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Ⅴ. Development Prospects and Strategic Analysis of Hong Kong Legal Practitioners in the GBA

5.1.5 Current forms of business development in the GBA by Hong Kong legal

practitioners

Reading from the survey results, the major forms of business developed by Hong Kong law firms in the
Mainland currently include: referral of business to the Mainland law firms (64.2%), setting up representative

office in the Mainland (45.3%), and forming associations with Mainland law firms (37.7%). Overall, case

collaboration remains the main approach, but there is also an exploration of new business models.
The main reasons for the current situation may be attributed to consideration of risk and cost reduction.
Objectively, there are differences between the Mainland and Hong Kong in terms of regulations, culture, and

judicial systems. By referring business to the Mainland law firms or collaborating with them, Hong Kong law

firms can rely on the familiarity of the Mainland lawyers with the local legal environment to reduce risks.
Moreover, Mainland law firms are usually more familiar with the local market, possessing richer local resources
and business networks. Through collaboration with the Mainland law firms, Hong Kong law firms can leverage

their local advantages to build trust with Mainland enterprises and clients, adapting to and integrating into the

Mainland market more quickly. Hong Kong law firms may also consider the current stage more suitable for
market exploration through case collaborations to gain a comprehensive understanding of opportunities and
challenges in the Mainland market before in-depth involvement, accumulating experience in the process.

However, relying mainly on business referrals may also bring certain risks and disadvantages. For example,

it may lead to excessive dependence on collaborative partners, making it difficult to start their own business. In
addition, a business model primarily focused on case collaborations might limit the diversity of businesses for
Hong Kong law firms in the Mainland. This limitation could hinder Hong Kong legal practitioners from in-depth

involvement and expanding business in different areas. Furthermore, this approach might inhibit Hong Kong

law firms from getting direct insight into the Mainland market, and a lack of direct market participation may
prevent law firms from gaining in-depth understanding of the actual needs of local clients and market dynamics.
Considering these potential drawbacks, Hong Kong law firms may need to carefully assess their strategies in the

GBA market, balancing relationships with collaborative partners and actively exploring more direct participation

methods to enhance business diversification and flexibility.

5.2 Analysis of development strategies for Hong Kong legal practitioners in the GBA

Based on the above analysis, it is evident that Hong Kong legal practitioners have bright business prospects

in the GBA. The strategy for Hong Kong lawyers expanding their business in the GBA is to make use of multiple
channels at the same time. While maintaining collaboration with the Mainland law firms, they should also

actively explore new business models, enhance the standard of professional services, monitor changes in market

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