Fangda Partners > Shanghai, China > Firm Profile

Fangda Partners > The Legal 500 Rankings

China > Antitrust and competition: PRC firms Tier 1

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.

China > Banking and finance: PRC firms Tier 1

Fangda Partners maintains a notable presence in the banking and finance area, standing as a leader when it comes to acquisition finance, non-recourse and limited recourse project financing, and structured finance, primarily handling transactions for clients on the borrower side. It also features a strong loan practice, advising banks on a range of loan facilities. Jointly led by Shanghai-based Xie Zheng and Stanley Chen, with a combined experience of almost 40 years handling high-value cross-border acquisition finance, project finance and syndicated lending mandates. Supporting these efforts is Maria Wang, with a practice characterized by both real estate and finance expertise, making the financing and acquisition of real estate assets one of her key areas of work. Joyce Zhou and counsel Harry Xu are also recommended under the full spectrum of financing matters, including in relation to debt and acquisitions, respectively.

China > Capital markets: PRC firms Tier 1

Fangda Partners is recognised as a market leader in this field, with extensive expertise in both domestic and international equity and debt offerings, acting for issuers and underwriters. The practice handles a number of high-profile A-share IPOs, asset restructurings, and public M&A deals. It also advises on follow-on offerings, H-share convertible issuance and corporate bonds issuance matters. The practice also contains a strong debt team, advising on a full range of debt securities transactions, as well as a structured finance and securitisation team. Leo Lou leads the Shanghai team, whilst Xueyan Jiang leads the Beijing group. Jeffrey Ding has extensive experience in advising multinational corporations and financial institutions in their investments in China, whilst Christine Chen specialises in advising issuers and underwriters on equity and debt securities offerings, including in US markets. Also notable is Dong Wu, who is experienced in corporate finance matters, and counsel Helen Zhao, who focuses on panda bond offerings and other cross-border securities offerings. Founding member Michael Qi is also noted for his extensive expertise in restructuring, IPO listing and follow on offering matters.

China > Corporate and M&A: PRC firms Tier 1

Fangda Partners has a broad corporate practice, with experience handling inbound and outbound investment as well as the PRC aspects of complex, cross-border deals. The team’s workload includes take-privates, carve-outs and transactions involving state-owned entities, and its client base encompasses Chinese and multinational corporations in addition to private equity funds. Norman Zhong heads up the group and works across the Hong Kong and Shanghai offices; alongside Leo Lou, who is also based in Shanghai, he has considerable expertise in public M&A and private equity. In Beijing, Jeffery Ding and Patrick Li are key names with experience in M&A, IPOs and strategic investments. The corporate group also benefits from the wider firm’s strength in antitrust and merger control, with Michael Han a name to note in this area.

China > Data protection: PRC firms Tier 1

With an impressive client roster featuring some of the most prominent players in the technology, banking and retail sectors, Fangda Partners maintains its standing as a leader in the area of data protection and cyber security issues, acting on data breach responses, compliance programs, and regulatory proceedings. Kate Yin, who demonstrates notable knowledge in regulatory compliance, with a further focus on cross-border matters relating to anti-corruption, export controls, and internal investigations, leads the practice with a footing in Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. In Shanghai, Gil Zhang stands out as a key contact, noted for his ‘full understanding of client’s needs‘ when advising on cybersecurity matters and data compliance programs in a Chinese legislative and GDPR context. Counsel Huihui Li  is experienced in internal compliance checks and assessments of tech-driven products.

China > Dispute resolution: Arbitration: PRC firms Tier 1

Fangda Partners‘ arbitration offering is among the strongest on the market. With its global network and offices across major cities in mainland China and Hong Kong, it is able to offer a full range of services, including assisting on parallel proceedings, and offshore and cross-border matters. The group has extensive experience acting for multinational and domestic companies across numerous industries in a wide range of matters, though it is particularly well known for assisting in corporate, IP and antitrust, construction, insolvency and restructuring, employment, torts, and financial product proceedings. A number of the team also sit as arbitrators at major arbitration centres, including CIETAC, SHIAC, SCIA. Nuo Ji, Benjamin Miao and Daniel Huang lead the Shanghai group, whilst Ming Kang and Helen Shi head the Beijing department. Other key practitioners include Yanhua Lin, who has experience representing clients before the HKIAC and ICC, and Allan Chen, who specialises in corporate governance and financial services disputes.

China > Dispute resolution: Litigation: PRC firms Tier 1

Fangda Partners offers an enviable litigation practice, with offices across major cities in mainland China as well as Hong Kong. It advises across a wide range of disputes, though it has particular expertise in corporate, IP and antitrust, construction and real estate, financial products, and employment matters. It also has a strong global network with other leading law firms, which allows it to assist Chinese companies in parallel proceedings, as well as offshore and cross-border cases. Ming Kang and Helen Shi co-lead the Beijing branch, whilst Nuo Ji, Benjamin Miao, and Daniel Huang co-head the Shanghai group. Ji and Miao have rich expertise in complex commercial disputes, specialising in cross-border and domestic matters, respectively. Meanwhile, Huang has specific expertise in international trade and IP disputes. Other key practitioners include Allan Chen, who focuses on corporate governance and financial services disputes, Peibing Qi, who specialises in construction and real estate, product liability and commercial contract litigation, and Qian Luo who is experienced in corporate, contract, and tort disputes.

China > Intellectual property: PRC firms

Fangda Partners‘ appellate litigation and advocacy practice is known for successfully arguing cases before the provincial high courts and the PRC Supreme Court. In non-contentious matters, the team advises on transactions involving procurements and acquisitions, along with assignments and licensing concerning technology, brands, patents and copyrights. Representative deals range from franchising, distribution and outsourcing to joint ventures, M&A, strategic alliances, and technology research and development. Key figures include IP litigation specialist James Hu, patent litigator Alexandra Yang , and Fang Qi, whose track record covers patent, trade secret, trade mark, copyright and antitrust disputes. Other experienced partners include experienced litigator Dixon Zhang, as well as Hans She, Claudia Yun, Tian Tian, Devan Shao, Giant Hu and Richard Lin. At next generation partner level, Tingting Liao‘s practice covers patent litigation and invalidations, while Lin Qin and Zheng Gou are active counsels. In May 2022, former partner Gordon Gao joined King & Wood Mallesons.

China > Investment funds: PRC firms Tier 1

Fund structuring specialist firm Fangda Partners has long stood amongst the market’s pioneering firms. Advising clients through the full life cycle of the fund, the ‘resourceful and practical‘ team is led by Richard Guo who draws on a wealth of experience in the formation and operation of alternative investment products, funds of funds, co-investment funds and corporate venture funds using both USD and RMB currencies. Zhen Chen, Zhiyi Ren, Candy Tang and Flora Qian are further names to note, and count Morgan Stanley and Sequoia as their main clients.

China > Labour and employment: PRC firms Tier 1

Fangda Partners supports its clients through HR management and policy implementation, arbitration, labour disputes, layoffs and immigration issues in China’s continually evolving employment market. Practice head Bo Zhou specialises in labour litigation and misconduct cases, as well as advising on employee transfer issues relating to mergers and other large transactions. Advising a large steel corporation on a significant factory relocation is an example of this work. Lisa Zhao is an experienced advisor on restructuring and policy implementation in the workplace. Ivan Su and James Hu practice in labour dispute resolution and arbitration. The firm’s list of large clients includes major hotel chain Hilton and business social media site LinkedIn.

China > Life sciences and healthcare: PRC firms Tier 1

Fangda Partners houses ‘a highly competent team of life sciences and healthcare lawyers’, who are equipped to handle ‘the whole life cycle of life sciences and health products’. Highly praised for its ability to ‘combine expertise from many practice areas within the firm’, the practice assists a stellar list of clients with financings, rights issuances, regulatory compliance, licensing applications, IP disputes, and antitrust matters. With ‘many years of experience in the biomedical industry’, Shanghai-based Josh Shin regularly advises on distribution and collaboration agreements. In Beijing, Kate Yin focuses on regulatory compliance and enforcement actions while Fang Qi handles IP transactions and antitrust litigation. M&A, foreign investment and PE matters are the area of expertise of Shanghai-based Diana Li. Splitting his time between Beijing and Hong Kong, Michael Han is recommended for joint ventures and antitrust investigations. Sherry Yao departed in April 2022.

China > Private equity: PRC firms Tier 1

Fangda Partners is recognised as a market leader in the field of private equity, representing global and PRC financial sponsors, venture capitalists, banks and alternative financing providers, and founders of high-growth companies on their private equity investments. The practice is bolstered by the firm’s strength in wider teams, allowing for collaboration with experts in leverage finance, capital markets, fund formation, compliance, and employment law matters. It acts on a full range of transactions, including public, private and cross-border buyouts, debt investments, portfolio secondaries, and co-investments. The practice is headed by Chen Bao from Beijing, who has extensive experience representing leading private equity clients as well as Chinese sellers in M&A transactions. Other notable practitioners include Jeffrey Ding, who has expertise in cross-border acquisitions, public offerings, and joint venture transactions, and Helen Fan, who specialises in private equity and venture capital investment across a range of industries. Meanwhile, Patrick Li is experienced in foreign direct investment matters.

China > Real estate and construction: PRC firms Tier 1

Frequently advising on some of the largest real estate and construction matters in the Chinese market, Fangda Partners boasts a practice at the height of its game. Truly global in scope, the team is able to act both as PRC and international counsel in cross-border transactions. It has particular strength in acquisitions, investment, commercial leasing as well as in PPP projects. Massive development projects in Shanghai have been the focus of some of the firm’s most important work in recent times. Demonstrating this, the team advised on the purchase of several mixed-use land parcels in the Huangpu district by Kerry Properties. The highly regarded Yingying Wang jointly heads the practice with cross-border transactions expert Stephen Lin. Counsel Amber Wang is one of the firm’s up-and-comers.

China > Regulatory/compliance: PRC firms Tier 1

Fangda Partners is well regarded for advising clients in high-profile compliance investigations and enforcement actions across China, often serving as lead counsel. It handles a full scope of contentious and non-contentious compliance and regulatory issues, including corporate investigations, administrative and criminal government enforcement, compliance advisory, and compliance program and policy issues. It also has strong expertise in cross-border matters, including acting for Chinese clients in government enforcement actions initiated by foreign governments. The team is co-led by Kate Yin, who splits her time between Beijing, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou, and Benjamin Miao who is based in Shanghai. Yin has significant experience advising across a wide array of matters, including anti-bribery, anti-competition, data protection and compliance, securities law, anti-money laundering, and export control matters, whilst Miao specialises in commercial disputes. Derrick Zhao is also notable for his expertise in general corporate compliance matters, internal investigations and government enforcement actions, whilst Yanjun Zhuang specialises in criminal defence, government enforcement and anti-fraud internal investigation.

China > TMT: PRC firms Tier 1

Fangda Partners is well regarded for its expertise across a broad range of the TMT sectors, acting on a number of high-profile transactions relating to equity and debt financing, restructuring, M&A, data protection and security compliance, and intellectual property protection. Its clients include an enviable list of major Chinese TMT companies, as well as unicorn companies and technology start-ups. The practice is co-led by Amanda Zhou and Doris Tang from Beijing and Shanghai, respectively. Zhou has extensive experience in advising on venture capital transactions and private equity funds, and is supported by Jeffery Ding who is active in the areas of M&A, capital markets and private equity. Also notable are Tianyi Chen and Patrick Li, both of whom specialise in corporate transactions and are experienced in cross-border matters.

China > Fintech: PRC firms Tier 2

Fangda Partners is noted for advising a range of international and local clients on M&A, private equity, restructuring, data protection, and venture capital transactions. The team is jointly led by Amanda Zhou, Chen Bao, and Kate Yin, and Shanghai-based Jian Fang and Zhiyi Ren. Yin is particularly focused on regulatory compliance matters with a cross-border element, while Fang advises international corporations, financial institutions and private equity firms on investments and operations in China. Ren is also active in cross-border investments, having recently acted for HSBC Fintech WFOE in obtaining an EDI license.

China > Restructuring and insolvency: PRC firms Tier 2

The Shanghai-based team at Fangda Partners is a popular choice for international bondholders, secured and unsecured creditors and financial institutions, which seek out the team for advice on Chinese bankruptcy laws and assistance with onshore restructuring proceedings. Noted for its considerable complex insolvency cases, the group is often appointed as administrator or liquidator by the courts. Nuo Ji overseas the practice and is recommended for cross-border insolvencies, investment in distressed assets and dispute resolution. Kai Li has extensive experience in handling reorganisation plans for listed companies. Lingqi Wang is also a name to note who often acts as an administrator in large complex insolvency cases.

China > WTO/international trade: PRC firms Tier 2

Sanctions and export controls experts Fangda Partners helps clients to navigate the rocks and hard places of US sanctions and China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law under the leadership of Kate Yin. Yin works on complex government enforcement matters and internal investigations, as well as sanctions and compliance issues. Derrick Zhao is another key practitioner and works as practice head for Shanghai, focussing on anti-corruption, sanctions and export control. Ginger Jiang, with her background in customs enforcement and anti-smuggling, has strengthened the customs and trade remedies side of the practice. The team has a notable tech industry specialism, working for both large technology firms and electrical infrastructure companies.

China > Insurance: PRC firms Tier 3

Fangda Partners houses a sizeable team of insurance practitioners who demonstrate strong capabilities in financing transactions, M&A and regulatory matters, making it a popular choice for domestic and international insurers, fintech companies, PE firms and asset management funds seeking assistance with cross-border mandates. On the contentious front, the group is sought after to handle trials in Mainland China and as well as mediation proceedings. The group’s leadership is split between inbound and outbound investment specialist Jian Fang, and Zhiyi Ren, who is a key contact for foreign clients seeking advice on onshore business permits and regulatory matters. Also noted are Beijing-based Siyuan Pan, an expert in outbound acquisitions and corporate matters, and counsel Lily Yan.

China > Regional coverage: Guangdong Province: Guangzhou and Shenzhen

China > Projects and energy: PRC firms

China > Tax: PRC firms

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms Tier 3

Fangda Partners carries the flag for mainland China in a range of international arbitration matters. Key names in Beijing include Ming Kang and Helen Shi, while in Shanghai Nuo Ji, Benjamin Miao and Daniel Huang are key contacts. The firm also has an arbitration team in Hong Kong, including Peter Yuen (who is dual qualified in England and Hong Kong), as well as Olga Boltenko, who is Russian-qualified on top of her admission as a Hong Kong solicitor and contributes investor-state arbitration expertise.

Hong Kong > Corporate (including M&A)

A leading law firm in the PRC, Fangda Partners leverages its large presence on the mainland to advise on deals involving PRC companies and is also instructed on matters involving the wider Asia Pacific region. The team has a focus on transactions related to HK public markets, such as share sales and high-value take-privates. The practice additionally stands out for its wide-ranging sector expertise, which encompasses technology, life sciences and education. Practice head Colin Law leverages his knowledge of securities law to advise on public M&A; elsewhere, Norman Zhong has substantial experience acting for international investors on inbound investments into China.