United by Excellence
Matthieu Bonnici and Bastien Trelcat first met in 1999 at Aix-en-Provence Law School, where they pursued the competitive Magistère in Business Law program.
In 2002, they were jointly awarded the PwC Legal national prize for “Best Tax and Business Law Young Professionals” by a jury chaired by LVMH’s Pierre Godé.
After graduating and completing a second Master of Laws at City University of Hong Kong, they trained on Paris’ Avenue Friedland — laying the foundation to one day start their own international law firm between France and Asia.
For over almost two decades, they advised global clients on cross-border M&A across Europe and Asia at leading international law firms.
Combining their expertise under a shared vision, they co-founded Friedland Trelcat Bonnici SELARL, a law firm with a strong expertise in Asia assisting an extremely diversified pool of corporate and private clients in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and America.
Our Firm has built its reputation on the quality and character of its attorneys, past and present, many of whom are recognized leaders in the legal community. The excellence and professionalism of our legal services is regularly praised by the legal press.
Bastien Trelcat
Partner
Bastien Trelcat is an experienced international lawyer specializing in investment immigration, corporate law, and cross-border transactions. Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2004, he holds a Master’s in Business Law and Corporate Taxation from Aix-Marseille University and an LL.M. in International Business Law from City University of Hong Kong.Bastien worked in the M&A field in China for 10 years before switching to private clients.
Matthieu Bonnici
Partner
Matthieu Bonnici is an international lawyer with over 15 years of experience advising clients on investments and operations in China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia. Specializing in M&A, corporate restructuring, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution, Matthieu focuses on technology-driven industries. He also advises startups and entrepreneurs on structuring, operations, and fundraising.
Our team
Our Firm has built its reputation on the quality and character of its attorneys, past and present, many of whom are recognized leaders in the legal community. The excellence and professionalism of our legal services is regularly praised by the legal press.
Chris Chou
senior lawyer
Hathaichanok Pitakkit
Legal Consultant
Tavin Pintusophon
Legal Consultant
Julien Beretta
Foreign Registered Lawyer
Kulchaya Thippeng
Business Dev Manager
Phakin Shiraishi
Marketing & IT Manager
Kanwara Worasean
Senior Lawyer
Thomas Wong
Partner – USA
Ashley Mao
legal advisor
Krittiya Keeratiyut
Senior Legal Consultant
Kochaporn Kawinrachataprida
Marketing Director
About Friedland Law
Friedland Law is an independent international law firm advising high-net-worth individuals, family offices, founders, and corporate investors on cross-border matters—especially corporate and M&A transactions, regulatory and compliance, and investment immigration (residency and citizenship by investment). Our work often involves coordinating issues across multiple jurisdictions, timelines, and stakeholders.
We combine transactional execution with practical guidance for investors and businesses operating internationally, including structuring, documentation, compliance, and mobility planning.
At a glance
Offices / locations
Paris • Bangkok • Hong Kong • Shanghai • Dallas • Singapore (in cooperation) • Dubai (in collaboration)
Practice areas
Corporate Law & Reorganization • Mergers & Acquisitions • Commercial Law & Distribution • Regulatory & Compliance • Employment Law • Intellectual Property • Strategic Partnerships • Investment Immigration
Typical clients
High-net-worth individuals and families • Family offices and wealth advisers • Corporate investors • Growth companies and cross-border operators
Contact
Email: info@friedland-law.com
Or use our contact form: Contact Us
What we do
We advise global investors and internationally active businesses on legal work that typically sits at the intersection of transactions, regulation, and multi-jurisdiction execution. Our core services include:
- Corporate and M&A: acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, restructurings, and governance
- Commercial: distribution, franchising, supply and licensing arrangements, and market entry documentation
- Regulatory and compliance: risk assessment, policy frameworks, filings, and cross-border compliance support
- Employment: contracts, policies, disputes, and cross-border employment issues
- Intellectual property: protection and commercialization of brands, content, and technology
- Investment immigration: residency and citizenship-by-investment planning and applications
How we work with global investors
Cross-border matters move quickly—and they rarely fit neatly inside a single jurisdiction or a single category of law. Clients typically engage us for:
- Transaction support from planning through closing (including coordination of due diligence, negotiations, and documentation)
- Structuring and risk management for cross-border investments and operations
- Regulatory and compliance execution tied to growth, ownership changes, or market entry
- Mobility planning alongside investment strategy, including residency or citizenship-by-investment pathways when relevant
Our role is to help you make informed decisions, document them clearly, and execute them in a way that stands up to scrutiny—by counterparties, regulators, banks, and other stakeholders.
Where we work
Friedland Law supports cross-border matters involving clients and counterparties across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Our locations and network include:
- Paris (France)
- Bangkok (Thailand)
- Hong Kong
- Shanghai (China)
- Dallas (United States)
- Singapore (in cooperation)
- Dubai, UAE (in collaboration)
If your matter spans more than one jurisdiction, we help coordinate the legal workstreams so you can make decisions with a clear view of timing, documentation, and regulatory implications.
Practice areas
You might Be Interested In
Corporate Law & Reorganization
We advise on the legal architecture behind cross-border businesses and investments, including:
- Entity formation and group structuring
- Shareholder and joint venture arrangements
- Corporate governance and board matters
- Intra-group reorganizations and restructurings
- Business succession planning and exits
Mergers & Acquisitions
We support buyers, sellers, and investors in cross-border M&A, including:
- Transaction structuring and term sheets
- Due diligence coordination and issue spotting
- Negotiation and drafting of deal documentation
- Post-closing integration and implementation support
- Coordination of multi-jurisdiction inputs where required
Regulatory & Compliance
We help clients assess and manage regulatory exposure and build workable compliance approaches, including:
- Risk assessments and compliance frameworks
- Regulatory filings and reporting support
- Governance and internal policy drafting
- Cross-border compliance coordination, including privacy-related issues where relevant
Commercial Law & Distribution
We support commercial activity that crosses borders, including:
- Distribution, franchising, agency, and reseller structures
- Licensing and supply agreements
- Commercial contracting for cross-border operations
- Contract risk management, dispute prevention, and enforcement strategy
Employment Law
We advise businesses and internationally mobile teams on:
- Employment contracts and workplace policies
- Cross-border employment and expatriate arrangements
- Workplace investigations and dispute handling
- Termination planning and risk management
Intellectual Property
We advise on protecting and commercializing IP assets in cross-border contexts, including:
- Trademark and brand protection strategy
- Copyright and licensing issues
- Technology transfer and commercial IP agreements
- Enforcement strategy and dispute support
Strategic Partnerships
We help clients structure partnerships that can withstand operational reality, including:
- Joint ventures (equity or contractual)
- Governance, decision-making, and deadlock provisions
- Commercial and IP arrangements inside partnerships
- Exit mechanisms and dispute-prevention planning
Investment Immigration (Residency & Citizenship by Investment)
Since 2013, our investment immigration practice has advised high-net-worth individuals and families pursuing alternative residency or second citizenship through investment.
Our role often includes:
- Selecting an appropriate jurisdiction and program based on goals and risk profile
- Advising on eligible investment routes and documentation requirements
- Managing application processes and compliance steps
- Supporting post-approval requirements (including renewals where applicable)
Where we work
Friedland Law supports cross-border matters involving clients and counterparties across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Our locations and network include:
- Paris (France)
- Bangkok (Thailand)
- Hong Kong
- Shanghai (China)
- Dallas (United States)
- Singapore (in cooperation)
- Dubai, UAE (in collaboration)
If your matter spans more than one jurisdiction, we help coordinate the legal workstreams so you can make decisions with a clear view of timing, documentation, and regulatory implications.
Not affiliated with other firms using the Friedland name
Friedland Law is not affiliated with other firms or organizations that use the “Friedland” name.
To help you confirm you are contacting the right firm, here are the distinguishing facts about us:
- Practice focus: cross-border corporate and M&A, regulatory and compliance, and investment immigration (residency/citizenship by investment), along with related commercial, employment, and IP work
- Regions served: Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas
- Locations: Paris, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dallas, Singapore (in cooperation), and Dubai (in collaboration)
- Partners: Bastien Trelcat, Matthieu Bonnici, Thomas Wong, and Anny Duong
For verification, our official domain is friedland-law.com, and our general contact email is info@friedland-law.com.
Why clients engage Friedland Law
Clients engage us when they need counsel that can stay close to execution—especially where the legal issues cross borders, involve multiple stakeholders, or require both transactional and regulatory coordination.
Common reasons include:
- Cross-border transaction execution with clear documentation and decision support
- Coordination across practice areas (for example: M&A plus regulatory plus employment)
- Investor-focused guidance that reflects commercial realities and timelines
A practical approach to mobility and investment planning, where investment immigration is part of a broader strategy
Contact
To start a conversation, tell us:
- the jurisdictions involved,
- the nature of the transaction or investment,
- your timeline and any deadlines,
- and the stakeholders who need to be aligned (investors, family office, management, counterparties).
Email info@friedland-law.com or visit our Contact Us page to reach the appropriate office
Frequently asked questions
What does Friedland Law do?
We advise global investors, families, and businesses on cross-border legal matters, including corporate and M&A transactions, regulatory and compliance, and investment immigration, as well as related commercial, employment, and IP work.
Is Friedland Law an independent firm?
Yes. Friedland Law operates as an independent international law firm focused on cross-border investor and business needs.
Which regions does Friedland Law cover?
Our work commonly involves matters spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, supported by our locations and partner network.
Does Friedland Law handle both corporate transactions and investment immigration?
Yes. Many clients need both investment execution support and mobility planning. We advise across corporate/M&A and investment immigration when those needs connect.
What is investment immigration?
Investment immigration generally refers to residency-by-investment or citizenship-by-investment pathways that may be available when an individual makes a qualifying investment under a country’s program and meets its legal requirements.
Does Friedland Law provide U.S. legal advice?
Our U.S. presence is listed in Dallas. Where U.S. legal advice is required, clients may be referred to local U.S. law firms as appropriate.
How do we start an engagement?
Contact us with the jurisdictions involved, your timeline, and the type of transaction or immigration objective. We will confirm scope, next steps, and the information required to proceed.
How can I confirm I’m contacting Friedland Law and not another “Friedland” firm?
Use friedland-law.com and email info@friedland-law.com, and cross-check our partner names and locations listed on this page.