How CounselPort Works

Two paths covering different urgency, relationship depth, and certainty needs.

Before You Start

Register and complete identity verification. Your work email and bar / professional credentials are cross-checked against public directories to confirm your identity before you can initiate or receive collaboration requests.

1. Counsel Panel — Collaboration Initiation (7 Steps)

1. Submit your project scope, target jurisdiction, and service needs.\n2. Our matching engine identifies 3–6 overseas counsel candidates based on practice area, language, China experience, and willingness.\n3. Review each candidate’s trust signals — verified identity, China experience, relationship path, and process integrity scores.\n4. Select candidates to add to your panel and authorize conflict checks.\n5. Candidates receive a secure conflict-check invitation. Client names are disclosed only on the conflict-check page, not in emails.\n6. Shortlisted candidates provide fee feedback and availability.\n7. Formal introductions are sent once intent and fees are confirmed.

2. Senior Referral Channel (8 Steps)

1. Submit project scope and indicate you want the Senior Referral channel.\n2. A senior counsel with relevant cross-border experience reviews your case.\n3. The senior counsel recommends 2–4 well-matched overseas counsel candidates.\n4. Each recommendation includes a relationship path explanation — how the senior counsel knows or has vetted the candidate.\n5. Review recommended profiles with enhanced trust signals and endorsement notes.\n6. Authorize conflict checks for selected candidates.\n7. The senior counsel facilitates a warm introduction, adding relationship credibility.\n8. Formal engagement proceeds once fees and scope are aligned.

How We Determine Suitability

Basic matching relies on practice area, language, jurisdiction, and fee compatibility. Higher-level trust is established through China experience signals (China Desk, PRC client work, cross-border Asia experience), relationship path analysis (traceable referrals, co-counsel history, verified collaboration notes), and process integrity (intent confirmation, conflict checks, fee feedback, formal introductions).

The Role of the Public Directory

The Counsel Network page displays anonymized counsel profiles with coded identifiers. Profiles show jurisdiction, firm type, practice areas, languages, China experience signals, and public verification badges — without revealing the counsel’s name or firm until after conflict checks and mutual intent are confirmed. This protects both parties while enabling informed candidate selection.