International bondholders in Evergrande, the heavily indebted property group that is at the centre of a real estate crisis in China, have hired an offshore lawyer and warned of legal action after a lack of “substantive engagement” from the company.

A bondholder group, which accounts for billions of dollars of Evergrande’s debt and is represented by law firm Kirkland & Ellis and investment bank Moelis, said it had retained law firm Harneys because it “has been left with no option but to seriously consider enforcement actions”.

The announcement is the most significant move from offshore bondholders and could herald the start of a legal battle months after Evergrande first missed payments in a saga that has been marked by a lack of official disclosure.