Based in the Shanghai office of Dezan Shira & Associates, Maria boasts a strong understanding of China regulatory issues, business environment factors, and industry services. Her role involves advising foreign businesses on corporate formation, taxation and legal issues for their investments in China and southeast Asia.

Maria also heads the DSA UK and Ireland Desk and is focused on helping British and Irish firms navigate the Chinese and southeast Asian markets. This role entails working closely with UK and Ireland partners overseeing support and collaboration on clients, FDI knowledge sharing, as well as business development and marketing campaigns in the region. 

The Russian desk of DSA also falls under Maria’s responsibility and she regularly assists Russian clients with their plans for China and the rest of Asia, liaising on their behalf with DSA offices throughout the region.

Prior to joining Dezan Shira & Associates in 2013, Maria’s background involved working in both international and domestic business advisory firms in China, which saw her garner invaluable experience. Her work included analysis on corporate tax structuring, equity transfers, profit repatriation issues, cross border transactions, analysis of legal and tax implications under M&A and corporate restructuring of Asian groups. She also worked as a manager within a communication department which was developing focus personality analysis [FPA] strategies.

Elsewhere, Maria is an in-demand speaker at international events on legal, tax and financial issues in southeast Asia and consistently contributes business intelligence publications to the firm’s publishing company, Asia Briefing Ltd. She is a key thought leader providing comments to the South China Morning Post and other internationally recognised publications.