律师事务所如何通过第三方托管保障您的国际交易

1. “律师事务所”托管是什么？
What is a “law firm” escrow?
“律师事务所”托管是一种财务安排，在这种安排中，律师事务所持有并监管特定交易（尤其是国际贸易合同）中双方所需资金的支付。通过将交易款项转入由律师事务所持的安全托管账户，确保交易更加安全。只有在协议中双方规定的所有条款都满足的情况下，作为托管机构的律师事务所方会将款项转给卖方。
A “law firm” escrow is a financial arrangement where a law firm holds and regulates payment of the funds required for two parties involved in a given transaction, particularly an international trade contract. It helps make transactions more secure by keeping the payment in a secure escrow account held by a law firm. Fund is only released by the law firm as an escrow agent when all of the terms of an agreement are met as stipulated by the parties.
对于大额交易和在付款前卖方需履行某些义务的交易来说，第三方托管显得尤为重要。例如，当一个外国买家向中国供应商购买covid-19冠状病毒试剂盒、口罩或呼吸器时，由于全球疫情的爆发，外国买家无法踏足中国。中国供应商在买家尚未全额支付且没有任何担保时自然不愿扩大生产规模或承诺交付货物，这很可能导致在货物运送至卖家前，供应商就收到货款或者交易中间商已经把货款卷走。
Escrow is very helpful for a transaction where a huge amount money is involved and a certain number of obligations need to be fulfilled before a payment is released, like a purchase of covid-19 corona-viruses test kits, masks or ventilators is bought from a Chinese supplier and a buyer is an international buyer whom is banned to enter China due to the outbreak of the viruses globally before making a full payment, and the Chinese supplier doesn’t want to extend a massive amount of work or undertakings to deliver the products without any assurance that it will receive payment or the agent of the deal steals the money while the delivery is not completed.
当货款是“由律师事务所托管”的途径支付时，交易可以安全地进行，避免因欺诈造成金钱损失或者丢失待运输的试剂盒、口罩或呼吸机的风险。此外，“由律师事务所托管”还可避免无法交货的风险，消除一切法律风险，保障交易的安全，使外国买家和中国供应商都对交易更有信心。
While the payment is “In Law Firm Escrow”, the transaction can be safely carried out without risk of losing money or ghost test kits, masks or ventilators to be delivered due to fraud. The risk of no delivery is eliminated. This eliminates all legal risks and allows for secure transactions and confident overseas buyers and Chinese supplier.
2. “律师事务所”如何进行托管呢？
How a “Law Firm” Escrow Works?
“律师事务所托管”是由律师事务提供的一种资金托管服务，通过扮演可信任的第三方，汇集、持有并代支付外国买家和中国供应商都认同的货款，从而降低欺诈风险。
A “Law Firm Escrow” is an escrow service provided by a law firm which reduces the risk of fraud by acting as a trusted third-party that collects, holds and only disburses funds with which both overseas buyers and Chinese suppliers are satisfied.
外国买家和中国供应商同意条款。外国买家或者中国供应商开始交易，在签订托管协议后，双方都同意交易的条款。
International Buyer and Chinese Supplier agree to terms. Either the international Buyer or Chinese Supplier begins a transaction. After signing the escrow agreement, all parties agree to the terms of the transaction.
外国买家向律所支付托管代理费用。买方以经批准的付款方式向律师事务所为特定目的设立的托管账户（客户的账户不会与他人的资金混淆）转入付款。托管机构确认付款后，通知中国供应商货款已被“托管”。
International Buyer pays law firm as an escrow agent. Buyer submits a payment by approved payment method to the Escrow Account as set up by law firm for the specific purpose (a client’s account which will not mix up with the funds of others). Escrow Agent verifies the payment, the Chinese Supplier is notified that funds have been secured “In Escrow”.
中国供应商按照国际贸易术语生产并向外国买家交付货物。付款确认后，中国供应商可以发出货物并提交跟踪信息，或者外国买家通过其指定的包机提货。托管机构确认外国买家是否收到货物。
Chinese Supplier manufactures and delivers the products to International Buyer at the agreed INCOTERMS. Upon payment verification, the Chinese Supplier is authorized to send the products and submit tracking information or the international Buyer takes delivery by its designated chartered flight. Escrow Agents verifies that the International Buyer receives the products.
外国买家接收货物。瑞士通用公证行（SGS）可能会进行装运前的检验，外国买家根据SGS的报告接收货物，或者外国买家有固定期限对货物进行检查，以决定接收还是拒收。买方接收了货物。
International Buyer accepts products. SGS may have a pre-shipment inspection and the International Buyer accepts the product based on SGS’s report. Or the International Buyer has a set number of days to inspect the products and the option to accept or reject it. The Buyer accepts the products.
托管机构将货款支付给中国供应商。托管机构从托管账户提取托管款项，向中国供应商支付货款，并向促成交易的中间商支付佣金。
Escrow Agent pays the Chinese Supplier. Escrow Agent releases funds to the Chinese Supplier from the Escrow Account and also release the commissions to the agent who facilitates the transaction.
3.严格的“了解客户”和“反洗钱”要求
Strict KYC and AML Requirement
此外，所有相关方都必须遵守非常严格的“了解客户”和“反洗钱”法律法规。在接收和发放“律师事务所”托管账户中的任何资金之前，必须核实各方作为受益人的身份，及其背后每个自然人的身份。
In addition, all parties involved are subject to a very strict Know Your Clients (KYC) and Anti-Money Launching (AML) law and regulations. All identities of the parties down to the level of each individual natural person as beneficiary will be verified before the receipt and release of any funds in the “law firm” escrow account.