Event information
As the business landscape continues to evolve at pace, the role of general counsel and senior in-house legal leaders has expanded far beyond traditional legal oversight. In China’s highly competitive market, in-house legal teams are increasingly expected to deliver strategic, business-oriented solutions. From navigating shifting regulatory frameworks and managing complex cross-border operations to overseeing data governance, dispute resolution, and compliance, the demands placed on corporate legal functions are growing rapidly.
Following the success of our events across Asia, The Legal 500’s GC Summit China: Shanghai 2025 will bring together the country’s leading in-house counsel to share insights on the evolving nature of legal leadership and the key issues shaping the corporate legal landscape in 2024 and beyond. Through in-depth panel discussions, practical presentations, and valuable networking opportunities, GC Summit China: Shanghai 2025 will serve as a platform for thought leadership, peer-to-peer engagement, and the exchange of best practices among the legal elite operating at the heart of one of the world’s most influential economies.
Agenda
12.00pm – 12.35pm Registration and refreshments
12.35pm – 12.40pm Opening remarks
- Zhao Bei, editor, Legal 500
12.40pm – 1.30pm Private Equity Funds: Legal Compliance Challenges and Breakthroughs Under the New Market Environment and Regulatory Trends
In recent years, against the backdrop of profound shifts in the global economic landscape and the rapid evolution of capital markets, the private equity industry is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges. In this new market environment, regulatory policies continue to tighten, compliance requirements grow increasingly detailed, and navigating the dynamic legal framework to manage risk boundaries while achieving steady development has become a critical issue for industry participants.
Our panel aims to explore the evolving logic of current regulations, the pain points in compliance practices, and viable solutions for balancing innovation and risk control. We look forward to collaborating with industry peers to analyze emerging trends, build consensus, and provide forward-thinking insights for the compliant and professional growth of the sector.
- Larry Wang, partner, Global Law Office
- Yujin Wu, general counsel, Eastern Bell Capital
- Xiaoming Xu, managing director, PRO Capital
- Yusu Gao, counsel, Panlin VC
1.30pm – 2.20pm Navigating Tech, Data, and Artificial Intelligence: A GC Perspective
As technology, data, and artificial intelligence continue to transform the corporate and regulatory landscape, general counsel play a pivotal role in navigating legal risk, ensuring compliance, and supporting responsible innovation. This panel will feature senior legal leaders sharing their perspectives on managing the complex legal, ethical, and strategic considerations posed by emerging technologies.
- Zhichao Kevin Duan, partner, Han Kun
2.20pm – 2.50pm Emerging Trends in International Law Firms’ Operations and Business Expansion in China Under the U.S.-China New Normal
Amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and increasing regulatory divergence, international law firms encounter both challenges and opportunities in expanding their presence in China. This panel will examine how firms are adjusting their strategies, organisational structures, and client service models in response to the ‘new normal’ of US-China relations, offering insights into market access, compliance, and evolving client expectations.
- Ray Liu, global partner and the head of Dorsey’s Beijing office, Dorsey & Whitney
- Bei Zhao, editor, Legal 500
2.50pm – 3.10pm Coffee Break
3.10pm – 3.40pm Compliance Moves in China for Global Legal Teams
As regulatory landscapes continue to evolve, compliance remains a top priority for multinationals operating in China. Join leading experts from Topcom Law for a focused discussion on key challenges and emerging trends shaping corporate compliance strategies today. This session will offer practical insights for general counsel navigating cross-border risk, shifting regulatory expectations, and enforcement priorities in China.
- James Jiang, managing partner, Topcom Law
- Randolph Hsu, founding partner, Ondine Capital
- Linping Han, general counsel, Bloomage
3.40pm – 4.30pm Recent Development of REITs
This session will explore the latest trends, regulatory updates, and market opportunities for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in China. Panellists will discuss key challenges, innovative structures, and strategic considerations for investors and in-house counsel navigating this evolving asset class, offering practical insights and forward-looking perspectives.
- Daniel Mao, founding partner, Kingland Partners
- Huawei Lin, founding partner, Kingland Partners
- Susan Cai, general counsel, LaSalle
- Zoe Shou, general counsel, ESR
- Zhe Sang, general counsel China, Capitaland Investment
4.30pm – 4.50pm Coffee Break
4.50pm – 5.40pm Recent Developments in China’s Arbitration Landscape
This session will explore recent legal and institutional developments shaping China’s arbitration landscape. Panellists will discuss key trends, regulatory updates, and practical considerations for in-house counsel navigating arbitration in the region.
5.40pm – 6.10pm Eligibility and Suitability of Tech Companies for Domestic IPO in China
This section systematically demonstrates the alignment between technology enterprises and China’s domestic capital markets, covering policy support for domestic listings, the compatibility of domestic listing boards with technology companies’ characteristics, and the need for capital market participation to fuel technological innovation. It also addresses the challenges in balancing corporate operational strategies with IPO compliance requirements during the listing process.
- Zhang Nan, senior partner, W&H Law Firm
6.10pm – 6.30pm Networking drinks
Speakers
Larry Wang, partner, Global Law Office
Zhichao Kevin Duan, partner, Han Kun
Mr. Duan’s practice focuses on data protection and intellectual property. With particular expertise in handling tech-related legal matters, Mr. Duan has abundant experience in representing industry-leading tech companies in their complex IP disputes, IP transactions, and data-related legal matters in the Internet, AI, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries. The U.S. Federal Circuit Bar Association selected Mr. Duan as one of its 26 Global Fellows in 2019, an honor conferred upon rising global leaders in the IP field, by recognizing his distinctive capability in handling cross-border IP matters. Mr. Duan is the only representative from China in the 2019-20 Fellows program. Before practicing law, Mr. Duan had engaged in academic research for nearly 10 years, with more than 10 peer-reviewed academic publications. Mr. Duan worked as an attorney-at-law and patent attorney at a leading IP law firm before joining Han Kun.
Ray Liu, global partner and the head of Dorsey's Beijing office, Dorsey & Whitney
Ray Liu is a Global Partner of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, and the Founding Partner, Managing Partner and Chief Representative of its Beijing office. He is qualified to practice in the State of New York and holds PRC’s legal professional qualification and Securities Practitioner Qualification. Prior to joining Dorsey, he worked in the Legal Department of Bank of China New York Branch in New York City.
Ray specializes in supporting Chinese enterprises with their global expansion, with a focus on high-stakes cross-border dispute resolution, including U.S. and Hong Kong litigation, international arbitration, cross-border investigations (government or criminal), and government enforcement matters. His practice areas also cover cross-border investment, international trade, general corporate and M&A, capital markets, foreign direct investment, banking and insurance law, IP rights and trade secrets, as well as cybersecurity and data privacy across various sectors. Ray has successfully represented a wide range of high-profile cross-border litigations, international arbitrations, criminal and government investigations, overseas compliance matters, and cross-border transactions and negotiations. His expertise has earned him strong recognition and deep trust from central-government-owned enterprises, state-owned enterprises, unicorn and public companies, prestigious multinationals, and high-net-worth individuals ranked by Forbes and Hurun.
Ray and the cases he has led have been consistently recognized by The Legal 500, China Business Law Journal, Asian Legal Business, LegalOne and Benchmark Litigation. Beyond his notable legal practice, Ray is actively involved in social responsibilities initiatives and is sought-after speaker at major international investment, economic and legal forums. He frequently lectures at Chinese bar associations, and U.S. CLE courses, and is also regularly interviewed and widely covered by People’s Daily, Global People, CGTN, Caixin, Yicai, The New York Times and other mainstream media for his insights on a wide range of U.S.-China legal and economic issues.
James Jiang, managing partner, Topcom Law
James has been leading the team to handle complex and difficult cases for many clients in representative and forward-looking industries, including the Top Ten Cases Promoting Rule of Law in China in 2016, and the first case in China of “illegally providing trade secrets to foreign countries”, etc. James is often invited to give lectures and seminars to discuss the cutting-edge topics of compliance and regulation. He has been recognized by The Legal 500 and other authoritative organizations as a “Practice Leader” and “Special Recommended Lawyer” in the field of regulation/compliance and data protection for many years.
Randolph Hsu, founding partner, Ondine Capital
Randolph Hsu is the founding partner of Ondine Capital, with over a dozen unicorn/IPO exits under his belt.
Ondine Capital manages both RMB and USD funds. Ondine Capital’s RMB fund focuses on China’s original hard technologies, and has invested in A-share or Hong Kong-listed technology leaders such as SigmaStar Technology, Smarter Micro, and MetaLight. Ondine Capital’s USD fund focuses on Southeast Asian consumer technology, and has invested in Carsome, a comprehensive automotive e-commerce platform and Malaysia’s first tech unicorn, which is about to go public, as well as Southeast Asian star projects such as Sayurbox, Love Bonito, Dekoruma, and EASL. Ondine Capital is also one of the very few investment firms that focuses on both China as well as Southeast Asia with the same decision-making team and systematically conducts its venture capital business. Randolph has been ranked among Forbes China’s Top 100 Venture Capitalists for three consecutive years from 2022-2024.
Linping Han, general counsel, Bloomage
Linping Han is the General Counsel of Bloomage, a leading Chinese biotechnology company specialising in the research, manufacturing, and distribution of products in glycobiology and cell biology.
Daniel Mao, founding partner, Kingland Partners
Huawei Lin, founding partner, Kingland Partners
Susan Cai, general counsel, LaSalle
Zoe Shou, general counsel, ESR
Zhe Sang, general counsel China, Capitaland Investment
Zhang Nan, senior partner, W&H Law Firm
Zhang Nan is a Senior Partner at W&H (Shanghai) Law Firm, where he heads the Investment and Fund Business Department. With over 20 years of legal experience, he specialises in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and complex civil and commercial dispute resolution. He has advised on numerous IPOs and refinancing projects, particularly for hard-tech companies pursuing listings on the STAR Market.
A graduate of Nanjing University, Mr Zhang is a qualified Independent Director and Fund Practitioner. He serves on the Securities Committee of the Shanghai Lawyers Association and is an Industry Mentor at Nanjing University. He also lectures on innovation and entrepreneurship in Jiangsu Province, and was recognised with the 2024 Benchmark Case Award by Legal News.
Yujin Wu, general counsel, Eastern Bell Capital
Yujin Wu currently serves as General Counsel at Eastern Bell Capital, and concurrently holds the position of Senior Researcher at the Centre for Capital Taxation Research, International School of Finance, Fudan University. She previously practised at Fangda Partners, Loyal Valley Capital, Suning Investment Group, and other institutions, and possesses extensive expertise in legal affairs relating to investment and financing transactions.
Xiaoming Xu, managing director, PRO Capital
Yusu Gao, counsel, Panlin VC
Yusu Gao serves as Counsel at Panlin VC. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and a Master’s in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University. She is qualified to practise law in both China and the State of New York.
Specialising in private equity investment and financing, she has advised on over 100 fundraising transactions and cross-border fund formations across the healthcare, technology, and advanced manufacturing sectors. She ensures end-to-end regulatory compliance while mitigating legal risks and optimising returns throughout the fund lifecycle. Leveraging strong commercial acumen, she conducts multidimensional risk analyses to advance investment strategies whilst minimising legal exposure.
Zhao Bei, editor, Legal 500
In association with...
Formed in 1912, Dorsey & Whitney is an international firm with more than 600 lawyers in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Many of the world’s most successful companies count on Dorsey to help them prosper in a highly competitive world.
Dorsey is proud of its century-long and distinguished service to its clients. Among our many distinguished alumni are former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale who served the firm from 1987 until passing away in 2021. As Vince President, Mr. Walter Mondale opened the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou and actively promoted economic cooperation and bilateral relations with China. In 2023, Gary Locke – former U.S. Ambassador to China, Secretary of Commerce under President Obama, and Governor of the State of Washington, has joined Dorsey as a Senior Advisor based in our Seattle office.
Dorsey has long been committed to China and the entire Asia-Pacific region, delivering full services and deeply connected to local markets. The firm opened its Hong Kong office in 1995, its Shanghai office in 2001 and its Beijing office in 2015. Our legal professionals are composed of a group of international lawyers with in-depth local expertise. They are qualified to practice in the U.S., Australia, England & Wales, Hong Kong SAR, New Zealand, as well as lawyers with China legal professional qualification certificate. Many of our lawyers have practiced law in various jurisdictions and are dually qualified.
Dorsey delivers full legal services and integrated, proactive approach, encompassing extensive transaction, compliance and disputes matters. Dorsey’s Asia-focused team works across continents with a worldwide view, whether helping U.S., European and other international entities successfully conduct business in Asia, or helping Asian companies achieve their business goals in the U.S., Europe and around the globe.
The history of Global Law Office (hereinafter the “GLO”) dates back to the establishment of China’s Legal Consultant Office of the Council for the Promotion of International Trade (hereinafter the “CCPIT”) in 1979. After years of persistent endeavours and development, we have become one of the largest and leading Chinese law firms. Since its inception, GLO has been and remains committed to the mission of “serving domestic and international clients with a globalized vision, globalized team and globalized quality”. This has allowed us to always maintain a leading position in the industry in the midst of an ever-changing global economic environment.
As a client-centered firm, we constantly improve our service and communications qualities, focusing on efficient and creative legal solutions for our clients. We provide comprehensive one-stop legal services for domestic and international clients from various sectors and industries and continue to help domestic and foreign clients achieve enduring and long-term success via our unique advantages.
Han Kun is a leading full-service law firm in China. Our main practice areas include private equity, M&A, international and domestic capital markets, investment funds, asset management, compliance, banking and finance, aviation finance, foreign direct investment, antitrust/competition, data protection, private client/wealth management, intellectual property, bankruptcy and restructuring and dispute resolution. We have nearly 800 professionals located in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Haikou, Wuhan, Singapore and New York City
Kingland Partners is a pioneering mixed-ownership law firm in China, with both corporate structure and independent-team structure. With a tight corporate system as its core and an independent-team system as its foundation.
Kingland Partners is a premier law firm composed of experienced lawyers who provide comprehensive, tailored legal solutions to meet the unique needs of each client, covering both litigation and non-litigation practice, offering all-encompassing legal solutions across diverse sectors.
Topcom China Law Offices, a professional and efficient legal service provider, consists of a team of professionals with rich experience in legal practice.
With a high sense of responsibility and professional dedication, our team commits ourselves to providing our clients with the high-quality legal services. Our practice areas mainly involve compliance and investigation, dispute resolution, intellectual property, data protection. All of our lawyers are equipped with international perspectives in servicing many Fortune Global 500 companies as well as leading domestic and international enterprises, covering key industries including advanced manufacturing, food and agricultural products, health care, industrial automation, automobiles and e-commerce.
W&H Law Firm was founded in 1995 by core members of the former China Affairs Center of Ministry of Justice. Headquartered in Beijing, W&H has over 50 branches at home and abroad, which makes it one of the largest general law firms in China. For many years, W&H has established a good reputation in the industry and won local and international acclaims for outstanding performance. At present, there are more than 5000 legal practitioners and supporting staff. With profound knowledge and extensive experience,we provide our clients with comprehensive, specialized, diverse and in-depth legal services.