Ropes & Gray LLP is sought out for high-end mandates in both China and across the Asia-Pacific region. The group assists with an array of China life sciences-related areas, including capital markets, public company matters, and financial and regulatory risk issues. Other areas cover M&A, licensing, collaborations, IP, fund formation, and private equity and venture capital investments/equity financings. The practice additionally has enviable expertise in human genetic regulation and data privacy, along with research compliance. In Shanghai, Asia regional managing partner Arthur Mok advises global pharmaceutical and medical device companies, biotechs, scientific entrepreneurs, and life sciences and healthcare investment funds; Katherine Wang acts on life sciences regulatory and compliance matters; Geoffrey Lin helps global life sciences companies monetise, risk-assess and protect IP assets; and Eric Wu assists biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer healthcare companies with major transactions. David Chen is a life sciences, technology deal and data privacy counsel.

Particularly noted for its regulatory expertise, Hogan Lovells International LLP‘s Beijing-based life sciences practice features partners who have previously worked in government. The group advises across the full product life cycle, covering initial clinical trials, off-patent strategy, business development and defence-side litigation. Its expertise also covers product liability, corporate/M&A, pricing, and commercial and IP litigation, along with compliance, investigations and white-collar crime. Clients can also access local legal advice through the firm’s association with PRC-based Fujian Fidelity Law Firm.The principal figures are Greater China practice chair, Jun Wei, who advises medical device, pharmaceutical and healthcare clients on corporate, commercial and regulatory matters; Roy Zou, who routinely liaises with approval authorities and other government regulators, in relation to commercial transactions; and Lu Zhou, who advises life sciences and healthcare companies on China market entry and exit strategies. Life sciences regulatory expert Jessie Xie was elevated to counsel in January 2022.

Morrison Foerster‘s Greater China life sciences practice advises on the full range of transactions that arise during the life cycle of life sciences companies. The team consistently assists with licensing and technology transfer arrangements, licensing and monetisation schemes, strategic collaborations, dispute settlement agreements, joint ventures, and major research and development projects.  It also has a notably robust life sciences IP practice. The mainland China names to note are Chuan Sun, who works closely with life sciences clients, including healthcare private equity firm CBC Group; and private equity and M&A transactions expert Ruomu Li, who is experienced in life sciences-related transactions. Over in Hong Kong, Asia private equity practice co-head, Thomas Chou acts for emerging growth companies, along with traditional and non-traditional investors; and Asia technology practice leader Gordon Milner is an expert in cross-border technology projects in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Bird & Bird‘s Greater China life sciences and healthcare group works with a range of life sciences businesses, including pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies. It also acts for start-ups, hospitals, government bodies, manufacturers, distributors and clinical research organisations. Typical work includes incorporation, development and financing matters; IP exploitation and portfolio management; regulatory and compliance issues, clinical trials; and securing marketing authorisation. Hong Kong-based team head Alison Wong ‘has both solid legal judgement and a very keen commercial sense‘, while technology and communications specialist James Gong in Beijing is a 2021 recruit from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.

Acting for both foreign multinational corporations and China-based clients, DLA Piper‘s active and sizeable Greater China team fields specialists in corporate law, IP, regulatory and compliance, investigations, capital markets, employment and tax. The China life sciences practice is co-led by Hong Kong-based compliance and investigations specialist, Sammy Fang; and recently promoted partner Ting Xiao in Shanghai, who focuses on life sciences-related regulatory and IP work. Also on the mainland, Qiang Li‘s broad corporate practice includes advising Chinese life science companies, while Christine Liu in Hong Kong represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies in internal investigations.

Sidley Austin LLP‘s dedicated life sciences team advises on products throughout their lifecycle, from drug development to cybersecurity, IP protection, and post-market issues. It is also experienced in advising both established and start-up companies on private equity and venture capital-related financings, M&A, licensing, IPO, compliance and disputes. The firm additionally assists pharmaceutical/biotech companies with complex regulatory issues. The practice is jointly led by Lei Li in Beijing, who provides an ‘unparalleled service‘, and senior counsel Chen Yang, who splits her time between Beijing and Sydney. Also on the mainland, Ruchun Ji regularly acts for emerging life sciences companies.