Estelle Lee advises clients on international trade issues and foreign investment policies, including Asian trade solutions, customs, foreign currency control, taxation and other regulatory requirements, and investment rules, company formation procedures and documentations. She regularly consults with various Chinese regulatory authorities on our clients’ behalf, including Administration of Industry and Commerce, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, China Customs,  AQSIQ and the Quality Supervision Bureau. She works with clients to identify and analyze various options for investment establishment and cross-border transactions. She assists companies in rationalizing their investment formation and trading activities to comply with China’s laws and regulations.

Ms. Lee has worked with many multinational companies to structure their investment and commercial presence in China, as well as to subsequently set up their operations, including applying for the relevant licenses with the local government authorities and communication with various agencies. She also assists clients in understanding the most up-to-date policies in China, especially free trade zone (“FTZ”) policies and establishment of wholly foreign owned enterprises (“WOFEs”).

Prior to joining Bryan Cave International Trade, Ms. Lee was a senior manager of a government-linked developer of the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone (“FTZ”).

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• Assisted Worldwise, Inc. in the restructuring of its Chinese and Hong Kong holdings in advance of the sale of its primary private equity shareholder’s interest to Mistral Equity partners.
• Assisted a multi-national consumer electronics manufacturer in safety recalls in China and other jurisdictions in Southeast Asia.
• Successfully assisted a major U.S. company in the laser unit industry to set up its China warranty maintenance service operation.
• Assisted a U.S. recycling company charged by China Customs in managing the process for Customs reporting and mitigating the impact on the company.
• Provided customs compliance health check to a leading U.S. company in testing machine and parts industry.
• Worked with a multinational electronic components manufacturer on internal customs compliance investigation and represented the company in engaging China Customs on voluntary self-disclosure.
• Advised a major U.S. aircraft manufacturer on the customs compliance issues relating to imported duty exemption equipment.
• Reviewed transfer price from the Customs perspective for a major US material manufacturer and represented the client in defending the transfer price with China Customs.
• Assisted a major U.S. retailer with its China flagship set-up, including application for relevant licenses with the local government authorities and communication with various agencies.
• Assisted a major U.S. material company in structuring and implementing spin-off of its business and subsequent business transactions.
• Explored indirect tax, warehousing and transfer pricing strategies for establishing a regional hub in Waigaoqiao FTZ for a French alcohol company.

Bar and Court Admissions

Education

Shanghai Tie Dao University (now Tong Ji University), Bachelors degree in International Trade

Languages

Chinese (Mandarin)

English