The Legal 500

Within Foreign firms, tier 4

Foreign direct investment and M&A projects are core to Jones Day’s business in Greater China. The firm continues to focus on its core client base of industrial and manufacturing clients, and strong China tax, antitrust and energy practices supplement the M&A practice. Clients say that ‘the lawyers are highly personable individuals who have a profound understanding of both Western and Chinese business and cultural approaches’. The practice advised Beiqi Foton Motor, China’s largest commercial-vehicle manufacturer, on its headline joint venture with Daimler. Beijing-based practice leader John Kao, Shanghai-based Alex Zhang, Winston Zhao and Patrick Hu are recommended. Ian Liao was made partner.

Within Foreign firms, Jones Day is a first tier firm,

Led by Peter Wang in Shanghai, Jones Day’s practice is deemed ‘value for money’ and ‘very competent with good industry knowledge and experience of litigation in China’. The recent addition of Horace Lam in Beijing from Hogan Lovells International LLP is a coup on the IP disputes side, and Ashley Howlett in Beijing is ‘highly recommended for construction and litigation’; his ‘competence level is extremely high and he has a lot of relevant experience’. The group is advising a number of US clients on FCPA-related investigations, due diligence, and compliance work relating to activities in China. It is also advising Australian mining companies Mt Gibson Mining and Koolan Iron Ore Mining on the enforcement of a $130m Australian arbitration award against Rizhao Steel in Shandong. Shanghai-based Michael Vella and Beijing-based Victor Chang are recommended.

Within Foreign firms, Jones Day is a second tier firm,

Jones Day ‘does an excellent job on patents and trade marks’ and recently recruited leading IP lawyer Horace Lam, previously of Hogan Lovells International LLP, to its Beijing office. The two key partners in Shanghai are Tony Chen and Michael Vella, however in 2011 Benjamin Bai left to join Allen & Overy LLP. The firm has a strong track record in litigation, acting with local firms both in courtroom and administrative actions. Current mandates include representing a leading US biotech company in dealing with IP issues relating to marketing products in China. This includes patent prosecution, patent invalidation, drug counterfeiting and trade mark infringement matters. It is defending a Shanghai-based biotech company in relation to antibody treatment of cancer and in a global patent prosecution, as well as advising the client in patent licensing discussions relating to a heart failure drug.

Within Foreign firms, Jones Day is a third tier firm,

Jones Day represented BioVeda China Fund in the RMB3.56bn sale to Shanghai Pharmaceutical Holdings and its affiliate of the controlling equity interest in China Health System. Shanghai partners Patrick Hu and Alex Zhang are key contacts. In Beijing, John Kao and Ian Liao are recommended.

Within Foreign firms, Jones Day is a second tier firm,

Jones Day is ‘fantastic for any company doing business in China which needs authoritative, pragmatic and technically impeccable advice delivered on a very responsive basis’. Beijing partner Ashley Howlett and Hong Kong-based Michael Arruda head a construction and energy practice which focuses on projects and disputes in China and Hong Kong on behalf of US, European and Asian manufacturing and industrial companies, engineers and contractors. Clients comment that the firm is strong on the construction and infrastructure side, but has a lesser profile for energy work. A growing part of the practice is the representation of Chinese contractors undertaking projects in Africa, South America, the Middle East, India, Pakistan and Southeast Asia. Howett is ‘a technically brilliant lawyer who can magic up a work-around for almost any legal obstacle’. The team represented SanDisk Corporation in relation to the procurement of an extension to its existing flash memory production in Shanghai, and acted for Novartis with procurement strategy and regulatory issues in relation to its new state-of-the-art research and development campus in Shanghai.

Within Foreign firms Other recommended firms

Within Foreign firms, Jones Day is a third tier firm,

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.