Increased Internet access in China's classrooms, new technology and relatively low technological and capital market entry requirements have led to an abundance of investment opportunities in the Chinese education industry. 

Taking a multidisciplinary approach to education law, TransAsia draws on expertise from its corporate and commercial, real estate, employment, and intellectual property departments to assist multinational clients to develop their businesses in this sector, such as via the establishment of Sino-foreign educational institutions.  Our experience is founded on a deep understanding of the education sector and the unique regulatory structure that applies in China. This enables us to provide clients with services that give them the competitive edge needed in this growing market. We provide support to educators and investors in a number of areas, including higher education, private education and publishing.

Client Services

• Market entry and re-structuring
• Partner identification and selection
• Visa applications for students and expatriate teaching or administrative staff
• Comprehensive legal due diligence
• Regulatory and compliance issues and permits, including the Permit for Running Private Schools and the Registration Certificate for Citizen-managed Entities
• Leasing or purchasing of premises and facilities
• Development and license of educational software and teaching materials

Representative Transactions

Higher Education

• Provided Hult International Business School with strategic advice on its cooperation with Fudan University for its MIB (Masters of International Business) program in China
• Advised the Queensland State Government’s Department of Education Training and Arts on its co-operation programs in China
• Advised the Beijing University of Arts and Science on its acquisitions of domestic education institutions and business expansion in China

Private Education

• Advised English First on its China expansion, school franchises, "smart schools", online development and curriculum
• Represented Blackboard in its education software joint venture with CERNET, a direct subsidiary of the PRC Ministry of Education
• Advised Family Learning House on structuring and documentation for its cooperation with a local partner to establish a private kindergarten in Shenzhen

Publishing

• Advised Yale University on its co-operation with China International Publishing Group on a joint project to promote the learning of the Chinese language worldwide and the corresponding language learning publications and teaching materials
• Advised China Higher Education Press on its cooperation with various leading U.S. publishers

Investment

• Acted as PRC counsel for Tiger Global (leading private equity fund) in its investment into New Oriental and the subsequent float of New Oriental on the NYSE
• Advised Blue Ridge China on its investments into a number of leading private universities in China
• Advised various private equity funds on their investment into PRCEDU, the largest online university in China

Representative Clients