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Baker & McKenzie

SUITE 3401, CHINA WORLD TOWER 2, CHINA WORLD TRADE CENTER, 1 JIANGUOMENWAI DAJIE, BEIJING 100004
Zurich, Washington DC, Warsaw, Vienna, Valencia, Toronto , and 68 more

What we say about the firm's legal practice in China

China overview

Foreign firms

Within Banking and finance, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Highlights for Baker & McKenzie included representing a syndicate of lenders led by Bank of China in relation to a $600m term loan facility for Huawei Technology Investment, and advising Bank of China with respect to its HK$1.25bn construction loan facility to Cateavon. Additionally, the practice acted for China National Petroleum, the PRC project sponsor of a $11bn dual-gas pipeline project across the Central Asia. Harvey Lau is the leading PRC-based partner.

Within Capital markets, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie was engaged regarding the IPOs of China Railway Construction and China Southern Locomotive in 2008, in addition to advising China Eastern Airlines on the RMB7bn new share subscription by its parent company China Eastern Air. Jackie Lo in Beijing is a leading individual.

Within Corporate & M&A, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s ‘huge and well-diversified platform’ and ‘extensive background in the region’ results in a consistent flow of M&A representations. One highlight was advising ArcelorMittal on its two steel joint ventures with the Valin Group, cumulatively worth €4bn. The practice also completed its representation of State Grid Corporation of China in its $3.95bn deal gaining the rights to operate the Philippines’ electricity grid. Marco Marazzi in Shanghai and Stanley Jia in Beijing are two key partners.

Within Dispute resolution, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s ‘broad and busy disputes practice’ is increasingly engaged on outbound arbitration and litigation as well as restructuring and insolvency work. CEITAC is another primary source of engagements. Additionally, in 2008 the team won a key ruling for Avery Dennison in a long-running defence of trade secret and unfair competition claims by Four Pillars Enterprises. Gary Seib, Andrew Aglionby and Cynthia Tang are all recommended.

Within Employment, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie is ‘a great outfit for mainland China employment advice’ with a ‘strong dedicated team’ of two partners and eight associates. The economic crisis has led to instructions on contentious employee terminations, mass layoffs, workforce reductions and labor cost reductions. Team leader Andreas Lauffs in Hong Kong is considered ‘the leading expert on PRC employment law’ - he wrote the standard practice book on the topic, Employment Law & Practice in China. Joseph Deng in Shanghai is also recommended for his ‘practical and intelligent advice’.

Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s ‘pragmatic, proactive and responsive’ intellectual property practice has traditionally been strongest on 
anti-counterfeiting, but has developed into a well-rounded IP service. Highlights include securing a victory for Porsche in groundbreaking litigation in the PRC involving the protection of copyright in architectural designs. Another notable engagement was defending International Nutrition in a RMB500,000 trade mark infringement lawsuit brought by Nestlé. Beijing partner Chris Smith receives plaudits for his ‘excellent commercial approach, sound knowledge of trade-marks and Chinese law and language’.

Within Projects and energy, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s ‘top notch energy practice’ advised China National Petroleum on its role as PRC sponsor of an $11bn dual-gas pipeline project across Central Asia. Other highlights include acting for SK Energy in relation to its $2.5bn naphtha cracker joint venture with Sinopec in China, and representing the State Grid Corporation of China on its $3.95bn joint bid for a 25-year concession to operate the Philippines’ national electricity grid. Hong Kong-based Barry Cheng is recognised as ‘very active - a market leader’, while Stanley Jia stands out in Beijing.

Within Real estate, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Particularly strong for REITs, Baker & McKenzie also has a ‘highly respected’ PRC real estate practice. The team advised toymaker Mattel in relation to the renovation and the opening of its inaugural ‘House of Barbie’ store in Shanghai. Michelle Gon is recommended.

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

‘Top of the pack’, Baker & McKenzie’s large, well-established tax team has ‘an in-depth knowledge of Chinese tax laws and a great general business sense of how things actually can be transacted in China’. The team has been active advising on the 2008 revamp of the PRC’s corporate tax laws and transfer pricing regime. Recent highlights include advising an American franchise and retail multinational on the restructuring of its PRC holdings for PRC, Hong Kong, Singapore and US tax purposes. Team head Jon Eichelberger in Beijing is ‘a strong corporate tax lawyer’, while Brendan Kelly in Shanghai is ‘an incredible resource, and always responsive’.

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Mayer Brown JSM hired Julie Zhang from Baker & McKenzie - she has been active advising on tax aspects of transactions.

Within TMT, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

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

Within WTO/international trade, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s international trade planning and controversies practice in China advises on a range of WTO and international trade issues, including optimising cross-border trade in goods and services through free trade agreements, export controls on strategic goods and technologies, trade sanctions, and local legislation compliance with WTO commitments. Customs and tax duties, international distribution and supply chain management are areas of particular expertise. Hong Kong partner Eugene Lim is the focus of the practice.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Baker & McKenzie office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

Australia

Offices in Sydney and Melbourne

Austria

Offices in Vienna

Azerbaijan

Offices in Baku

Belgium

Offices in Brussels, Antwerp, and Brussels

Bahrain

Offices in Manama

China

Offices in Beijing and Shanghai

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Munich

Egypt

Offices in Cairo

Spain

Offices in Madrid and Barcelona

France

Offices in Paris

Ghana

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Hungary

Offices in Budapest

Indonesia

Offices in Jakarta

India

Italy

Offices in Rome, Milan, and Bologna

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kuwait

Kazakhstan

Offices in Almaty

London

Offices in London and London

Libya

Malaysia

Offices in Kuala Lumpur

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

UK Overview

Philippines

Offices in Makati

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Russia

Offices in Moscow and St Petersburg

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Switzerland

Offices in Zurich and Geneva

Taiwan

Offices in Taipei

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

US

Offices in Washington DC, Palo Alto, New York, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and Houston

Vietnam

Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
Baker & McKenzie

  • Tax Reforms Towards the Creation of an International Financial Center in Russia

    In December 2009 the Russian Parliament adopted important changes further promoting the Russian holding companies regime. Starting from January 1, 2011 Russian holding companies will no longer be required to meet the present 500 million ruble threshold for investments made into companies qualifying as “strategic investments” to receive tax benefits.
    - Baker & McKenzie

Legal Developments in China

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