女性能顶半边天,巾帼力量在任何行业领域都值得被尊重。今年上榜ALB China十五佳女律师榜单的杰出女性律师们也因其在法律服务行业的卓越成就而获得了市场的认可。ALB与部分上榜者进行了访谈,希望了解她们职业生涯的成长之路、当今女性律师所应对的挑战以及对未来进阶的展望。
近年来,女律师在律师行业的比例逐年上升,男女律师的比例正向着均衡的方向发展。虽然很多女律师在事业上取得了很多成就,但是大多数仍然在职业发展中面临着很多问题与挑战。
国内上海、广州、深圳等一线城市的执业律师中女性占比均超过40%;在二线城市,以大连市为例,女律师数量接近半数。深圳律协统计数据显示,2017年至今,深圳女律师比例呈现出逐年上升的态势。
成长之路
通商律师事务所合伙人沈晓琳告诉ALB她从事律师职业已有18年。在2018年加入通商之前,她在国际律师事务所、跨国公司、国内律师事务所执业,主要从事兼并收购、私募股权及外商投资方面的业务。
沈律师说,“我比较骄傲的高光时刻是在2019年,我协助国际投资机构完成了应该是当时市场上第一单以VIE架构投资数据中心的标杆项目。由于复杂的交易架构,该项目的难度系数极高。我牵头为该项目提供了优质高效、具有国际水准的全程法律服务,包括交易架构的设计、尽职调查以及全部双语交易文件的起草、审阅和谈判等工作,得到了客户的高度信任和好评。”
从2018年加入通商至今,沈律师带领团队处理了大量的新经济地产领域的投资收购项目,从资产数量上达到了将近100个,资产类型涵盖仓储物流、数据中心、生物医药产业园及其他产业园、长租公寓、酒店、住宅及商业综合体等等。从项目类型上不仅包括资产层面的投资收购,也包括合资不动产投资平台的设立以及新经济基础设施运营商股权层面的融资。
协力律师事务所高级合伙人及海商海事专委会主任郑蕾自1999年以来一直从事涉外律师工作,深耕航运物流、船舶贸易融资、涉外仲裁等领域。她在过去二十余年的执业生涯中,曾担任多家国内外知名进出口贸易公司、金融机构、融资租赁公司、航运物流企业、船舶修造企业的法律顾问,为重大国际贸易、船舶买卖融资、海事物流非讼项目及诉讼和仲裁业务提供大量法律服务。
郑律师也因为其出色的表现,获得了各种奖项,例如2010年起,郑律师入选首批上海市律协青年律师人才库成员,2018年荣获上海市优秀女律师提名奖,入选“中国改革开放45周年值得推荐的优秀涉外律师”。郑律师认为这些荣誉的取得是对她在实务领域多年努力的一种肯定和鼓励。
同时,在理论研究和立法建议方面,郑律师被邀请作为专家参与多部法规政策的制定和课题研究,例如参与《中华人民共和国船舶登记办法》的制定,交通部《海商法》修改的课题研究,并受聘担任《船舶登记条例》修改课题专家以及交通部海事局船舶登记研究室法律顾问。
郑律师于2014年受中国海事仲裁委员会委托,负责起草《船舶融资租赁合同标准文本》,并于2022年完成了更新,在2022年的北外滩航运论坛上正式发布。
“该文本为我国航运业和融资租赁业第一份和唯一一份专门针对船舶的融资租赁合同格式合同,文本100多页的篇幅,内容细致丰富,填补了业界在海事金融领域缺乏行业普遍接受的格式合同的空白,同时也填补了国际航运格式文本中缺乏我国起草的船舶融资租赁格式文本的空白,” 郑律师介绍道。
国枫律师事务所执行合伙人马哲从毕业起就入职国枫,从律师助理、律师、合伙人一路走来,也不曾在各家律所之间跳槽过。
马律师说,“国枫一直秉承的师徒制的带教机制,使我在执业初期既经受了严谨又专业的训练,划定了律师执业的基础底线,比如对风险的理解与把控,又体会到同事之间的温情。这也让我成为资深律师后愿意将这一传统传承下去,像我当年的师父一样坚定又温和。”
对于如何市场的认可,马律师认为换位思考十分重要。“设身处地为客户考虑,在客户利益与自身利益出现冲突时,客户利益至上;同时不对客户做道德或价值评判,严守专业本分。”
汉坤律师事务所合伙人刘云鸽告诉ALB, 她2001年自北京大学法学院本科毕业后,在美国先后取得了法律硕士和博士的学位,并于2005年底回国执业。她认为自己很幸运,在国内开始执业之时,也正是现代意义上的跨境并购和私募股权开始在中国兴起之时。在加入汉坤之前,她已经先后在两家富有盛誉的国际律师事务所从业十余年,一直专注于私募股权投资与兼并收购方面的业务。多年的历练为其发展打下了坚实的基础。
“当时一度私募股权投资还是一个舶来品和本地新生儿,在交易结构、投资人权利、公司治理等方面,投资人和被投企业都在摸索和形成市场惯例的过程中。国际实践虽然有参考意义,但是如果要在本土的市场环境下具有商业可行性,需要做大量的本地化探索和思考。得益于在中美两地的学习和工作背景,我能够参与到这个历史进程中,亲身见证私募股权投资的本地化和成熟化和市场化,也算与有荣焉。在这个过程中我深刻地领悟到,交易律师需要不停的刷新自身的知识结构,来适应市场的变化。一个开创性交易的完成,往往意味着新疆土的开辟、新业务的机会。”
同时,刘律师指出,因为交易本身是一个比较大的范畴,如果要是做交易律师,就不能把自己局限于某一个阶段或者某一种特定形式的投融资或并购。
“企业经历不同的阶段就有不同的战略侧重,所以一个好的交易律师,如果要跟企业一起成长的话,也需要有这种匹配不同阶段的企业的不同交易需求的能力。此外,交易律师需要专精,也需要在一定意义上是通才,因为一个项目可能同时涉及知识产权、争议解决、反垄断、合规、税务,外汇等一系列问题。通盘考量、精准定位问题、调动资源的能力也同样重要。” 刘律师补充道。
与其他律师不同,上海市锦天城律师事务所高级合伙人傅莲芳告诉ALB,她最初在一家大型国企工作过数年,期间因为跟国际的会计师、律师共同工作,觉得他们的职业更有挑战,遂萌生要从事律师工作的想法。
傅律师在1999年通过注册会计师考试,并在2000年辞职,先在浙江天健从事了两年注册会计师工作,2002年到锦天城律师事务所从事律师职业。
“我也是从律师再到合伙人,一路成长过来的。我个人从体制内走出来做律师,我的感受是,生命就是一场经历,如果想要实现梦想,想要更丰富的阅历,就要敢于不停地突破自己,这期中包括不停地求学,敢于走出舒适圈,同时一个优秀的平台会对职业生涯有很好的助力,锦天城就是一个优秀的平台。说到律师的具体工作,我们要秉持专业、敬业的精神,要为每个案件寻求最好的结果,这样个人的成长会更快,” 傅律师说。
挑战与成就
虽然几位律师在事业上都获得了极大的成功,但是他们也面临着相似的问题,那就是如何平衡家庭与工作。
对沈律师来说,最大的挑战之一是如何平衡家庭与工作。由于律师工作繁忙,留给家人的时间非常有限,非常需要另一半的理解和支持。
“女性律师如果同时还是一名母亲,那么她会比男性律师遇到的挑战更多一些。因为母亲往往对孩子的教育付出更多。既希望自己在律师职业上投入更多的时间,又希望自己在孩子成长中有更多的陪伴,这个往往平衡起来非常困难,” 傅律师说道。
作为两个孩子的母亲,傅律师建议女性律师可以在有限的时间里,提升陪伴孩子的质量。傅律师说她从从孩子1岁开始,就陪孩子做亲子阅读,一起亲子共读了大量的书籍。傅律师相信良好的阅读习惯会让孩子终生受益的。
傅律师继续说道,“虽然无法全身心地投入孩子的培养难免会让我们焦虑,但我们可以获得安慰的是,我们通过提升自己,提升我们的认知、格局和眼界会给孩子带去更大的世界。”
郑律师也认为律师行业对女性意味着更多的挑战。律师行业工作强度大,工作时间不确定,女性律师要更好地平衡工作和家庭的关系,牺牲和付出会比从事其他职业更大。但同时律师职业让郑律师充满激情,不断迎接新的挑战,也在为社会做出贡献的过程过获得价值感。
郑律师说,“因此,要综合分析评价自身条件和家庭支持程度,决定是否长期从事律师职业,但只要真心热爱,全情投入,就能克服困难。”
虽然在追求事业发展的道路上有很多挑战,但沈律师认为热爱加上坚持是十分重要的。“律师的价值和经验需要积累,如果喜欢这份职业带来的成就感,需要坚持不懈的努力,” 沈律师说。
郑律师更是一直尽己所能,在律师行业发挥积极作用,团结广大律师、凝聚力量,帮助身边的人,她认为这是女律师前进的方向。
在国际海事组织设立的首个“国际海事妇女节”上,郑律师作为国际海事领域的杰出女性代表,受大连海事大学邀请参加国际海事妇女教育与发展高端论坛并发表主旨演讲,为女性在海事领域如何发展提供经验和建议。
马律师则建议女性律师需要先思考自己想要什么,想如何度过一生,再将职业作为一部分放入其中考虑其应处的位置。
马律师说,“找到自己职业兴趣所在,在遇到逆境时更容易坚持下去。无所谓家庭与事业的平衡,更多的是取舍。作出选择后,坦然面对和接受舍弃的遗憾。”
傅律师认为女律师往往有自己的优势,她们做事会更认真、更踏实、跟客户会有更好的亲和力,这些都有助于成为一名优势的女律师。同时,律师是一个终生学习的职业,在不同领域的法律服务工作中,女律师一定不要忘记学习,这里包括多看专业书籍,多走进校园听课,多向同行和客户学习,还包括关注最热门的人工智能,关心经济发展变化、国际际政治局势等。
“做一名好的律师,需要在认知上、学识上优于我们的客户,我们才能更好地服务好我们的客户。此外,我们在做每一个案件时,都要努力做到最好。这样日积月累,自己在专业上和客户口碑上一定会有长足的进步,” 傅律师说道。
刘律师认为,对任何一个优秀的女性律师来说,其本身是专业人士,也应该是一个好的经营者,包括事业和家庭的经营。寻找工作和家庭平衡的最大公约数是女性律师需要终身修炼的智慧。
另一方面,女性律师在职场当中也同样具备自己独有的优势力量。例如交易律师中,女性可能更加细腻,能够更好的换位思考,这种洞悉人性、以柔克刚的风格或将更容易达成问题的解决方案。女性也往往拥有更好的韧性,更可以稳扎稳打,厚积薄发。其实律师是一个重在积累的行业,在追求职业发展的过程中一定不能急躁、焦虑。追求在这条路上一定要走得最快不一定是一件好事。刘律师建议要留一点时间给自己进行反思和学习,体会精深专业之美,感受市场需求,形成自己的节奏。“尽管你的速度不一定像那些一味往前冲的人走得那么快,但是你的脚步会很稳,这样就会决定了你未来一旦起飞,就会飞得更高。”
“我觉得首先应该是沉下心来做一个好的律师,把法律专业、商业直觉、对新事物的敏锐结合起来打磨,在这个过程当中只要你在市场上足够久,大家都会知道你是一个好的律师,自然而然逐渐就能拥有自己忠实的客户群。” 刘律师说。
展望未来
虽然各位律师已经在自己的领域作出了许多成绩,但是她们并不想安于现状,并且已经规划好了自己的职业发展与目标。
马律师希望能够继续服务好客户,带教新律师,带领团队,在专业之外,为客户、同事、合作伙伴提供更多的情绪价值。
傅律师分享道,未来几年她会继续专注于争议解决及企业破产重整与清算领域的法律服务。同时她会注意人才梯队的建设,为热爱法律的优秀学生提供就业机会,让勤奋上进的年轻人有更好的成长空间。
“由于经济下行,企业经营遇到困难,我希望未来的几年中,能整合更多的社会资源,多宣传破产拯救理念,多给企业家做一些破产培训,多做一些破产拯救的案例。希望自己能在破产理念宣传、困境企业拯救、社会经济转型、法治社会建设等方面贡献一份专业力量,” 傅律师说。
而沈律师未来几年准备继续深耕兼并收购及私募股权业务,在现有的业务领域里继续深耕、再创佳绩,希望有机会参与和完成一些标杆型的项目;其次,她还要努力培养出更多优秀的、能够综合法律和商业的律师人才,让团队的年轻律师获得更好的成长。
对于郑律师来说,律师不仅仅是一份工作,更意味着一份责任和担当。它不仅需要律师认真办案,不辜负客户的委托,更需要律师用专业知识和能力推进科学立法、培养法律后备军、为需要帮助的企业和个人提供公益性的服务。
郑律师说,“优秀的律师更应当成为行业的楷模、无论在专业水准、执业道德、公益服务上都应当起到表率作用。我希望坚守一份对律师职业的初心、执着守正、带好团队、传授经验、培养人才、更好地服务于社会,更好地实现个人价值和社会价值。”
未来,刘律师希望能够进一步打造一个优秀能打的律师团队,继续在私募股权和并购方面完成更多的标志性交易。
刘律师也希望能够继续对中国在跨境并购和私募方面的法律实践作出自己的微薄贡献,尤其是在新市场环境下协助客户解决一些结构创新、前沿的、有挑战性的问题。
2023 ALB China Top 15 Female Lawyers
Women play a significant role in society and deserve to be recognised and celebrated in every industry. This year, ALB China's Top 15 Female Lawyers showcases exceptional lawyers acknowledged by the market for their outstanding contributions to the legal services sector. ALB engages in conversations with a few of these remarkable professionals to delve into their career trajectories, the hurdles female lawyers encounter, and their aspirations for future progression.
In recent years, the number of female lawyers in China's legal profession has been steadily increasing, and the male-to-female ratio among lawyers is trending towards greater balance. Despite the significant achievements of many female lawyers in their careers, a majority of them still encounter numerous challenges in their professional development.
Currently, more than 40 percent of lawyers in China's first-tier cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, are women. Data from the Shenzhen Lawyers Association, in fact, reveals a continuous increase in the proportion of female lawyers in Shenzhen since 2017. Additionally, half of the lawyers in second-tier cities like Dalian are women.
CAREER PATH
Catherine Shen, a partner at Commerce & Finance Law Offices, shared with ALB that she has been working as a lawyer for 18 years. Before joining the firm in 2018, she had worked at international law firms, multinational corporations, and domestic law firms, focusing on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity, and foreign investment.
"In 2019, I helped an international investment institution complete a benchmark project, which was seen as the first investment in a data centre with a variable interest entity (VIE) structure. The deal was extremely difficult due to the complex transaction structure. I took the lead in providing high-quality and efficient legal services of international standard for this project, including designing the transaction structure, due diligence, and drafting, reviewing, and negotiating all the bilingual transaction documents. It was highly appreciated by the client," says Shen.
Since joining Commerce & Finance Law Offices in 2018, Shen has led her team in handling nearly 100 investment and acquisition projects in the field of new economy real estate. These projects encompass warehousing and logistics, data centres, biomedical industrial parks, and other industrial parks, serviced apartments, hotels, and commercial complexes, among others. The projects include not only asset-level investment and acquisition, but also the establishment of joint venture real estate investment platforms and equity financing for new economy infrastructure operators.
Grace Zheng is the senior partner at Co-effort Law Firm. She has been practicing in foreign-related matters since 1999, covering shipping logistics, ship financing, and foreign-related arbitration. Over the past 20 years of practice, she has acted as the legal advisor to many domestic and foreign import and export trading companies, financial institutions, financial leasing companies, shipping logistics enterprises, and ship repairing and building enterprises. Zheng has provided legal services involving international trade, ship financing, non-litigation projects in maritime logistics, as well as litigation and arbitration business.
Zheng has also won multiple awards for her outstanding performance. For instance, Zheng was selected as one of the first members of the young lawyer pool of the Shanghai Bar Association in 2010. In 2018, she was awarded the nomination prize for the Shanghai Outstanding Female Lawyer and was selected as one of the outstanding lawyers handling foreign-related matters worthy of recommendation for the 45th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. Zheng believes that these awards validate her years of hard work.
In terms of theoretical research and legislative proposals, Zheng was invited to participate as an expert in the formulation of several regulations and policies and research topics, such as the formulation of the Measures of the People’s Republic of China on the Registration of Ships, as well as the revision of the Admiralty law by the Ministry of Transportation. Zheng was also appointed as an expert on the revision of the regulations of the registration of ships, as well as a legal advisor of the ship registration.
Zheng was entrusted by the China Maritime Arbitration Commission in 2014 to draft the standard format of ship financing and leasing contracts. It was completed in 2022 and officially released at the North Bund Forum in 2022.
"It was China’s first and only standard format of contract specialised for ship financing and leasing. With more than 100 pages, it is a detailed document that provides a universally accepted contract sample in the field of maritime finance and acts as China’s sample contract in international shipping," says Zheng.
Ma Zhe, the Executive Partner at Grandway Law Offices, has been with the firm since graduation and worked her way up from paralegal to associate and partner.
"Grandway Law Offices has always adhered to the mentorship mechanism. I received rigorous and professional training as well as friendships from my colleagues when I first joined the firm. I am also willing to pass on the tradition after becoming a senior lawyer," says Ma.
Regarding obtaining recognition from clients, Ma believes it is essential to see things from the client’s perspective. "Put yourself in the client’s shoes. When there is a conflict between the client's interests and your own, the client's interests are paramount. Additionally, you should not make moral or value judgments about the client and strictly adhere to your professional duties."
Paula Liu, a partner at Han Kun Law Offices, tells ALB that after graduating from Peking University Law School in 2001, she obtained her LL.M. and PhD in the U.S. and returned to China at the end of 2005. From her perspective, she was fortunate to start practicing in China at a time when cross-border M&A and private equity in the modern sense were beginning to emerge in the country.
Before joining Han Kun, she had been practicing in two reputable international law firms for more than ten years, focusing on private equity and M&A. Her years of experience have laid a solid foundation for her development.
“At that time, is still an imported product and a local newborn, and both investors and portfolio companies are in the process of figuring out. While international practices are useful as references, a great deal of localised exploration and thinking is required to make them commercially viable in the domestic environment. Thanks to my top-tier legal education background both in the U.S. and in China, I have been able to participate in this historical process and witness the localisation, maturation, and marketisation of private equity investment. During this process, I have come to realise that lawyers need to constantly refresh their knowledge structure to adapt to the changes. The completion of a pioneering transaction often means the opening up of new frontiers and opportunities for new business," says Liu.
Liu also points out that since transactions involve different areas, transactional lawyers should not limit themselves to a particular form of investment and M&A at a certain stage.
“Enterprises focus on different fields when they are at different stages of development. To grow with a company, a good transactional lawyer should be equipped with various transactional skills to match different needs of enterprises at different stages," Liu adds.
“As a transactional lawyer, you have to realise that you are not an expert in certain areas and need to seek help from experts. When working on a large project, you need to tap into different resources from various platforms and identify who is more specialised in specific areas,” says Liu.
“In addition, transactional lawyers need to be specialised and, to some extent, generalists, as a project may involve a range of issues such as intellectual property, dispute resolution, antitrust, compliance, tax, foreign exchange, etc. At the same time, it is important to have the ability to think through and pinpoint the issues and mobilise resources. The ability to take a holistic view, pinpoint issues and mobilise resources is equally important,” Liu adds.
Contrary to other lawyers, Cathy Fu, a senior partner at AllBright Law Offices, tells ALB that she started her career in a state-owned enterprise and worked there for several years. During that time, Fu worked with international accountants and lawyers and found their careers more challenging. Therefore, Fu aspired to pursue a career as a lawyer.
Fu passed the CPA exam in 1999 and resigned from a state-owned firm in 2000. She worked as an accountant at Pan-China Certified Public Accountants LLP for two years and then joined AllBright Law Offices to work as a lawyer.
“I have grown from a lawyer to a partner. Based on my experience of resigning from a state-owned company to become a lawyer, I believe that life is a journey. If you want to realise your dream and gain more experience, you have to dare to keep pushing yourself beyond your limits. It requires consistent studying and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Meanwhile, it is beneficial to have an excellent platform, and AllBright Law Offices provides such a good platform,” says Fu.
“When it comes to the work of lawyers, we have to uphold the spirit of professionalism and dedication and strive for the best results for each case, enabling us to grow faster.”
CHALLENGES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Although these lawyers have achieved great success in their careers, they still face similar challenges in balancing family and work. Due to the demanding schedules of lawyers, Shen notes that her family time is limited, underscoring the importance of support from her partner.
“For a female lawyer who is also a mother, it's challenging compared to male lawyers, as women tend to focus more on their children’s education. Balancing between career and family is difficult, as I want to devote more time to my work but also spend quality time with my children,” says Fu.
As a mother of two, Fu suggests that female lawyers can make the most of their limited time with their children by engaging in meaningful activities. Fu mentions she has been engaging in parent-child reading since her kids were just a year old, fostering a strong reading habit that will benefit them throughout their lives.
“While we may feel anxious about not being able to be with our children all the time, we can guide them to explore the wider world by improving ourselves,” says Fu.
Zheng also believes that working as a female lawyer poses additional challenges. With the high work intensity and long hours, female lawyers must strive to balance their professional and personal lives, often making more sacrifices than in other professions. However, Zheng is driven by her passion for the legal profession and finds a strong sense of value in contributing to society.
“It’s necessary to thoroughly assess our personal circumstances and family support to decide whether to pursue a long-term career as a lawyer. But as long as we genuinely love the profession and commit ourselves to it, we can overcome the challenges,” says Zheng.
Despite the numerous challenges in pursuing a legal career, Shen believes that passion combined with persistence is crucial. "Lawyers need to amass value and experience. If we derive fulfilment from being lawyers, persistence is essential," says Shen.
Zheng has been actively involved in the legal profession, uniting lawyers and assisting those around her, believing this to be the direction female lawyers should strive towards.
On the first International Day for Women in Maritime by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Zheng was invited to speak at the women's education and development forum, sharing experiences and suggestions for females on how to advance their careers in the maritime sector.
Additionally, Ma suggests that female lawyers need to reflect on their aspirations and how they want to shape their lives, incorporating their careers as a part of that vision.
“It’s easier to persevere when faced with adversity once we discover our interest in our career. It’s more about choosing between work and family rather than trying to balance them," says Ma.
Fu emphasises that female lawyers have their advantages. They tend to approach tasks with great care and exhibit a gentler demeanour when dealing with clients.
Moreover, lawyers are perpetual learners. Female lawyers should continuously expand their knowledge in various areas of legal services, including reading books, attending lectures, learning from peers and clients, and staying updated on current topics such as artificial intelligence, economic development, and international political situations.
“Being a lawyer requires us to possess more knowledge than our clients to serve them better. In each case, we should strive to give our best, accumulating experience and reputation day by day,” says Fu.
“I believe every accomplished female lawyer is not just a professional but also an adept manager of both her career and personal life. Discovering a harmonious balance between work and home is an art that requires lifelong practice,” says Liu.
On the other hand, women lawyers bring distinct strengths to the table. In transactions, their nuanced approach and empathy can offer deeper insights, often paving the way for solutions.
Therefore, Liu believes that lawyers should take their time in their career development and grow impatient. Doing everything quickly is not necessarily a good approach. Liu advocates leaving room for reflection and learning, which takes time. “Even though your progress may not be as swift as those who are constantly in a rush, you will stand firm, enabling you to soar higher once you take off in the future.”
FUTURE ASPIRATIONS
Liu adds that the way to distinguish oneself from other lawyers is to become proficient in their field, something many lawyers have yet to achieve. She notes that currently, many lawyers are overly anxious, overly focusing on acquiring more clients when they reach a certain stage, neglecting fundamental issues.
“I believe good lawyers should immerse themselves in their work. Over time in the market, everyone will recognise you as a good lawyer, leading to more cases coming your way,” Liu says.
Despite their considerable achievements, these lawyers aspire to further advance their careers, having already set their career development plans and goals.
Ma hopes to continue serving her clients excellently and providing training to new lawyers. Leading her team, Ma aims to deliver emotional value to her clients, colleagues, and partners beyond her profession.
In the upcoming years, Fu will remain focused on legal services in dispute resolution, corporate bankruptcy, reorganisation, and liquidation. Simultaneously, she is eager to provide opportunities to diligent and motivated young individuals.
“It’s a challenging time for many companies due to the economic downturn. In the years ahead, I aim to integrate social resources to raise awareness of corporate rescue concepts and offer more bankruptcy training. As a lawyer, I strive to contribute to publicising bankruptcy concepts, enterprise rescue, social and economic transformation, and the establishment of a society based on the rule of law,” Fu emphasises.
In the next few years, Shen plans to intensify her efforts in M&A and private equity, as well as successfully complete some benchmark projects. Shen also aims to cultivate more exceptional lawyer talents with knowledge of both law and business.
Being a lawyer signifies more than just a job for Zheng; it embodies responsibility and commitment. Lawyers must treat each case with utmost seriousness, promote scientific legislation, nurture the legal talent pool, and provide public welfare services to both enterprises and individuals.
“A good lawyer should become a role model in the profession, demonstrating professional standards, ethical practice, and public services. I hope to persist in being righteous and steadfast, leading my team to better serve the community,” says Zheng.
In the future, Liu hopes to build a strong team of lawyers, continue to complete more landmark transactions in private equity and mergers and acquisitions.
Additionally, Liu hopes to continue contributing to the legal industry in China, particularly in cross-border M&A and private equity, especially in assisting clients to solve some structurally innovative, cutting-edge and challenging issues in the new market environment.
2023 ALB China Top 15 Female Lawyers |
Fan Zhaoxia范朝霞 Feng Xiaoyi冯晓奕 Cathy Fu傅莲芳 Li Hairong李海容 Paula Liu刘云鸽 Long Yanmei龙艳梅 Ma Zhe马哲 Selena She佘铭 Catherine Shen沈晓琳 Xia Dongxia夏东霞 Annie Yan晏丽珺 Zhang Hong张宏 Zhang Zongzhen张宗珍 Grace Zheng郑蕾 Zhou Qian周倩 |
METHODOLOGY |
The 2023 ALB China Top 15 Female Lawyers ranking was open only to lawyers based in mainland China full-time. The list was chosen based on the following criteria: 1. Significant achievements; 2. Important deals or cases; 3. Key work done in the last 12 months; 4. Key clients; 5. Significant awards the candidate has received for work in the form of public recognition; 6. Comments from clients and colleagues. 参评2023 ALB China 十五佳女律师榜单的候选人需为常驻中国大陆工作的女律师,国籍不限。获奖名单按照下列标准选定: 1、 主要成就; 2、 参与的重大交易或案件; 3、 过去12个月的主要工作内容; 4、 主要客户; 5、 所获奖项; 6、 客户评价和同事评价。 |