With ‘an unrivalled antitrust practice in China‘, Linklaters is sought out by both prominent multinational corporations, as well as large Chinese companies. On the merger control front, the firm’s recent track record includes assisting Intel with the $5.4bn acquisition of Tower Semiconductors, along with the $9bn sale of NAND/SSD assets to SK hynix. The group is also highly active in investigations and litigation. Heading the Beijing-based Asia/China antitrust and foreign investment group, Fay Zhou, whose practice covers competition/antitrust law and other regulatory issues, has ‘deep knowledge of both Chinese and EU competition law‘; and managing associate Qiuying Zheng regularly handles healthcare sector-related antitrust issues. Through the firm’s joint operation with PRC practice Zhao Sheng Law Firm, where experienced partner Xi Liao assists with Chinese and overseas merger filings, investigations, compliance programmes and behavioural issues, it ‘provides a one-stop-shop service, combining its international network with on-the-ground capability‘.

The result of a joint operation between international law firm Baker McKenzie and PRC practice FenXun Partners (which provides access to local legal advice), Baker McKenzie FenXun‘s Greater China platform is experienced in competition and antitrust matters throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It handles the full range of competition issues, including clearances for M&A, joint ventures and other arrangements in Hong Kong, PRC, and across multiple jurisdictions. The group also frequently assists with complex investigations by the Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC) and other authorities, in relation to anti-competitive practices, and fields a go-to practice for compliance audits. In Hong Kong, Stephen Crosswell is highly experienced in significant competition trials, dawn raids, leniency applications, cartel matters and merger clearance work. In June 2022, Beijing-based merger control and antitrust compliance, investigations and litigation specialist Laura Liu at FenXun Partners was promoted to partner.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘s Hong Kong-based Greater China practice acts across a range of competition and antitrust matters, while many of its key clients are from the consumer goods, telecoms and technology sectors. It routinely works alongside the firm’s corporate and disputes teams on major merger transactions, as well as on high-profile competition law enforcement cases. The firm is additionally able to provide China legal services through its joint operation with Kewei Law Firm, which showcases Shanghai partner and Chinese competition law expert Frances Xu, who is experienced in advising clients from the pharmaceuticals, TMT, automobiles, luxury products, energy and public utilities sectors. Head of competition in Asia, Adelaide Luke‘s broad competition law practice ranges from behavioural issues, to regulatory investigations, merger control and joint venture-related issues. Senior associate Howard Chan has notable experience in the competition law regimes of Asia, as well as the EU and UK.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s China competition practice routinely handles complex antitrust matters, including cross-border transactions. It also advises at regional levels on conduct and litigation-related matters. Clients additionally benefit from the firm’s global antitrust, competition and M&A groups, in relation to merger control approvals for international transactions. The merger control work of practice head Andrew Foster, who divides his time between Beijing and Hong Kong, is particularly focused on clients from the technology, telecoms, aviation and chemicals sectors. On the mainland, 2021-promoted Asia-Pacific counsel Kexin Li regularly acts on high-profile merger control matters and associate Julia Zhu is experienced in the antitrust laws of China, along with a number of APAC jurisdictions. In Hong Kong, Jacqueline Arena, whose experience includes acting as lead associate for APAC and EC merger control filings, was promoted to Asia-Pacific counsel in July 2022.

Allen & Overy LLP‘s longstanding Greater China antitrust practice head, Hong Kong-based partner François Renard, consistently advises both Western and Asian clients on APAC (including China), EU and other national competition laws and the wider practice is experienced in cartel investigations, as well as litigation. Clients particularly appreciate the group’s ability to leverage domestic PRC law expertise through the firm’s China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone joint operation with domestic legal practice Lang Yue Law Firm, which fields former Allen & Overy LLP senior associate Jiaming Zhang (at counsel level since May 2022).

CMS is noted for its 'great' China competition team which is particularly active in relation to merger control filings and the establishment of antitrust compliance programmes. The team also has notable sector expertise in utilities, TMT, life sciences and healthcare, along with construction, finance, automotive and manufacturing. The Shanghai-based group is jointly led by China managing partner Ulrike Glueck, the relationship partner for several key clients and counsel Aiping Bao, who has ‘great procedural skills‘. Beijing and Hong Kong-based Nick Beckett is also a key partner-level contact.

O'Melveny‘s antitrust and competition team is particularly active in matters involving the energy, petrochemicals, biotechnology, telecoms, entertainment, and digital economy sectors. The group advises on both merger control and investigations, as well as compliance work. Heading up the Asia antitrust and competition practice from Hong Kong, Philip Monaghan is a former first executive director general counsel to the Hong Kong Competition Commission and in Beijing, senior consultant Lining Shan has extensive experience in antitrust and competition matters in China.