The Legal 500

‘One of the leaders in the market’, Fangda Partners has grown its practice recently with the addition of Benjamin Miao who joined from Clifford Chance LLP and has extensive experience in representing multinationals. The firm is equally adept in litigation in the Chinese courts and arbitration in CIETAC and other tribunals; it handles disputes arising from joint ventures, construction, corporate governance and international trading among others. It also assists clients applying for enforcement of foreign judgements or arbitration awards in China. Key partners include Xiang Ji, Daniel Huang, Richard Lin and Ji Nuo.

Widely considered to be at the top of its game, Jun He Law Offices is a trusted advisor to numerous multinational companies. Fielding ‘a large team of litigators that provides quick and good service in all areas’, it is particularly renowned for patent and product liability cases, and has extensive experience in finance-related litigation and arbitration. The firm served as counsel in litigation on a debt dispute involving the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and was involved in arbitration in an insurance dispute between the China Reinsurance Company and Allstate Insurance Company. The team’s capabilities also stretch to employment disputes, domestic and international arbitration, and IP litigation. Ning Fei and Lei Wu are recommended.

King & Wood has many years’ experience of acting for large corporates and financial institutions in litigation and administrative proceedings. It is also strong in arbitration, having appeared on behalf of clients before most of the major institutions such as CIETAC, ICC and SCC. The firm has developed its practice over the years to include various specialisms; one such example is securities disputes for domestic clients. Also incorporated within the practice are bankruptcy, restructuring and liquidation, shipping and customs matters. Denning Jin and Liu Yanling are recommended.

Allbright Law Offices has a strong track record of litigation and now represents clients both in China and abroad, bolstered by the firm’s national presence and international referral network. It has strong capabilities in CIETAC and international arbitration, having represented clients in a number of high-profile cases. The types of disputes range from maritime matters and white collar crimes to employment and IP disputes. Another prominent area is international trade disputes such as anti-dumping regulations in China, Europe and the US.

Boss & Young Attorneys at Law has a team that is experienced in litigation both in China and abroad, with emphasis on international trade, intellectual property rights, bank loans, real estate development, shipping and debt collection. Recent highlights include successfully defending a major retailer against claims of non-payment by a Chinese company, and winning a case for a French employer. Mingjie Zhang and Xu Guojian are recommended.

Grandall Law Firm frequently assists international clients with litigation and arbitration. It advises on matters such as drafting clauses and agreements, property preservation, product liability, IP, construction, securities and white-collar crime. Grant (Guoquan) Li’s arbitration experience includes advising BSC on a sale of goods contract dispute before CIETAC, and his litigation credentials include acting for Carlsberg in distribution agreement disputes, and acting for Shanghai Minmetals in relation to an import and export agency contract dispute.

Llinks Law Offices’ disputes practice is relatively young, but has hit the ground running; clients praise the team’s willingness to ‘work around the clock’ and value its ‘quality advice’. Highlights included advising on a claim against Lehman Brothers during the financial crisis. It represents various local and foreign clients in arbitration proceedings, and utilises its international network to assist with proceedings abroad. Its capabilities span a range of disputes including commercial lending transactions, buying and selling of securities, international and domestic trade, leasing, IP and international transportation. Key partners include Charles Qin, who ‘has a passion for success’ and is ‘very meticulous in his work’.

Duan & Duan Law Firm’s Gary Gao has represented a number of multinational companies in disputes, both at home and abroad. His expertise encompasses IT, IP, energy, insurance, white-collar and corporate crime, and product liability. Managing partner Charles Duan is also recommended.

Global Law Office has a team of four full-time specialists who practice foreign and domestic court litigation and arbitration, as well as mediation and alternative dispute resolution. The firm’s track record includes precedent-setting matters such as the first arbitration case in Stockholm, when it represented a joint venture company based in Guangdong before the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. The firm’s shipping background adds another string to the bow of this growing practice, as does its strong quota of pharmaceutical clients. George Wang is recommended.

Haworth & Lexon’s strong presence in manufacturing, commerce, finance and capital markets is key to its practice, complemented by the firm’s associated offices in New York, Paris, Sydney and Hong Kong, and strengths include international trade, property, IP, product liability and international contractual disputes. Fujifilm is a key client. Sean Yuan is recommended.

The team at Jade & Fountain PRC Lawyers is ‘very responsive and demonstrates a high level of business awareness and acumen’. Experienced in disputes involving multinationals and domestic companies, the firm also acts for individuals; it recently represented a footballer in a high-profile dispute with the media. A large bulk of the practice is employment and shipbuilding-related but it also takes on IP and shares disputes. A recent highlight was advising SiTV, a subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group (SMG) in a dispute with a domestic TV production group on the operation of one of SMG’s digital TV channels. It also acted for Great Wall Airlines in a dispute between a Hong Kong-based air charter company, and advised a major American airline on a matter involving aircraft charter agreements. Chen Gang heads the team and Will Huang is ‘particularly good’.