MOSAIK is a French business law firm founded in Paris in 2022, with offices in Hong Kong and Mexico City. The firm assists French companies setting up in Hong Kong, as well as Hong Kong entrepreneurs and investors developing their business in France. We advise our clients in French, English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Our Hong Kong office is located at Kinwick Centre, 32 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Hong Kong and Chinese companies: investing in France
Are you a Hong Kong or Chinese company looking to sell, invest or set up in France or the European Union? MOSAIK supports you every step of the way: incorporation of a subsidiary or branch, optimisation of your tax structure, drafting and negotiation of contracts, protection of your trademarks in France and the European Union, assistance with your first hires, commercial real estate and executive mobility.
French companies: developing in Hong Kong and Asia
From Paris and Hong Kong, MOSAIK’s Asian Desk advises French companies on their development in Southeast Asia and China: structuring of the set-up, international contracts, intellectual property protection, customs and international financial flows.
Fellow lawyers and professionals: your correspondent in France
MOSAIK acts as French counsel for Hong Kong law firms, solicitors, barristers, accountants and family offices, for the needs of their clients in France: French law opinions, litigation before the French courts, recognition and enforcement (exequatur) of foreign judgments, filing and defence of French and European Union trademarks, real estate transactions and estates involving assets located in France. We work in English and Cantonese.
MOSAIK’s Asian Desk
The firm’s Asian Desk is led by William Mak, a French-Hong Kong lawyer and member of the Paris Bar since 2017, practising business law and intellectual property. He regularly assists clients developing their business in France, Hong Kong and China, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the France Hong Kong Business association.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up a subsidiary in France from Hong Kong?
The most common vehicle is the société par actions simplifiée (SAS): no minimum share capital, a president who can be an individual or a company, and no French residence requirement. Incorporation usually takes a few weeks: drafting of the articles of association, deposit of the capital, registration with the trade and companies register. MOSAIK handles the whole process remotely.
Can a Hong Kong judgment be enforced in France?
As there is no treaty between France and Hong Kong on the recognition of judgments, a Hong Kong decision can be recognised and enforced in France through exequatur proceedings, subject to three conditions laid down by French case law: jurisdiction of the original court, compliance with French international public policy, and absence of fraud.
Is there a tax treaty between France and Hong Kong?
Yes. An agreement for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and on capital was signed in Paris on 21 October 2010 and has been in force since 1 December 2011.
How can a Hong Kong trademark be protected in France and Europe?
By filing a French trademark with the INPI or a European Union trademark with the EUIPO, or through an international extension under the Madrid system. MOSAIK handles trademark filings, oppositions and litigation.
What are the main differences between French and Hong Kong law?
France is a civil law jurisdiction: rules come first from statutes and written codes (civil code, commercial code), whereas Hong Kong applies common law, built on court precedent. French taxation is also markedly more demanding: corporate income tax at 25% and VAT at 20%, where Hong Kong has neither VAT nor capital gains tax, and caps profits tax on local profits at 16.5%. French employment law, finally, is far more protective: a statutory 35-hour working week with overtime premiums, five weeks of paid leave and dismissals that must be justified, whereas Hong Kong sets no statutory working time limit and guarantees a minimum of 7 to 14 days of annual leave. These differences can be anticipated: it is precisely our role to inform you, so that you can adapt your plans, and to find tailor-made solutions for your needs.
Contact us
Hong Kong office: Kinwick Centre, 32 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong. Write to contact@mosaik.legal or use our contact page.