Every business established in China, whether domestic or foreign, is required to have a legal representative. He/she is the main principal of the company and is the employee with the legal power to represent and enter into binding obligations on behalf of the company in accordance with the law or articles of association of the company. Essentially, the legal representative is someone who is appointed to act on the companys behalf and Article 38 of the General Principles of Civil Law of the Peoples Republic of China defines the role as the responsible person who performs the duties and powers on behalf of a legal person in accordance with the law or the constituent documents of the legal person.

However, foreign investors often have only a limited understanding of the legal representatives role and are startled when they learn of their power and how difficult it is to replace an un-cooperative one. Legal representatives possess broad powers and potentially unlimited liability. When concluding a contract a legal representatives acts are binding on the company even if he/she is acting beyond their authorized scope. Failure to properly understand the powers and responsibilities of a legal representative can therefore lead to a situation where foreign investors are held to ransom. In appointing a legal representative, it is vital to bear in mind that the legal representative will essentially have the full keys to the company, cash, and capital.