What do you do if you are in China on either vacation or business, and you suddenly need the services of a barrister in Hong Kong? And, why would you need one in the first place? Well, there are more than a few reasons this could happen. So, keep reading for a couple of examples of them, along with a few tips on how to find your man if this does happen:
Business legalities – If you are doing business for the first time in Hong Kong, you’re probably a “lay person” at best, in regards to the business customs and practices of that country. And, depending upon the nature of your job, a misunderstanding because of a lack of knowledge on your part, could prove devastating to your firm, your business, and yourself.
A good Chinese barrister who specializes in the legalities of his country’s business practices, will be one who keeps up with what’s going on concerning the legal protocol and any changes that are made to it. If you are with a big firm who does business in China, your corporate office has most likely taken care of this already by having a Hong Kong barrister on retainer for just such occurrences.
However, if you are a one-man operation – or a business owner with employees who will be working in that country at some point – and you haven’t already thought of it, you may want to be prepared and retain one, yourself. The odds are you may require legal help at some point, especially if you plan on doing business there a lot. And, if you are someone who is already in a bind because of something that happened due to a misunderstanding, then you will want to get a hold of a Chinese attorney as soon as possible.
Criminal legalities – Despite a person’s best efforts not to break the law while visiting another country, it sometimes happens anyway. Things that are perfectly acceptable and legal in your own country might be a whole different story when it comes to the laws of another place. Anything can happen that might land you in hot water with the local authorities – from a traffic violation due to a misread road sign, to mispronouncing a Chinese salutation which has you insulting an important local person, instead. In any case, this could cause you to need legal representation – and quickly!
So, you will then need to find a criminal defense attorney who is extremely familiar with the laws of his land. One who might be able to convince a court that the situation happened due to an honest misunderstanding on your part – and one who will be patient in educating you on the country’s protocols and laws. But above all, you will want a lawyer who is famous for his ability to get “visiting” persons out of their unintentional predicaments – with as little fallout as possible.
As you most likely know, the above mentioned examples were just a couple of the potential legal problems you could run into in Hong Kong – rest assured that there are also lawyers who specialize in the situations that weren’t mentioned, as well. With that, here are some tips on how to go about locating a good attorney in Hong Kong – if the need should arise in the future:
Online law journals – Thankfully, most countries have internet access these days, and China is no exception to the rule. A good way to find a lawyer in a hurry is to scour the online law journals, and note the firms they list as “the cream of the crop” in Hong Kong. Make a list of a few that look promising, and then do some more research as to the expanse of knowledge that each firm has in regards to whatever speciality you are looking for. When you find one that stands out, call and make an appointment. Many times the first consultation is free to potential clients.
Friends and acquaintances – What better way to find a service you need, than by asking for input from friends and acquaintances in the country you’re visiting? Tell someone you are comfortable in speaking with, some very brief information about what you are looking for, and ask for their input on which way you should go. If they aren’t sure, then ask them to put the word out to their friends and acquaintances – the odds are that someone they talk to will eventually know of a person whose been in a similar situation, and be able to recommend a good firm that handles what you require.
Check out the public reviews – If you need a lawyer for criminal defense reasons, search online for any reviews written by former clients. You will want to look carefully for things like the charges a client faced, and what the outcome was – in addition to if he would recommend that barrister to others. However, keep in mind while you’re reading, that you are bound to run into a bad review or two that’s been unfairly given on a good barrister, by an upset client who faced criminal charges for something obviously illegal – and is still furious that the case didn’t go his way. So, just use your best judgment in discerning those reviews that may have been written by someone who was “biased” to begin with.
Equally important is to remain alert during any consultation meeting you have with a legal firm. Ask about the company’s experience in handling cases such as yours, the number of those cases handled per year, as opposed to the other things they take care of – and don’t forget to ask about their track record as far as being successful in winning those cases go, in general. You don’t want to retain a barrister who gives you bad advice, or doesn’t adequately prepare for your court case – causing you bigger problems as a result.
So, if you are ever in Hong Kong, and find yourself suddenly in need of a good barrister for any reason, just remember to do your homework before settling for the first one you speak with – so you can get the best possible advice or defense, and get back to the business of doing the thing you went there to do in the first place.