The Legal 500

Bird & Bird is ‘well-known for its technology specialism’, and possesses a standalone technology, media and telecoms practice with ‘a good reputation for information technology outsourcing and intellectual property licensing contracts’. Recent highlights include advising Skype on China’s regulatory environment in connection with its VoIP service, and advising Ikivo in its negotiations with Huawei and other PRC manufacturers relating to the pre-loading of Ikivo software onto mobile phone handsets. The team also represented Harris Corporation regarding its $675m acquisition of Tyco Electronics Wireless Systems. Asia TMT head Marcus Vass and China leader Grace Chen both practice in Beijing and come ‘highly recommended’.

Lovells LLP’s TMT practice in China encompasses corporate transactions, regulatory advice, e-commerce and data protection. The team is ‘very well regarded, especially on the transactional side’. One recent highlight was advising Qualcomm on a technology licence contract with a South China satellite communications company. Beijing managing partner Robert Lewis has ‘great in-house experience’ at Nortel, while Andrew McGinty in Shanghai also has a good record.

Rated as ‘great for TMT’, Morrison & Foerster is increasing its market profile in China with ‘strong corporate and technical IT/IP capabilities’. A significant engagement of 2008 was representing NetEase.com in relation to its licensing and operation in China of the World of Warcraft online game from Blizzard, including the establishment of a structure to address PRC telecoms regulatory limitations and the outsourcing of $100m data-centre arrangements to local providers. Outsourcing is a particular strength. Hong Kong-based Nigel Stamp and Gordon Milner are the main partners.

Clients rate Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP as ‘the premier shop for media investment into China’. To media and entertainment expertise, the team adds experience in telecommunications and general corporate prowess; the lawyers ‘know the field very well and try and find business solutions to problems’. Highlights include representing Microsoft in its equity investment in a foreign-invested enterprise majority-owned by Tata Consultancy Services, which will engage in the information technology consulting business in China. The team also acted for Motorola on the acquisition of assets relating to digital set-top products of Zhejiang Dahua Group and Hangzhou Image Silicon. Jeanette Chan is ‘just the best’.

Baker & McKenzie advised Monster Worldwide on its $174 acquisition of ChinaHR, one of the largest online recruitment companies in China.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Connie Carnabuci ‘is a star’ - she advised Air China on the roll-out of its global online-ticketing service.

Jones Day’s ‘great strength in IP’ weds with its corporate prowess to form a strong TMT practice - Marcus Woo is the key contact in Beijing.

Damien Bailey at Simmons & Simmons has ‘good general telecoms knowledge and business acumen’ and ‘a good depth of team’ behind him in Hong Kong and China.