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As a service industry, legal is all about satisfying clients. The 2014 ALB China Client Choice Top 20 has identified the top lawyers across practice areas who are the most popular with clients in mainland China.
Through an online survey that we ran in September, we collected hundreds of responses from leading in-house legal counsel and business professionals and have come up with a list of the most sought-after private practice lawyers in the country.
The list below is in alphabetical order.
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Chen Shaoyu（陈少羽)
Firm: Covington & Burling LLP
Areas of practice: Food and Drug
Why client choice? : Chen is trusted by his clients because of his “professional advice and timely support.”
Chen has more than a decade of experience in food and drug law, including serving in the government and various companies. He has worked for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Amgen and GE Healthcare.
Currently, Chen assists multinational and Chinese pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, food, and cosmetic companies and trade associations.
Chen’s clients include industry leaders such as Abbott, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Takeda, and UCB, as well as many start-ups and mid-size firms.
“I really enjoy what I do for clients; my focus is to provide practical solutions to the legal, regulatory, and business problems confronting clients.” says Chen.
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Ken Dai（戴健民）
Firm: Dacheng Law Offices
Areas of practice: Investment, M&A, Antitrust and Competition
Why client choice? : “Rich practical experience” in antitrust makes Ken Dai the right choice for clients.
“In the field of antitrust, a current ‘hot spot,’ lawyer Ken Dai has rich practical experience,” says the general counsel of a multinational company’s Chinese head office.
Ken Dai, a partner at Dacheng Law Offices based in Shanghai, has built his professional reputation in the investment and M&A, antitrust & competition and dispute resolution areas.
Dai’s legal services in the antitrust arena involve merger filings, handling antitrust investigations, antitrust and intellectual property rights, and private antitrust litigations. He has been helping clients with anti-monopoly compliance services for business strategies and commercial agreements.
“As China is more actively enforcing its antitrust law, undertakings should strictly abide by the laws, and make plans accordingly,” Dai says.
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Ding Liang（丁亮）
Firm: DeHeng Law Offices
Areas of practice: M&A, FIE
Why client choice? : For being “professional and dedicated.”
As the external counsel of a multinational industry group’s Beijing company, Ding Liang is termed as “professional and dedicated.”People speak highly of his practice in M&A, Foreign Investment Enterprises (FIE), antitrust and competition and dispute resolution.
Ding has been a partner at Beijing DeHeng Law Offices since June 2013. Before joining DeHeng, Ding was an of counsel at King & Wood Mallesons, advising several clients on MOFCOM merger filings & NDRC investigations and being involved in several Chinese antitrust lawsuits.
Ding’s clients come from the internet, telecommunications, chemical, pharmaceutical, food and beverages, cement, machinery, automobile, auto parts, luxury, electrical appliances and finance sectors.
“I treat my customers with heartfelt sincerity to help them get out of the predicament,” Ding says.
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Fang Jian（方健）
Firm: Linklaters
Areas of practice: M&A, Corporate and Regulatory
Why client choice? : Clients praise Fang Jian for being very “specialised in practice areas” and having “rich experience.”
With profound insights in the corporate, M&A and China financial regulatory advisory areas, Fang Jian is one of the top slot holders based on client feedback.
Fang has extensive experience in advising leading international financial institutions, private equity houses and corporates on their PRC activities.
Fang also actively advises China’s state-owned enterprises and private companies.
Fang joined Linklaters Shanghai in 1999, and was appointed as national managing partner of the firm’s China arm in 2011. Since then, he has been leading the China group, including the firm’s offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
“I make my utmost efforts to building long-lasting relationships with our clients and a commitment to support them at all times,” Fang says.
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Meph Jia Gui (桂佳）
Firm: Global Law Office
Areas of practice: Intellectual Property
Why client choice? : Meph Gui Jia is widely recognised for his “professional skills and dedication.”
“In my view, Gui Jia is one of the best young IP lawyers in China. He is knowledgeable in all aspects of IP law,” the chief legal officer of an organisation writes when voting Jia Gui as his first choice.
Gui is a partner at Global Law Office, and leads the intellectual property team there. Before joining Global Law Office, he worked for King & Wood PRC Lawyers, Baker & McKenzie LLP and Wenger & Vieli.
As a lawyer who has worked both in China and overseas, Gui has a thorough understanding of IP laws in China, the U.S. and the Europe.
Gui’s experience includes representing international companies on business lawsuits and arbitration cases concerning acquisition and trademark licensing, copyrights, patents, trade secrets and domain names.
“We shall always strive to provide superior service to our clients, recognising that our fiduciary and ethical responsibility to them is paramount," he says.
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Guo Bingna（郭冰娜）
Firm: O'Melveny & Meyers
Areas of practice: Litigation, Investigation and Compliance
Why client choice? : Bingna Guo is recommended for having “deep insights, outstanding skills, extensive experience and responsiveness.”
Guo Bingna is a partner in O’Melveny’s Beijing office and a member of the firm’s International Litigation Practice with expertise in litigation, investigation and compliance.
In her career, Guo’s experiences relate to a wide range of cross-border litigations and transactions ranging from complex commercial litigation, securities litigation, and international anti-corruption investigations to international commercial arbitrations and providing compliance advice for leading businesses in China and across the globe.
Also, as the co-founder of O'Melveny's China-based U.S.-listed Company Litigation Task Force, Guo provides legal advice and representation to companies that are either facing lawsuits or want to avoid them in the future.
According to Guo, her work philosophy is “helping to bridge the legal and cultural caps for companies in a globalised market.”
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He Li（何鲤）
Firm: Davis Polk & Wardwell
Areas of practice: Capital Markets
Why client choice? : For having “deep insights, outstanding skills, extensive experience, and responsiveness.”
From a poet in his earlier days to a full-time practising attorney now, He Li has successfully won clients’ recognition for his extensive experience and professional legal services in the capital markets space.
He’s practice focuses on public and private corporate finance transactions, including equity and debt offerings, private equity investments and M&A. He frequently works on SEC-registered offerings and Hong Kong IPOs. Recent cases include CAR Inc’s IPO and Xunlei Ltd’s NASDAQ listing.
He also has substantial experience representing Chinese state-owned enterprises in connection with their restructurings and IPOs, including the IPOs of Agricultural Bank of China and Industrial & Commercial Bank of China.
“Good lawyers require executive capability, leadership, intelligence and a practical common sense,” He says.
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Li Yongjun（李永军）
Firm: Long An Law Firm
Areas of practice: Corporate, FDI, IP, Real Estate, Labour Law, Customs and Tax.
Why client choice? : Li is voted for his “extensive experience in labour law.”
Based in Shenzhen, the most important city in China for the manufacturing industry and industrial workers, Li is especially known for being skilled in labour law.
Li’s specialties include corporate, securities, FDI and employment matters. His clients include leading enterprises, such as Foxconn Technology Group, the largest electronics manufacturing and exporting foreign company in mainland China, and other electronic manufacturing companies.
Prior to being a partner at Long An Law Firm, Li worked as the in-house counsel in Foxcoon and Tangshan Iron and Steel Group, which is the largest steel producer in China today. Li accumulated extensive experience in M&A, corporation reorganisation, IPO and general corporation business, and the operation of equity.
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Li Zhao（李昭）
Firm: Global Law Office
Areas of practice: Commercial Litigation and Arbitration, IP, Labour Law
Why client choice? : In clients’ words, “Li represents excellent legal accomplishment, professional dedication and good attitude of service.”
Li Zhao is one of the most highly elected lawyers in the survey. He gains trust not only because of his specialty in providing legal services in commercial litigation and arbitration, intellectual property rights and labour law, but also due to his professional dedication and attitude towards providing world-class service.
Li represents many domestic and foreign companies on their litigation cases concerning infringement of patent rights, trademarks, and anti-unfair competition as well as administrative disputes of objection, review and invalidation of trademarks and patents.
Li has worked as a partner in Beijing Zhong Lun Law Firm, Beijing Commerce & Finance Law Offices, and Beijing Global Law Office.
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Lu Lizhong（陆利忠）
Firm: Sunshine Law Firm
Areas of practice: Energy and Environment
Why client choice? : In clients’ view, Lu is “highly skilled in practice” and his legal services are “excellent.”
As one chief legal officer of a state-owned power enterprise says, “Lu is more than meticulous professionalism; he can grasp the big picture.”
Lu is a partner at Sunshine Law firm in addition to being the managing director of the firm’s Shanghai branch. He has extensive experience in providing legal expertise to coal, electricity, natural gas and petroleum industries.
Lu also participates on a regular basis in research projects presided by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration.
“In every lawsuit, you need to have an accurate understanding of the business goal your customer wants to achieve,” Lu says.
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Shao Chunyang（邵春阳）
Firm: Jun He Law Offices
Areas of practice: Foreign Investment, Securities and M&A
Why client choice? : Shao is recommended for his “deep knowledge of Chinese law” and “rich experience in practice.”
“He has deep knowledge of Chinese law, rich experience in practice, and is of great help,” an in-house counsel from a British business says while nominating Shao Chunyang for his services in the corporate and M&A fields.
Shao, a partner at Jun He Law Offices, specialises in foreign investments, securities, M&A, corporate and project finance, commercial litigation and arbitration. He joined Jun He in April 2002, and has since handled a number of high-profile FDIs, H-share listings, M&A and infrastructure finance transactions.
Shao has been involved extensively in foreign investment, project finance and real estate matters in addition to representing a number of well-known multinational companies.
“As a person, you need to be honest and grateful. As a problem solver, you need to be hardworking and hearty,” he says.
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Meg Utterback
Firm: King & Wood Mallesons
Areas of practice: Dispute Resolution, FDI and Real Estate
Why client choice? : Clients appreciate Meg Utterback for being “responsive” and her “clear advice.”
With more than 19 years of dispute resolution and international arbitration experience, mostly in construction and energy, Meg Utterback is greatly respected by her clients. “She is very responsive and her advice is clear,” a chief legal officer of a multinational high-tech company comments.
Utterback joined King & Wood Mallesons in 2010. She has handled more than 40 jury and bench trials in the U.S., and has represented clients on complex arbitrations before tribunals around the world including the ICC, CIETAC, SIAC and the Indian Council of Arbitration. She also regularly handles foreign investment, resource development, and engineering and construction projects, in addition to assisting clients with compliance reviews and other related services in China.
“I think my job is to provide pragmatic, solution-oriented legal advice that achieves my client’s goals,” Utterback says.
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Wang Jianyong（王建勇）
Firm: Haiwen & Partners
Areas of practice: Securities, M&A
Why client choice? : Jianyong Wang gains trust from his clients because of his “deep insight” and “extensive experience.”
Through his deep insight and extensive experience in securities markets and M&A, Wang Jianyong, a partner at Haiwen & Partners, gains trust from his clients which include investment banks and large enterprises.
As a leading member of the firm, Wang’s professional area of expertise is providing non-litigation services, particularly on complicated and cross-border transactions by multinational enterprises and large state-owned companies.
Recently, Haiwen advised Sinopec Marketing Co Ltd on the first “Mixed Ownership Reform” transaction, acted as the PRC legal adviser for the underwriters in connection with iDreamSky’s initial public offering and its listing of ADSs on NASDAQ, and also advised the underwriters in connection with Eximbank’s $3 billion senior notes offering.
“I want to always understand the clients' situation and requirements, and work out a solution,” Wang says.
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Katherine Wang (王凯玲)
Firm: Ropes & Gray
Areas of practice: Life Sciences
Why client choice? : Clients praise Katherine Wang for being “professional and supportive, especially on compliance-related issues such as anti-corruption, etc.”
“She is professional and supportive, especially on compliance-related issues such as anti-corruption, etc,” an in-house counsel says while selecting Katherine Wang as one of the best lawyers for her company.
Wang is chief China life sciences adviser in Ropes & Gray’s Shanghai office. She assists pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies on a wide range of commercial and regulatory matters, including early-stage discovery, product registration, pricing, reimbursement, clinical studies, promotional practices, and product safety issues.
Besides, Wang provides day-to-day counseling on issues that life sciences companies face with respect to their interactions with government agencies.
“Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world,” is her philosophy.
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Wang Zhengyang（王正洋）
Firm: Junzejun Law Firm
Areas of practice: International trade, Corporate, Litigation and Arbitration
Why client choice? : “Wang is proficient in legal service, especially with excellent skills in negotiation,” comments by one of his clients.
In his legal career spanning more than20 years, Wang has handled over300 civil cases, including tens of important and complex cases, and accumulated abundant experience in litigation and arbitration matters.
Wang has worked at People’s Court for five years, presiding over more than 150 cases including contracts, real estate, personal injuries, family law, and employment issues.
Wang advises many multinational companies in China, such as C.P. Shanghai Jingcheng Co of Thailand, Orient International Investment Co of Canada, Korean Small Business Development Co and so on. He also advises foreign investors on setting up business, corporate governance and financing, as well as tax and employment issues.
“I’m devoted to the legal needs of clients with professionalism, innovation and practicality,” he says.
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Xiong Yanfeng（熊延峰）
Firm: China Patent Agent (H.K.) Ltd
Areas of practice: Patents
Why client choice? : His clients highlight Yanfeng Xiong’s professionalism in “helping win the patent validity appeal to the High People’s Court.”
“Yanfeng is one of the best Chinese patent attorneys I have seen,”an in-house counsel from a world-class manufacturing company says.
Working as a patent attorney as well as the deputy manager of the Legal Affair Department at China Patent Agent (H.K.) Ltd, Xiong’s duties includes patent invalidation, administration and infringement litigation, giving patentability opinions, non-infringement analysis, trademark litigation, IP licensing contract review, FTO clearance, due diligence, technical exportation licence, copyright registration, etc.
During his 12-year career of practising patent law, Xiong has achieved successful invalidation/litigation results for world-leading companies including Telefonaktiebolaget L. M. Ericsson, Siemens, Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Alstom, TYCO Electronics, Videojet (Nottingham) Inc, etc.
“We [are] dedicated to secure clients' best interest in [the] IP area. I am so grateful to have the strongest team in China backing me up,” Xiong says.
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Scott Yu（余昕刚）
Firm: Zhong Lun Law Firm
Areas of practice: M&A, Antitrust
Why client choice? : Scott Yu is assessed for being a “professional and a good adviser.”
Scott Yu’s name occurs frequently in surveys on client choice. He is assessed for being a“professional and a good adviser,”particularly in anti-monopoly matters.
Focusing on cross-border M&A transactions, antitrust and corporate matters, Yu has extensive experience in advising foreign investors across various sectors in their investments and operations in China. His antitrust practices include advising clients on regulatory investigations, merger control issues, and daily operational matters.
Yu also acted as the leading PRC counsel in a number of mega size M&A and joint venture transactions. His ability to find practical and creative solutions for complicated legal issues is highly regarded by clients. Yu is currently the co-head of Zhong Lun Law Firm’s antitrust and competition law practice.
"I am always willing to understand clients’ commercial needs, and help clients to find a practical solution within the legal framework. This is how advisers can add value," says Yu.
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Zhan Hao（詹昊）
Firm: AnJie Law Firm
Areas of practice: Insurance, Antitrust
Why client choice? : Clients say that “he is very professional in the insurance and antitrust field.”
The chief legal officer of a NASDAQ-listed company selects Zhan Hao as his first choice, sayingthat “he is very professional in the insurance and antitrust field.”
As a founding partner of AnJie Law Firm, Zhan has many years of experience of advising on high-profile transactions for major insurers. He has utilised his wide-ranging academic research in insurance law and extensive experience in representing clients on a series of complex insurance matters.
Competition law is also an area where Zhan makes remarkable impact. One of his books, The Theory of Anti-monopoly Law and Commentary on Chinese and Foreign Cases, is regarded as one of the best textbooks on Chinese Anti-monopoly Law.
He lists the three things he values the most as “Professionalism, cooperation and thoroughness.”
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Paul Zhou（周波）
Firm: Wintell & Co
Areas of practice: Real Estate, Construction, Insurance and Medicine
Why client choice? : Clients recommend Paul Zhou for his cooperation and professionalism.
As the managing partner of Wintell & Co, Paul Zhou leads the firm in providing various legal services to clients, particularly on maritime and shipping, insurance, corporate and security, medicine and pharmacy, and real estate issues. An in-house counsel of a multinational pharmacy company recommends Paul Zhou for his cooperation and professionalism.
He has been providing legal service to many insurance companies on investment of insurance fund, investment and finance, development of new insurance products, review of insurance policy and others.
“A reliable lawyer should guide the client to choose the right direction based on his professional knowledge not on what the client says,” he notes.
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Zou Ji（邹姬）
Firm: Allen & Overy
Areas of practice: FDI, M&A
Why client choice? : Being “responsible and professional” makes Zou the right choice for clients.
A strong sense of responsibility and professional skills make Zou Ji the right choice for clients who need legal services on FDI and M&A.
Zou is one of the five earliest partners of Allen & Overy, and also the only female partner among them. She has more than 17years of experience in handling M&A, private equity, foreign direct investment and general corporate matters across a variety of industries including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, power, specialty chemicals, etc.
Zou is also an expert on RMB funds. Her publications such as Why PE Funds Need to File and Chinese RMB Funds Recent Developments are significant papers on this subject.
“To be a client’s choice of adviser, trust is key,” she says.
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