Event Report

A fantastic night celebrating the very best from China Legal community.

Returning to Beijing for the third time, Legal 500 proudly celebrated its China Awards on 11 December in Beijing – a milestone moment recognising outstanding achievement across the China legal market.

The ceremony brought together leading partners, senior in-house counsel, and key figures from leading firms for an evening dedicated to excellence, innovation and the exceptional work shaping China’s legal landscape.

Highlights from the night included:

Leading lawyer of the year– PRC firms: Weiguo Wang, celebrated for his outstanding performance in capital markets, private equity, and venture capital deals.

Leading lawyer of the year– foreign firms: Melody Chan, acknowledged her broad skill set in complex, high-value, and cross-border arbitration and commercial litigation.

Managing partner of the year – PRC firms: Xiangrong Mei, celebrates his forward-thinking outlook which sees the firm expanding at an impressive pace globally in recent years.

Managing partner of the year – foreign firms: Roy Chan and Horace Lam, celebrates the firm’s solid standing in the fast-developing market.

Rising firm of the year: Lifeng Partners, achieved remarkable growth, expanding to a team of nearly 100 professionals, including more than a dozen lawyers admitted to practice in New York, the UK, and the Cayman Islands.

ESG firm of the year: JunHe LLP, a true trailblazer for ESG. The firm offers a diverse range of ESG legal services including environmental rights litigation, ESG clause drafting, and supply chain audits.

Boutique firm of the year: Hui Zhong Law Firm, highlights the firm’s specialism and leadership in resolving high-stakes disputes.

Leading firm of the year – PRC firms: Haiwen & Partners, lauded by clients for its delivery of ‘exceptionally solid and reliable work’ in the past year.

Leading firm of the year – foreign firms: A&O Shearman, stands out for its full-service operation and ability to give PRC legal advice through its joint operation partner.

In-house team of the year: China Yangtze Power, a key part of one of China’s largest clean-energy enterprises, guiding the business through its cross-border investments and a complex regulatory environment.

Congratulations to all the winners on the night, and to the shortlisted teams – and thank you to everyone who joined us in Beijing to make the awards such a success.

View the full list of winners:  Winners

See photos from the night: Gallery

We look forward to celebrating China’s legal talent for many years to come.