The Legal 500

King & Wood suffered a blow at the start of 2011, losing its highly respected head of tax Stephen Nelson to DLA Piper. However, tax specialist and ex-Big-Four accountancy lawyer Tony Dong helps retain some of the firm’s kudos, acting for a broad client base of multinational corporations and domestic companies with wide industry exposure. Consultant Su Xiaolu, a former official at the State Administration of Tax, brings a unique insight into the workings of the tax authorities and has also been involved in formulating and implementing tax-related legislation.

Run Ming Law Office provides tax analysis for a range of transactions, from routine tax issues through to the provision of advice regarding foreign investment projects and tax-related disputes. Head of tax Ron Ma has been advising on a number of matters involving China-related activities of US companies and investment banks, as well advising a local technology company on income tax issues.

Dingfa (David) Liu at Jun He Law Offices has been busy advising clients on tax issues relating to the reorganisation and restructuring of their existing businesses and investments in China. Highlights included advising a client on Chinese tax issues relating to an offshore fund’s investment in China, and in particular assisting on the analysis of capital gains tax in relation to non-resident enterprises. The team also advises numerous clients on bilateral tax treaty issues.

Li Rongfa at JunZeJun Law Offices has rich experience in handling complex tax disputes and general tax planning. Currently secretary-general of the taxation committee of the Beijing Lawyers Association, he also has well established relationships with the taxation authorities.

Allbright Law Offices is praised for its responsiveness and quality of work. The team recently welcomed Kevin Wang from Mayer Brown JSM to leads its Beijing tax practice, which currently primarily supports the corporate department in large-scale M&A, and private equity investment or divestment transactions. Praised for his ‘sound professional knowledge’, Wang has a Big Four accountancy firm background as well as a history of managing and developing tax practices in law firms. Corporate and tax specialist Haifeng Yang leads on tax-related matters from Shanghai.

Haiwen & Partners’ tax practice focuses on tax-related issues in corporate and M&A matters, and includes advice to leading domestic and international private equity funds on complex transactions. Fei He is the key contact.

Jon Eichelberger’s team at Baker & McKenzie has a longstanding history of providing tax advice to foreign companies investing in China. The practice has strength in depth, with many of the 17-strong team having previously worked at major accounting firms and private banks. The team has seen an increase in instructions from both the buyer and seller on a number of M&A transactions, and has also been advising on China’s new controversial circular 698 regarding the indirect transfer of Chinese companies. Brendan Kelly is ‘very bright, personable and focused. He is well-versed in Chinese law and aware of the processes’. Glenn DeSouza focuses on transfer pricing.

DLA Piper received a significant boost at the start of 2011, hiring Stephen Nelson, previously head of tax and co-head of the corporate group at well- respected local firm King & Wood. Nelson’s arrival strengthens the group’s expertise relating to foreign investments, and increases its capabilities in the TMT and financial services sectors. In 2010, the team was particularly busy in tax-related supply chain management issues and advising on tax issues relating to corporate and restructuring transactions. Daniel Chan is also well-known in the field.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.’s tax practice benefits from the firm’s strengths in the energy, environmental and infrastructure sectors. Stéphane Vernay has particular expertise in French, Chinese and international tax law - having recently been heavily involved in the re-negotiation of the tax treaty between China and France - and in tax matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, and project finance. The team acts for an impressive list of high-profile clients including EDF and Galeries Lafayette, and recently advised Areva T&D on the submission of a tax filing under circular 698. The team has ‘good knowledge of the legal and tax environment in China’.

US, UK and Chinese tax capability helps O’Melveny & Myers LLP focus on the increasingly sophisticated tax planning needs of China-related transactions including cross-border mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, private investment transactions, joint ventures, and project financings. The team, which regularly interacts with local tax authorities on legislative and merging guidance initiatives, has been particularly busy on transfer pricing matters. Leading figure Larry Sussman advised on a large number of matters concerning circulars 698 and 59. Clients include Goldman Sachs and Honeywell.

The ‘outstanding’ Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira has a long history of acting for major Iberian companies in China such as Sol Meliá and Acerinox and is praised for its local knowledge. The ‘bright and practical’ Omar Puertas leads the team which has been advising the Spanish cooperative Mondragon Corporation on tax structuring for its expansion activities, transfer pricing matters, and corporate restructuring transactions.

Garrigues acts predominantly for Spanish, Latin American and Portuguese clients investing in China as well as for Chinese companies investing abroad. Due to its strong corporate and M&A practice, the team provides advice to a broad range of sectors. Managing partner Francisco Soler Caballero recently advised Spanish company FerroAtlántica on the tax planning for a project to build the largest silicon factory in the world.

Jones Day has seen an increase in cross-border M&A activity in 2010, exposing Fuli Cao’s tax team to a number of transactions involving an analysis of circular 698. The team predominantly acts for the firm’s existing corporate clients but also assists a number of high-profile entities solely on tax matters. Highlights included advising major US pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly on tax matters relating to a new research and development centre in China. Cao also has experience in tax disputes.

Julie Zhang leads the tax practice at Mayer Brown JSM and has advised numerous multinationals regarding foreign direct investments in China, as well as large SOEs regarding their outbound investment projects. Other experience includes assisting in the defence of Chinese clients in US anti-dumping investigations regarding the impact of VAT refunds. Clients include investment banks and private equity houses.

Salans has a number of tax lawyers who are also certified public accountants. Practice head Yun Wei advises on tax planning, cross-border investment, group restructuring, M&A transactions, transfer pricing and tax disputes. Managing partner Bernd-Uwe Stucken is also extremely knowledgeable in corporate, restructuring and tax matters. Recent work for the team includes acting for European private equity group Aurelius, and advising Maico on tax issues relating to its acquisitions in China.