employing Hong Kong solicitors or taking them into partnership. A foreign firm that wants to share fees, profits, premises, management or staff with a Hong Kong firm has to register an association with the Law Society.
How do I know whether a firm is foreign or a Hong Kong firm?
Search the exact name on the Law List in both the Foreign Law Firms and Hong Kong Law Firms sections. Some international names appear in both, as two separate firms, so check which one is named in your engagement letter.
Since when have foreign law firms had to register in Hong Kong?
Since 9 September 1994, following the implementation of the Legal Practitioners Ordinance and the Foreign Lawyers Registration Rules, according to the Law Society.