Hong Kong Regulations

SOLICITORS (GROUP PRACTICE) RULES - SECT 7

Group practice management company

(1) The members of every group practice shall, for so long as any member
conducts his or its business as a member of the group practice, maintain an
incorporated company with limited liability registered under
the Companies Ordinance ( Cap 32) ("management company").

(2) The objects of a group practice's management company as stated in the
company's memorandum shall be limited to matters relating to the management of
the affairs of the group practice or the members of the group practice as
such.

(3) A group practice's management company shall at all times during the
currency of the group practice, as from the date by which a declaration of
entry into a group practice agreement is required to be furnished to the
Society under section 8(1), maintain registration as a business under
section 6 of the Business Registration Ordinance ( Cap 310).

(4) Only a person who is for the time being either a party to a
group practice agreement or a principal of a member firm that is a party to a
group practice agreement shall be eligible to become a director or shareholder
of the group practice's management company; and any director or shareholder of
a group practice's management company who ceases to be either a party to the
group practice agreement or a principal of a member  firm that is a party to
the group practice agreement shall immediately resign his position as a
director or tender his shares for sale in accordance with the articles of
association of the company, as the case may be.

(5) Any-

   (a)  goods, services, facilities or premises to be provided by a third
        party; or

   (b)  unqualified staff to be engaged, for the benefit of the members of a
        group practice collectively or of any 2 or more members of the
        group practice shall be provided or engaged by or through the
        group practice's management company.

(6) A group practice's management company shall not engage in any activity
other than an activity that consists of or is related to the management of the
affairs of the group practice or the members of the group practice as such.

(7) The Chinese name of a management company shall include the expression
"律師聯合執業事務所管理有限公司" and its English name shall
include the
expression "Group Practice Management Company Limited".