The Legal 500

Allbright Law Offices covers the full range of services from general corporate transactions, commercial agreements and compliance to inbound and outbound investments and advising on projects and infrastructure. A key component of the practice is its M&A capability; it regularly advises multinational and listed companies, state-owned enterprises and professional investment institutions on asset acquisitions and strategic minority investments, and on sale of assets. In addition to conventional M&A work, the group often acts for special committees of board of directors and advises on MBOs, buyout funds, mezzanine debt funds and mezzanine debt funds. Clients include Shanghai Industrial Holdings, which instructed the firm on its HK$2.74bn acquisition of 45% equity interest in Neo China. Julia Zhu and Victor Wang are recommended.

Fangda Partners’ broad expertise includes company restructures and disposals, variations of capital, de-mergers, joint ventures, M&A work, and MBOs. The firm has a strong legacy of acting for blue-chip clients such as Goldman Sachs and Carlyle Group, and in 2011 it represented Home Inns and Hotel Management in its acquisition of 100% equity interest in Motel 168; both are leading PRC companies in the hotel industry and the deal was valued at $470m. It also represented Russian internet investment group Digital Sky Technologies on its $500m investment in 360buy.com, the largest Chinese e-commerce company. Corporate partners in Shanghai include Yang Gao and Benjamin Miao.

Jun He Law Offices has a sizeable practice with around half of its partners fielding expertise in M&A transactions. The firm is particularly active in foreign direct investment, and despite the slowdown continues to be involved in complex matters. Typical transactions involve advising listed and privately-held companies on domestic and cross-border transactions, while sector expertise includes finance, manufacturing, real estate, infrastructure, technology and pharmaceuticals. Tommy Hilfiger and GE have recently instructed the practice. Areas of expertise include designing and optimising transaction structures, conducting due diligence investigations and assisting in information disclosure, governmental filings, approvals and registrations. Adam Li is recommended.

King & Wood’s extensive client list spans multinationals, state-owned enterprises and private enterprises. It regularly advises companies on conforming with Chinese laws, and on inbound and outbound investment. On the M&A side, the range of expertise includes divestitures, strategic investments, stock and asset acquisitions and spin-offs for various client types. Additionally, it advises on real estate and tax matters.

Llinks Law Offices’ advice ranges from privatisation of state-owned enterprises to corporate housekeeping matters, and it is frequently involved in foreign direct investment and re-investment. It recently advised TB Partners on its acquisition of part of the shares of Qinheyuan Aged Care Services Group, and assisted a private fund in its acquisition of Belgravia Place from Grosvenor, advising it on the equity transfer, construction and project financing. China’s largest furniture operator, Redstar, recently instructed the firm in relation to its investment in the Chengcheng Square Project. Founding partner David Yu is recommended

Boss & Young Attorneys at Law has an outstanding practice which, while smaller in headcount than some of its main competitors, does punch above its weight in dealing with complex matters. The firm has seen an upsurge in deals of late, with highlights including advising on the acquisition of a 15% equity stake in a leading local PRC fixtures company. Other recent clients include a leading foreign property development company based in Shanghai.

Chen & Co. Law Firm is experienced in advising both multinational and domestic clients, having previously advised Canadian Solar and Virtuous Games Shanghai. It has acted for Fresenius Medical Care’s Shanghai subsidiary with drafting PRC sales contacts and construction services contracts for a plant expansion and ensured that the client was compliant with PRC laws and regulations. West Pharmaceutical Services instructed the firm in relation to PRC plant construction, including land acquisition, permit application and reviewing construction contracts. Lin Zhong heads the international business team and focuses particularly on direct investment and cross-border M&A.

Duan & Duan Law Firm is experienced in foreign direct investment and is regularly called upon for advice on corporate formation, dissolution and liquidation, and corporate governance. It has a strong name among media and entertainment clients and has attracted big-name clients such as Coca-Cola and Microsoft. Adding to the firm’s advantage is its related expertise in taxation, real estate, construction and environmental protection. Janet Duan and Steven Gong are recommended

M&A and restructuring is a core area at HHP Attorneys-At-Law. It handles the full range of services from early evaluation and planning of legal risks, feasibility and structure of a transaction, to advice on post-closing management, corporate governance and operation of the target company. The team has strong capabilities in foreign direct investment, assisting various entities in purchasing equity and assets, reinvesting in China, and establishing joint ventures with foreign investors on behalf of domestic companies. Clients include B&Q and Berlitz International.

Jade & Fountain PRC Lawyers has been growing its team of late with a number of new senior appointments and a new office in Beijing. The firm’s ‘outstanding’ corporate practice head Selena She is noted for ‘bringing her international firm experience to this local firm’. The team is commended for its ‘strength-in-depth which is often on a par with the larger firms’. Recent highlights include advising NASDAQ-listed Shanda Games on its acquisition of the Chinese online games company Goldcool. The team ‘offers a combination of legal insight, courtroom experience, industry expertise and practical business sense’. In addition to She, recent hires Lawrence Guo and Sophie Sha, and Henry Xiao are recommended.

Richard Wang & Co’s practice includes a number of former judges and foreign-educated lawyers. It is regularly called-upon to advise on mergers, bankruptcy and company re-organisation, and often advises foreign companies on investments into China. The firm’s experience includes completing a $250m equity merger of POSCO Plaza. Richard Wang and John Liu are recommended.

Wang Jing & Co has strong foundations in the shipping industry and has evolved to become a full-service firm with considerable corporate experience. It frequently acts as general legal counsel on foreign direct investments and mergers and acquisitions, and has expertise in employment, international trade, taxation and real estate law. Highlights included advising US-based energy companies on corporate finance matters, and acting for a Japanese publisher in relation to joint venture projects in China. Chen Xin is the key partner contact.

Yishi Law Firm is renowned for its Japanese client base, particularly in the electronics sector. Other clients include Petrochina and GE. Firm director Shi Yi is an experienced arbitrator who specialises in foreign direct investments - particularly among financial institutes - and international trade, M&A and share transfers.

Haworth & Lexon is a strong player in the mid-tier field, often drawing upon its extensive network which includes offices in New York, Paris, Sydney and Hong Kong. Much of its activity in Shanghai is legal compliance work for corporate clients; among these a number of Fortune 500 companies such as GE. Recent highlights include acting on a joint venture for a Korean company, with a total investment of over RNB10bn. Sean Yuan and Bailey Xu are recommended.

Concord & Partners is headquartered in Beijing and has a longstanding reputation, particularly in foreign investment matters. The firm is regularly instructed on urban infrastructure projects and advises across a number of sectors such as financial services and the media. Typical instructions include corporate restructurings, equity and asset acquisitions and transfers, corporate divisions and mergers and equity and debt financing.

Grandall Law Firm focuses on mergers and restructuring-related advice and often draws upon its IP, tax and employment practices. It has advised on offshore and onshore corporate structure and planning, divestitures, spin-offs and a number of venture capital transactions. Charles Guan Jianjun and Ni Junji are recommended.

HaoLiWen PRC Attorneys’ team frequently assists foreign investors in establishing a corporate presence in China, and it advised two multinationals from the pharmaceuticals and logistics sectors regarding strategies in restructuring operations in China. It also provides general day-to-day advice to corporate clients and has expertise on various compliance issues as well as private equity and capital funds. Deming Zhao is recommended.

Henry Zhuang & Partners has had considerable success in the corporate and commercial arena. It acted for a Singapore investor in a split from its joint venture company, which had assets of more than $170m. It also advised investors from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia setting up a restaurant in Shanghai, and represented a Singaporean cosmetics company on its franchising business in China. Additionally it has been instructed on a wide range of foreign investments and acquisition projects. Founding partner Henry Zhuang Hongzhi is noted.

MWE China Law Offices is strategically aligned with McDermott Will & Emery LLP and advises local, national and international organisations on Chinese and multi-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions. It assists businesses with gaining entry and doing business in China, covering a broad range of sectors and representing a mix of buyers, sellers, investors and financial institutions as well as independent director committees and management groups. Founding partner and managing partner Kevin Qian is recommended.

Shimin Law Office’s core client base comprises a number of Japanese and Korean clients, which call upon the group for advice on corporate governance, strategic matters and tax-related issues. Hu Shimin is a key partner.

Headquartered in Shenzen, Shu Jin Law Firm specialises in areas including restructuring and reorganisation, M&A, foreign direct investment and re-investment and insolvency and liquidation. It acts for clients including International Finance Corporation (IFC) and various private entrepreneurs. The firm advised Ching Hing in relation to the $216m acquisition of an iron and titanium dioxide mine.

Wyselead Law Firm advises corporates on foreign direct investment and on Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures. It has been involved in a number of acquisition projects in China, conducting due diligence, drafting and negotiating equity transfer contracts and other documents, as well as advising on governmental approval formalities. Recommended attorneys include managing partner Bo Zhu and Sharon Li.

Headquartered in Beijing, Guantao Law Firm has numerous offices across China and acts for a range of clients on matters such as corporate governance, setting up legal and capital structures, stock ownership restructuring and share transfers. Its client list includes fund management companies and insurers.

Recommended for its ‘outstanding level of service’ is boutique R&P China Lawyers. It was established in March 2010 by managing director Maarten Roos, who has ‘great knowledge of the law’, along with a number of Chinese partners. It focuses exclusively on foreign SMEs investing into China and has clients from jurisdictions including Germany, France, the US and Australia. Recent work includes advising on the separation of a joint venture, and arranging the sale of two subsidiaries and the holding company by a foreign investor for RMB45.5m in an MBO. The firm is praised for its ‘excellent response times’.