Fall 08 Fall 15 INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS NETWORK ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY: AN INTERNATIONAL GUIDE ILN CORPORATE GROUP [ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY] 2 This guide offers an overview of legal aspects of establishing an entity and conducting business in the requisite jurisdictions. It is meant as an introduction to these market places and does not offer specific legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship, or its equivalent in the requisite jurisdiction. Neither the International Lawyers Network or its employees, nor any of the contributing law firms or their partners or employees accepts any liability for anything contained in this guide or to any reader who relies on its content. Before concrete actions or decisions are taken, the reader should seek specific legal advice. The contributing member firms of the International Lawyers Network can advise in relation to questions regarding this guide in their respective jurisdictions and look forward to assisting. Please do not, however, share any confidential information with a member firm without first contacting that firm. This guide describes the law in force in the requisite jurisdictions at the dates of preparation. This may be some time ago and the reader should bear in mind that statutes, regulations and rules are subject to change. No duty to update information is assumed by the ILN, its member firms, or the authors of this guide. The information in this guide may be considered legal advertising. Each contributing law firm is the owner of the copyright in its contribution. All rights reserved. ILN Corporate Group – Establishing a Business Entity Series [ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY] 3 Table of Contents CHAPTER CONTRIBUTORS & FIRMS .................................................................................................................... 4 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN AUSTRALIA ............................................................................................. 8 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN BRAZIL .................................................................................................. 19 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN CANADA ............................................................................................... 26 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN CHINA ................................................................................................... 35 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC ........................................................................... 43 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN ENGLAND ............................................................................................. 53 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN ESTONIA ............................................................................................... 62 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN HUNGARY ............................................................................................. 70 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN INDIA .................................................................................................... 78 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN IRELAND ............................................................................................... 84 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN ISRAEL .................................................................................................. 92 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN ITALY .................................................................................................. 102 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN LATVIA ................................................................................................ 115 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN LITHUANIA ......................................................................................... 124 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN MALAYSIA........................................................................................... 134 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN MEXICO .............................................................................................. 141 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN NORWAY ............................................................................................ 153 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN PANAMA ............................................................................................ 161 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN THE PHILIPPINES ................................................................................ 165 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN PORTUGAL ......................................................................................... 174 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN RUSSIA ................................................................................................ 185 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN THAILAND ........................................................................................... 205 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN TURKEY ............................................................................................... 212 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN UKRAINE ............................................................................................. 217 ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY IN THE UNITED STATES ........................................................................... 225 ILN Corporate Group – Establishing a Business Entity Series [ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY] 4 CHAPTER CONTRIBUTORS & FIRMS “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Australia” China” Mr. Charles Cowper Mr. Evan Sun Partner Partner Gadens - Sydney Zhong Lun Law Firm - Shanghai “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Brazil” the Czech Republic” Ms. Iva Chiabrando Ms. Adéla Krbcová Partner Partner Nehring e Associados Advocacia – São PETERKA & PARTNERS – Prague Paulo “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Brazil” England” Mr. João Burke Lawyers at Partner Fladgate LLP – London Nehring e Associados Advocacia – São Paulo “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Canada” Estonia” Ms. Sharon G. Druker Mr. Tanel Küün Partner Senior Associate Robinson Sheppard Shapiro LLP - Tark Grunte Sutkiene – Tallinn Montreal “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Canada” Hungary” Mr. Michael Slan Ms. Katalin Perényi Partner Attorney Fogler, Rubinoff LLP - Toronto Jalsovszky Law Offices – Budapest “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in China” Hungary” Mr. Steven Huang Mr. Gábor Kerekes J. Partner Trainee Lawyer Zhong Lun Law Firm - Shanghai Jalsovszky Law Offices – Budapest ILN Corporate Group – Establishing a Business Entity Series [ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY] 5 “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in India” Latvia” Mr. Alishan Naqvee Ms. Andra Rubene Partner Partner LexCounsel Law Offices – New Delhi Tark Grunte Sutkiene – Riga “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in India” Latvia” Mr. Himanshu Chahar Mr. Nauris Grigals Senior Associate Senior Associate LexCounsel Law Offices – New Delhi Tark Grunte Sutkiene – Riga “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Ireland” Lithuania” Lawyers at Mr. Agnius Pilipavičius Holmes O’Malley Sexton – Limerick Partner Tark Grunte Sutkiene – Vilnius “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Israel” Lithuania” Mr. Joseph Shem-Tov Ms. Irma Juškauskaitė Partner Associate Glusman & Co. – Tel Aviv Tark Grunte Sutkiene – Vilnius “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Italy” Malaysia” Mr. Antonello Corrado Ms. Tan Wan Yean Partner Senior Legal Assistant EXP Legal – Italian & International Law Anad & Noraini – Kuala Lumpur Firm – Rome, Milan “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Italy” Mexico” Mr. Andrea Pedeferri Mr. Luis Lavalle Moreno Partner Partner Ferrari Pedeferri Boni Studio Legale Martínez, Algaba, De Haro, Curiel y Associato - Milan Galván-Duque, S.C. – Monterrey ILN Corporate Group – Establishing a Business Entity Series [ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS ENTITY] 6 “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Norway” Russia” Mr. Tom Carsten Troberg Mr. Vadim Konyushkevich Partner Counsel Økland & Co DA - Oslo Lidings Law Firm - Moscow “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Norway” Russia” Mr. Tor Erlend Framstad Ms. Ksenia Stepanischeva Partner Associate Økland & Co DA - Oslo Lidings Law Firm - Moscow “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Norway” Thailand” Mr. Hans-Petter Benth Mr. Dej-Udom Krairit Associate Partner Økland & Co DA - Oslo Dej-Udom & Associates - Bangkok “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Panama” Thailand” Ms. Carla Rojas Mr. Worawut Krairit Partner Partner Quijano & Associates - Panama Dej-Udom & Associates – Bangkok “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in the Philippines” Thailand” Ms. Nipa Pakdeechanuan Ms. Irene Joy Besido-Garcia Partner Partner Dej-Udom & Associates – Bangkok Kapunan Garcia & Castillo Law Offices – Manila “Establishing a Business Entity in “Establishing a Business Entity in Portugal” Turkey” Ms. Helga Lopes Ribeiro Ms. Aytül Öztürk Partner Associate MGRA & Associados - Lisbon Özcan & Natan Attorney Partnership - Istanbul ILN Corporate Group – Establishing a Business