AnJie Broad Law Firm‘s antitrust practice represents a host of stellar clients including, among others, PepsiCo and Panasonic. Joint practice heads Ying Song, Hao Zhan and Michael Gu have experience and expertise in merger filings, private litigation, investigations defence and compliance. Song and Zhan have particular expertise in handling acquisitions in the energy field. Gu acts for clients in numerous sectors, including sports, technology and public utilities. The trio’s combined industry knowledge allows the firm to act for clients across a diverse range of industries. Grace Wu is a further name to note.

Fangda Partners‘ antitrust and competition practice acts on high-profile investigations on matters such as abuse of dominance in the digital sphere, with the firm representing some of the largest names in Chinese e-commerce. The team, led by Michael Han, is one of the top choices for PRC counsel in the eyes of many multinational businesses. As well as investigations, Han advises on a range of matters including merger control, competition litigation and strategic and operational counselling. Another key name is Caroline Huang, who assists with abuse of dominance and cartel investigations and merger filing and has notable specialisms in the shipping, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals industries.

Tian Yuan Law Firm specialises in complex antitrust litigation. The diversity of the firm’s clients – from Tencent to China Academic Journals Publishing House – demonstrates the broad-ranging industry expertise. Wei Huang and Fan Zhu are heavyweights among contentious antitrust practitioners, regularly acting on some of the most high-profile investigations and precedent-setting disputes in the PRC market. The JD.com vs AliBaba suit is a prime example; involving complex issues such as the analysis of the competitive damage of monopolistic conduct under the bilateral network platform market and the measurement of the damage caused to competitors by exclusive dealing practices.

An expansive team representing an extensive client base, the Zhong Lun Law Firm‘s antitrust practice continues to be widely respected by peers and engaged by multinational and Chinese state-backed clients alike. The practice is well-equipped to advise on merger filing, litigation, investigations and compliance. The competition practice is headed by Xue Yi, who advises on compliance matters and investigations litigation. Co-fouding partner of the firm Peng Wu has studied and taught Japanese law as well as being qualified in the PRC, making him well-placed to advise Japanese clients operating in China and vice versa. Wu is supported by Scott Yu, who focuses on the competition implications of cross-border M&A, and the ‘outstanding professional’ Frank Jiang who advises on merger control for clients in industries including aviation, chemicals and healthcare.

Dentons‘ competition and antitrust practice handles merger control filings, antitrust investigations, private litigation and compliance. With Jet Deng and Ken Dai at the helm, the firm represents a number of well-known international household names such as Volkswagen and also provides advice to the Ministry of Finance and local state bodies such as the Hainan Administration for Market Regulation. The team has notable expertise in the energy and healthcare sectors.

With the introduction of new anti-monopoly regulations, Global Law Office is particularly active in handling high-profile litigation before the highest people’s courts. The full-service antitrust and competition team is led jointly by three experienced partners: Qing Ren splits his time advising on international trade and competition matters; Ying Mu stands out for her previous experience as a judge and her knowledge of antitrust law and contractual disputes is a serious asset for her clients; and Shujun Liu, who has extensive experience in merger filings and compliance matters, is praised as ‘outstanding in her diligence‘.

Han Kun Law Offices advises on merger filings, agency investigations and competition compliance. The firm is noted for its ability to work ‘seamlessly‘ across practice areas, with the antitrust team working in conjunction with the firm’s real estate and TMT practices. The practice has experienced growth over the past year, gaining a significant number of new clients including many well-known MNCs. As well as advising such multinationals on merger control in China, the firm advises PRC clients that are new to enforcement action as the anti-monopoly Law reform comes into force. Chen Ma regularly handles the antitrust compliance aspects of large transactions and provides representation for clients engaged in competition litigation. Ma is supported by Da Shi and Angus Xie, who handle merger filing and disputes.

‘Always at the forefront of China anti-monopoly Law developments’, JunHe LLP is frequently instructed in merger control matters. The antitrsut and competition team is also praised for its ‘solid legal knowledge and deep insights into PRC’s enforcement practice‘. Janet Hui has more than 30 years’ experience advising clients in various industries, particularly in areas such as telecommunications and media, hotels and real estate. Yingling Wei advises on antitrust investigations and, in particular, supports e-commerce companies filing with SAMR. Zhao Wang is highly experienced in competition litigation and also serves as an arbitrator. Mingfang Gong formerly worked for MOFCOM (the Ministry of Commerce) and bring this experience to bear in her practice, which includes merger control filings and investigations into horizontal and vertical monopolistic agreements.

DaHui Lawyers has close links with China’s regulatory authorities and consequently has a very knowledgeable and well-apprised enforcement-related practice, led by Jie Tong. Tong's clients span a broad range of industry sectors, including TMT, healthcare, automotive, chemicals, real estate, sovereign funds, private equity, food & beverage, retail, logistics, energy, finance and traditional manufacturing. Recent instructions also include merger control and antitrust monitoring.

DeHeng Law Offices act on a number of contentious antitrust matters notably cases pertaining to the new anti-monopoly Law; it is also regularly instructed on merger filings, investigations and compliance matters. The team is regularly involved in litigation pertaining to abuse of dominance and unfair competition. Ding Liang acts for clients across a range of industries including telecoms, chemical, pharmaceutical, food and beverages, cement, machinery and automobile. The Beijing team coordinates with the firm’s Brussels office to provide a round-the-clock service for its European clients operating in China.

The Haiwen & Partners antitrust practice was significantly strengthened by the arrival of new practice head Xiaoqiang Qian from Jincheng Tongda & Neal in 2021. Qian joins Xixiang Lin, whose work covers a range of antitrust compliance matters, merger control, sectoral regulation and general competition law. It represents a diverse client base from various industries including chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, consumer products & retail, energy and natural resources, financial institutions, healthcare, high-tech, infrastructure & transportation, private equity and telecoms. The team is also regularly instructed on investigations.

Jincheng Tongda & Neal has a strong contentious antitrust offering, with the firm acting on disputes relating to unfair competition and abuse of monopolistic position before China’s highest courts. The practice, led by Guodong Zhang, spans several practice areas and shows particular expertise in the intersection between antitrust and intellectual property matters. Zhang also advises on antitrust compliance and merger clearances. Chen Yang has a strong record in cartel investigations relating to heavy industry.

With particular expertise in wireless communications and shipping sectors, Lifang & Partners‘ experience spans investigations, merger filing, compliance and competition litigation. The team is jointly led by Guanbin Xie, who also has expertise in intellectual property law, and Shan Jiao, who specialises in SEP-related litigations and acquisitions. Xuting Wu is recommended for merger filings and investigations.

Llinks Law Offices advises MNCs and Chinese listed companies in merger filings and compliance matters; it also assists clients with dawn raids, and anti-unfair competition litigation. Shanghai-based practice head David Pan and Nigel Zhu are names to note.