Index
Our Profile
ADWA Opens Doors to Asia
We support German-speaking companies with their entry into the Asian market and contribute to sustainable success and growth in Asia as a long-term partner.
ADWA Lawyers
ADWA is short for the “Alliance of German Business Lawyers in Asia”. ADWA brings together German-speaking lawyers licensed in Germany, Austria or Switzerland who are familiar with the respective law and the legal system of their Asian country of residence. All ADWA Lawyers have many years of professional experience, live permanently in an Asian country and possess particular expertise in international business. They know about the challenges faced by medium-sized German-speaking enterprises entering the Asian market or expanding their Asian business as well as the needs of European multinational corporations, such as when implementing transnationally uniform group standards in Asia. ADWA Lawyers are familiar with the local mentality. The combination of expert knowledge, cultural understanding and long-standing experience enables them to guide your Asian business to success.
ADWA brings together German-speaking lawyers licensed in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, who are familiar with the respective law and the legal system of their Asian country of residence.
ADWA Law Firms
All ADWA Law Firms have a license to comprehensively practice law in the country where they are located or to give legal advice to the extent allowed according to respective local laws. They are the best positioned law firm in each Asian country to provide advisory services for legal transactions with German, Austrian or Swiss entities. The number of ADWA Law Firms is limited to one per Asian country. The basic requirement for admission to the network are, that a lawyer has received legal education and training in Germany, Austria or Switzerland and is in charge of a “German desk” and is therefore responsible for advising clients from German-speaking countries. Before being admitted to the network, each ADWA Law Firm undergoes a thorough selection process in its in which it is compared to other law firms in its country of operations. This ensures that all ADWA Law Firms meet the same high standards. All ADWA Law Firms are also members of Cross Border Business Lawyers, or CBBL, a network of German-speaking lawyers practicing in more than 50 countries worldwide.
Speaking the same language of Continental European law
Most Asian countries have adopted the Continental European legal system (civil law), whilst the Anglo-American legal system (common law) can be found primarily only in former British colonies (Singapore, Hong Kong, India etc.). Based on experience, law firms with an Anglo-American influence are less suited to make the bridge between two civil law systems. ADWA Lawyers were trained in the civil law system and are as such predestined to develop practical solutions for their clients in close collaboration with their local Asian colleagues. They also share the same language, culture and knowledge of business practices with German, Austrian and Swiss companies.
Our Services
With ADWA Law Firms as local partners
Companies from German-speaking countries can realize effective cooperation which opens a gateway to the Asian market, creating a framework for sustainable success and growth.
Platform and Network
ADWA is a platform providing companies with a qualified ADWA Lawyer in the respective Asian country. ADWA supports companies in finding experienced and committed German-speaking lawyers as contact persons in Asia, lawyers who have acquired over decades the necessary cultural understanding and a broad local network. Besides market-relevant experience, an entrepreneurial mindset and bilateral legal expertise, ADWA Lawyers possess valuable knowledge concerning local specifics and risks which they can present to you in a comprehensible manner. Amongst other services, ADWA coordinates joint events as well as transnational projects for its clients, while constantly ensuring adherence to ADWA’s common standards (see ADWA codex).
Key Contact Partners
ADWA supports companies in Pan-Asian matters that require the involvement of lawyers in several Asian countries, including partner law firms in Asian countries outside of the ADWA network. This enables ADWA Law Firms, for example, to organize a product recall in multiple Asian countries in a time- and cost-effective manner, implement compliance standards across a group of companies simultaneously or coordinate post-merger adjustments in Asian companies. In such Pan-Asian projects, one ADWA Lawyer becomes the key contact person, pooling communication with respective clients and coordinating the work of lawyers involved from other Asian countries.
ADWA Lawyers also help German-speaking companies to coordinate their business in Asia on a long-term basis, serving as a key contact. The client is then able to always direct his Asian-related inquiries to the same ADWA Lawyer, who is familiar with the respective company and its operations in Asia. If necessary, this lawyer will involve further ADWA Lawyers or further partner law firms in other Asian countries and will coordinate their work. As a result, transaction costs are minimized and synergies generated.
ADWA Law Firms
All ADWA Law Firms meet the following criteria:
1.
ADWA Law Firms are admitted as law firms or in the form legally required to provide advisory services in the country where they are located.
2.
ADWA Law Firms must have a German, Austrian or Swiss lawyer on their team who functions as contact and communication partner and is in charge of coordinating the client’s requests.
3.
ADWA Law Firms are specialized in advising companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and are ideally organized to serve such German-speaking client’s needs. ADWA Law Firms are optimized for communication between different time zones and are therefore easy to reach.
4.
ADWA Lawyers have a high level of intercultural competence, not only in the area of law, but also with regard to matters of business. Aside from the drafting of contracts, they can support negotiations, if wished by the client, who will benefit from their understanding as cultural intermediaries.
5.
ADWA Lawyers live permanently in their Asian country of practice, while maintaining their bar admission in their German-speaking country of origin or training. ADWA lawyers are members of a bar association in either Germany, Austria or Switzerland, bound to follow the high standards of the respective bar association.
Standards
As experienced lawyers, we help you gain foothold in Asia – in a transparent way and, naturally, in compliance with all laws. In addition, we developed these best practices that apply to every ADWA law firm. They serve as an illustration of our requirements for the conduct of ADWA law firms.
License
All ADWA lawyers are licensed to practise in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.
Communicative link
The ADWA lawyer managing your mandate will serve as a communicative link to the ADWA law firm and is available to you as a contact person during the entire process.
International transactions
ADWA lawyers have vast experience in international transactions and close familiarity with the respective commercial laws.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Our Code of Conduct is available on our website. We comply with the requirements of Corporate Social Responsibility.
Compliance
All ADWA law firms abide by the relevant money laundering laws.
Conflict
The appointed ADWA law firm implements a conflict resolution mechanism.
Response time
We respond quickly to enquiries and keep response times as short as possible.
Social Media
We do not draft or share social media posts relating to your mandate without your consent.
Recommendations
Recommendations to other ADWA law firms will only be made after prior consultation with you. Upon request, we will be happy to recommend or personally introduce a colleague. Of course you have the freedom to contact non-ADWA lawyers in all countries.
Documentation
On the terms of the mandate, a written agreement is concluded. Individual mandates are fixed in writing.
Confidentiality
Naturally, we treat all information with absolute confidentiality.
Costs
All mandates are billed in a transparent way on the basis of hourly rates. Upon request, we offer other billing models.
Code of Conduct
We at ADWA are fully committed to adhere to the highest ethical and professional legal standards. Below we are laying out the values, principles and standards of conduct governing our practice.
I. Compliance with law
All ADWA partners comply with the laws of their respective countries and demonstrate correct and responsible behavior at all times. This applies particularly to the principles and regulations governing the legal profession.
1. Anti-corruption and bribery
We firmly reject any kind of bribery or corruption. We handle your case in a safe and legal way.
2. Money laundering
The duties to prevent money laundering are complied with by all ADWA lawyers.
3. Prevention of harassment
We reject any form of harassment. We maintain zero tolerance for harassing behavior both in and outside of the workplace.
II. Values
ADWA upholds a variety of values to realize an environment of trust and safety.
1. Integrity
At ADWA, we attach great importance to present ourselves authentically and meeting a high moral standard. We believe that honesty and trust are cornerstones of our day-to-day work.
2. Respect
ADWA lawyers treat all clients, colleagues or other persons, with whom they interact respectfully.
3. Gender equality
Equal treatment between women and men is a fundamental value we respect and implement in our daily business. We stand against gender-based discrimination, especially in regards to renumeration for work of equal value.
1. Professionalism
All ADWA lawyers work with the highest level of professionalism. Confidential information, of which the ADWA lawyers have become aware of through their work, is not used for personal benefit or that of third parties.
2. Conflict of interest
To ensure independence and loyalty for our clients, we do not accept assignments that may be in conflict with the interests of our clients.
3. Loyalty
Loyalty is fundamental for a stable and strong relationship with our clients. We advocate your interests with zeal and pursue them together with you.
4. Confidentiality and Data Protection
The information you share with ADWA lawyers is treated as confidential and will only be used as necessary to treat your case. All members of ADWA process the information adequately, avoid unauthorized access or distribution and maintain the highest level of secrecy. Naturally, we comply with all applicable data protection laws.