The Legal 500

Within Beijing, King & Wood is a first tier firm,

King & Wood represented a foreign bank as the agent bank of a syndicate, marking the first transaction in which a foreign bank financed an SPV established in a free trade zone. The firm assisted Asian Development Bank in its financing to Zhongran Investment in connection with the CGH Phase II project, and advised Fangchenggang Nuclear Power and the relevant project company in the project financing of Guangxi Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Station, provided by a lending group of onshore financial institutions. The ‘competent and intelligent’ Wang Ling heads the team.

Within Shanghai, King & Wood is a first tier firm,

Wang Ling heads King & Wood’s practice, which recently represented Asian Development Bank in its financing to Zhongran Investment for the CGH Phase II project. It also acted for Fangchenggang Nuclear Power on its project finance to Guangxi Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Station, provided by a lending group of onshore financial institutions. Aircraft finance is one of the firm’s niches, and it has been involved in the leasing of large aircraft and transactions involving other key airborne equipment by Chinese airlines. It has considerable experience in the import and export credit operations of Chinese banks, and assisted Export-Import Bank of China in drafting and preparing standard documentation for buyer’s credit facilities and preferential governmental loans. It also advised Export-Import Bank of China on other projects, including its provision of a buyer’s credit facility to a Norwegian shipping corporation for its ship purchases.

Within Beijing, King & Wood is a first tier firm,

King & Wood’s Jing Gang led the team advising as PRC counsel to the underwriters in DK Solar’s issuance of American depositary shares on the NYSE. The practice also served as the Bank of China’s legal advisor in relation to share placements and acted in connection with Mingyang’s public offering and listing, making it China’s first wind power machinery company to list in the US. Another highlight involved Bank of Communications’ successfully issued A and H shares on the Shanghai and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges, marking the largest-scale A+H share placement by a state-controlled commercial bank. Yang Xiaolei, Stanley Cha, Zhang Yongliang and Wang Lixin are key figures.

Within Shanghai, King & Wood is a second tier firm,

King & Wood’s capital markets expertise includes securities issuance and listings, financing for private companies, funds, mergers and acquisitions of listed companies, securities and derivatives and wealth management. In 2010, the firm assisted the insurance arm of American International Group (AIA) in relation to its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, advising it on PRC law; the IPO raised HK$140bn. Stanley Cha led the deal in co-ordination with the firm’s strong Beijing-based practice.

Within Beijing, King & Wood is a first tier firm,

On the outbound side, King & Wood’s ‘truly expert team’ has assisted numerous domestic clients investing abroad and tapping overseas resources, technologies, brands and markets, and is noted for its strong relationships with Chinese regulators and strong network of overseas offices and alliance partners. The firm also has a widely praised FDI practice and frequently provides legal services to both multinationals investing in China and to domestic companies receiving investments from foreign entities. Jing Gang led the advice to Beijing Wild Wolf Investment Consulting in its successful acquisition of all the shares of Beijing Globallink Computer Technology and Ourgame Asset from NHN and SeaRainbow Holding. The team, led by corporate law specialist Hu Zaichi, assisted the Centre for Development of Trade and Management of Investment in Europe, a subsidiary of the Chengtong group, in connection with the acquisition of a large development with 13 office buildings, business facilities and apartments in Moscow. Xu Ping specialises in foreign direct investment in China, M&A, and technology transfers, and ex-Clifford Chance LLP Beijing chief representative Rupert Li is highly regarded for cross-border M&A and strategic corporate investments. Li has handled numerous onshore and offshore acquisitions, investments, and listings for large-scale enterprises, including offshore investments, joint venture establishments and M&A transactions; Carolyn Dong specialises in corporate governance, M&A, corporate restructuring, outbound investment, and foreign direct investment in China. Yang Xiaolei and Zhou Ning are also recommended;

Within Shanghai, King & Wood is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Beijing, King & Wood is a first tier firm,

The range, scale and complexity of work undertaken by King & Wood reflects the firm’s deep local knowledge and broad experience in international arbitration as well as domestic litigation. Highlights included representing an Australian iron ore giant in a Chinese court against a prominent Chinese steel company involving claims exceeding $110m, and acting for a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) in SIAC (Singapore International Arbitration Centre) arbitration commenced by a US technology licensor. The latest financial crisis has also produced a series of instructions from major international banks in private equity disputes. Other expertise includes seeking or challenging the enforcement of international arbitration awards. Qian Yaozhi leads the team.

Within Shanghai, King & Wood is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Beijing, King & Wood is a second tier firm,

King & Wood has a solid reputation in this area, with a history of working with governmental authorities, legal research institutions, and HR research agencies on the development of legislation, judicial practice, and administrative enforcement. The full-service practice covers advice on collective and individual employment contracts, planning and implementation of employment policies, and litigation and arbitration. Jiang Junlu focuses on disputes, contractual issues and internal policies.

Within Beijing, King & Wood is a first tier firm,

King & Wood advises on and implements IP management and protection strategies for multinational companies which have valuable portfolios of IP assets. Highlights in 2010 included acting in a retrial case in the Supreme People’s Court for Shanghai Zhonghan Chenguang Stationery Co Ltd, resulting in the first decision by the Court regarding the protection of a design under anti-competition laws. Li Yong leads the team, Yang Xiaoli has extensive experience in trade mark prosecution and enforcement, and Qiao Dexi is also recommended.

Within Shanghai Leading individuals: local firms

Within Legal market overview,

Mainland China’s domestic firms lag behind their foreign counterparts for international practice standards, but local firms dominate the domestic market, and are increasingly seen in cross-border matters. Jun He Law Offices, King & Wood, Zhong Lun Law Firm and Haiwen & Partners are among China’s top domestic firms.

Within Beijing, King & Wood is a first tier firm,

King & Wood’s Jing Gang advised Winsway Coking Coal Holdings on its listing on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and Susan Ning acted for Rio Tinto on the antitrust aspects of its sale of a portion of an equity interest in a Simandou iron ore mining project in Guinea to the Aluminum Corporation of China. Li Jinnan is a project finance specialist.

Within Beijing, King & Wood is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Beijing, King & Wood is a first tier firm,

King & Wood continues to be at the forefront of some of the most high-profile matters involving anti-dumping investigations and countervailing duty measures. In a dispute involving exports of more than $700m, Xiao Jin successfully convinced the WTO Appellate Body that a number of measures imposed by the US on certain products from China, violated WTO rules. Liu Cheng has extensive experience of representing Chinese exporters and multinationals across a broad spectrum of industries.