Chinese legal powerhouse Zhong Lun Law Firm is ranked ‘Outstanding’ across various practice areas and industry sectors with its well-established teams in both the transactional and contentious arena. With its exceptional experience in complex and high-profile restructuring, M&A and various other transactions, it has assisted many hi-tech businesses in their development and expansion. Construction and project development have traditionally been the firm’s core practices, but its expertise has also expanded to real estate, infrastructure and PPP, energy, public facilities and industrial manufacturing. Key partners to note from the firm are Shanghai-based partner Anthony Zhao, who specialises in capital markets, private equity, and cross-border investment/M&A, and Beijing-based partner Jihong Wang, whose practice covers corporate governance, health, safety, environmental protection and financing.
Client feedback
“Zhong Lun is extremely knowledgeable in the field of China financing and demonstrates the highest and most consistent professional standard for all services.” – Banking and finance
“The firm is highly responsive and professional.” – Banking and finance
“They are professional, efficient and dedicated.” – Banking and finance
“They work with international law firms and provide practical and effective problem-solving solutions that match the local political, economic, and social environment.” – Banking and finance
“They are very professional and proactive in providing legal advice.” – Banking and finance
“The law firm is very professional, well prepared, and performs exceptionally well on the spot.” – Banking and finance
“They have professional career skills and extensive project experience, are highly dedicated and extremely efficient, and have a positive common attitude and spirit of cooperation.” – Capital markets
“They give insightful and down-to-earth suggestions on what the company could really achieve and act on.” – Capital markets
“Zhong Lun has a professional knowledge system, rich practical experience in the capital markets, efficient communication skills and timely feedback.” – Capital markets
“Zhong Lun did a good job.” – Capital markets
“Zhong Lun is professional, dedicated, timely, and trustworthy.” – Corporate and M&A
“Zhong Lun has an extremely capable leadership team running its international arbitration practice. Huawei Sun and Lijun Cao stand out as excellent lawyers. They are supported by a very strong group of hard-working associates.” – Dispute resolution
“This firm is familiar with investment arbitration and commercial arbitration and can provide good legal advice on investment arbitration. The team is hard-working and diligent, capable of undertaking a large amount of work, and can properly handle complex domestic law issues in international arbitration cases. Some of the team members are relatively young and have good development potential.” – Dispute resolution
“Zhong Lun Law Firm's team is hands-on, detailed, and thorough, and plays an active role as a co-counsellor. The firm's has exemplary ability to navigate through the laws and legal systems of foreign jurisdictions and participate in the exploration of solutions.” – Dispute resolution
“Zhong Lun communicates very well with other parties and is very dedicated, very professional, prompt, and highly efficient.” – Dispute resolution
“The firm doesn't avoid encountering problems. They had done well till now.” – Dispute resolution
“Lawyers are highly professional and dedicated, able to consider and solve problems from the perspective of clients.” – Dispute resolution
“Zhong Lun professionally and accurately grasps the core and timeline of the case. Also, they actively contact the opposing party to find a balance between the interests of the two parties in the dispute.” – Dispute resolution
“Zhong Lun Law Firm excels in handling complex legal disputes, demonstrating their deep understanding of corporate law by providing strategic advice and crafting effective legal strategies to address intricate issues. They offer comprehensive legal support by managing various aspects of disputes, from drafting and revising agreements to representing clients in litigation, ensuring all legal bases are covered. Additionally, the firm prioritises client needs, tailoring their services to specific situations and showing dedication to achieving the best outcomes.” – Energy
“Zhong Lun always gave quick responses and organised effective counter-measures against the defendant's actions throughout the lawsuit. It is particularly noteworthy that the judicial appraisal opinion issued by the court-appointed appraiser was unfavourable. However, Zhong Lun skilfully handled this significant disadvantageous evidence and properly addressed the issue of the probative value of the judicial appraisal opinion, which is a highly contentious and tricky issue in both theory and practice.” – Energy
“They are fast and have a deep understanding of technology.” – Intellectual property
“The firm has great service quality, great training, and are up to date on local regulations.” – Privacy and data protection
“Zhong Lun Law Firm has a deep understanding of the legal landscape, particularly in the area of private equity and investment law. Their expertise allows them to provide sound legal advice and navigate complex legal issues with ease. The firm is meticulous in its approach to legal work. They leave no stone unturned when conducting due diligence, ensuring that all potential risks are identified and addressed. They prioritise the client's needs and tailor their services to fit individual requirements. Their personalised approach makes them stand out in the legal services industry. Also, the firm has a strong grasp of regulatory compliance, ensuring that all legal work is conducted within the boundaries of the law. They are prompt in their responses and keep clients informed about the progress of their cases, which is essential for maintaining trust and transparency.” – Private equity
“They did very well.” – Real estate
“They understand business and provide timely feedback. The firm is professional and diligent.” – Real estate
“Zhong Lun is a top Chinese full-service law firm with offices in many jurisdictions around the world and thousands of lawyers. Zhong Lun has legal experts in all of these areas.” – Regulatory
“The firm has very top professional quality; in the past years of our cooperation, Zhong Lun lawyers have shown a high level in the handling of key facts and interpretation of legal provisions, assisting to protect our legitimate rights and interests.” – Shipping
“Zhong Lun Law Firm provides comprehensive and professional services. It will accurately equip professional lawyers for different industries, fields, and types of cases to resolve different risks and disputes arising from business operations.” – Shipping
“They provide constructive advice for the deployment of local digital solutions.” – Technology and telecommunications
Wei (Wilson) Huo
“Lawyer Huo has extensive experience, strong professional legal knowledge, and detailed case preparation.”
“Wilson has a commanding grip on international arbitration laws and best practices and is able to apply his knowledge and skill, with remarkable strategic clarity, in different jurisdictions.”
“He provides high-quality solutions to customers.”
Guanghui Jin
“His professional skills, communication skills and professional attitude are very good.”
Hairong Li
“Hairong has a deep theoretical background and rich practical experience. She has strong ability to solve complex problems. Also, she is full of inventiveness and possesses strong communication skills.”
Xiangwen Liu
“Xiangwen is skilled in handling major, difficult, complex, cross-border legal issues that integrate civil, administrative, and criminal matters and can provide clients with practical and effective problem-solving solutions that match the local political, economic, and social environment.”
“Mr. Liu has led his legal team to provide legal services for us to establish and improve our compliance management system. With deep legal background and international vision, Mr. Liu and his legal team are well versed in corporate management and are good at providing comprehensive compliance legal services and resolving major commercial disputes for clients by using a combination of commercial and legal means.”
Tian Liu
“Tian has a profound knowledge of private equity and investment laws, which is crucial for providing accurate and relevant legal advice. She can dissect complex issues and devise effective legal strategies, demonstrating a high level of analytical thinking. She doesn't just react to situations; instead, she anticipates potential problems and proactively addresses them before they become issues.”
Jeffrey Liu
“Jeffrey has good knowledge in information protection and training. He is very professional and flexible with pricing.”
Shirley Lu
“Shirley's particular strengths derive from her robust legal expertise and sound commercial acumen. She is skilled in providing well-structured advice from her extensive experience and carefully thought-out context, which I appreciate very much. Shirley has an in-depth understanding of property financing legal intricacies and risks. Hence, she can balance various commercial and legal considerations to find practical solutions to difficult and complex issues. Shirley articulates her opinion frankly and maintains an open mind to different views and challenges.”
“She manages clients well and is very experienced in the financing area.”
“She has excellent communication skills and market know-how.”
Jingli Mu
“She and her team are very good at both down-to-earth suggestions and creative solutions.”
“She did very well.”
Huawei Sun
“Huawei is a first-rate lawyer; she has a great eye for detail but also a good strategic sense.”
“She is dedicated, with extensive experience in investment arbitration and commercial arbitration.”
Zhoujun Tang
“He has an extremely high level of professionalism, cooperation, responsiveness, and a good service attitude.”
“Zhoujun and the project team dig deep into the background and purpose of the regulatory legislation behind the capital market rules, assist the sponsor in promoting communication and argumentation with the regulatory authorities on various issues, and participate in solving major problems encountered in capital operation.”
Fangrong Wu
“He is highly professional.”
“He has excellent business thinking and excellent communication skills. He provides timely feedback and is diligent.”
Kun Wu
“Kun had made efficient and feasible plans for us; more importantly, she had given the right prediction and connected with judicial institutions efficiently. She has professional legal knowledge and high responsibility.”
Tian Yang
“Tian is doing hands-on work.”
Yutian Zhang
“Yutian is a highly professional lawyer with deep insights not only in law but also in business, able to put himself in the position of proposing constructive and operable solutions. He is a partner we trust very much.”
“Yutian not only has profound legal skills but also has a business mindset, which enables him to put himself in the client's shoes and formulate targeted legal service solutions to solve problems effectively.”
Bin Zhou
“Bin has professional litigation skills and patient communication skills.”
Bingyin Zhao
“Bingyin did very well.”
Xuan Zhou
“Xuan, a seasoned professional lawyer, exemplifies a plethora of positive attributes. His profound legal expertise instils confidence in clients, assuring us that our legal needs will be skilfully addressed. Xuan excels in communication, adeptly articulating intricate legal concepts and ensuring clients clearly grasp case developments. Possessing a natural talent for problem-solving, he swiftly identifies core issues and proposes viable solutions to optimise client interests. Attention to detail is a defining feature of his practice, as he meticulously reviews documents to pre-empt potential pitfalls.”
“Mr. Zhou is a top-quality lawyer who not only has a strong practice in dispute resolution but also possesses rich experience in ESG and carbon trading. Hence, he can combine his sophisticated legal expertise with abundant sectoral knowledge. He is also strategic and commercially aware. He can always put himself in the company's shoes and optimise his client's interests.”
Yang Zhou
“Yang has strong knowledge-based, solid expertise, and capability to advise on complex business solutions.”
Work highlights
Advised Shanghai Enflame Technology in its Series D financing. The deal was one of the largest corporate financing transactions in the Chinese AI chip design field in 2023.
Advised Kunlun Tech on a $95 million (Rmb680 million) acquisition of an AI computing company.
Key clients
Ascendent Capital Partners, CICC Capital, Kingdee International Software Group Company.
Work highlights
Acted for OPPO and Nokia related to 5G standard essential patent litigation cases.
Represented Motorola Solutions on approximately $30 million patent disputes and antitrust case against a tech company.
Advised on a series of patent infringement litigations for Guangdong Galanz Microwave Electrical Appliances Manufacturing.
Key clients
Huawei Technologies, Netgear (Beijing) Network Technology, Samsung Electronics, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Taikang Insurance Group.
Work highlights
Advised Ping An Securities in response to the representative litigation filed by the investors in Leshi Internet Information and Technology.
Represented the PRC provincial government and the Department of Transportation of the province in two China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission arbitration cases in Beijing against a Macau company and a PRC project company under a government BOT agreement.
Advised Guonengyinglite Energy and Chemical Group on a series of disputes in the amount of $1.1 billion (Rmb8 billion).
Key clients
Cambricon Technologies, Dongxing Securities, Evergrande Group, Shengjing Bank.
Work highlights
Represented GGV Capital throughout the transaction and provided legal advice in respect of the formation of GGV Capital RMB Fund III, including (but not limited to) document drafting, negotiations, and other general legal advice.
Represented CITIC Securities' private equity management agency CITIC Goldstone Fund Management, cooperated with JD Property to establish a RMB warehousing and logistics fund.
Key clients
COFCO, E-Town Capital, Gongqingcheng Runhui Investment Management Partnership, IDG Capital, Shangying Mutual Entertainment (Shanghai) Planning Consulting.
Work highlights
Acted as administrator of Nanjing Fullshare Industrial Holding Group and its 24 affiliates on its successful reorganisation.
Acted as the debtor's legal counsel for Sanpower Group on the successful debt restructuring.
Key clients
China United SME Guarantee Corporation, Guangdong Qiangke Real Estate, Guangdong Taiantang Pharmaceutical, Qingdao Luchuang Private Equity Fund Management.
Work highlights
Advised Pipe China on its acquisition of minority shareholders' equity of United Pipeline.
Advised Geely’s Farizon Auto on a Series A financing.
Advised Mercedes-Benz Group China and BMW Brilliance Automotive on the establishment of joint ventures in China.
Key clients
Beijing Easpring Material Technology, Carlsberg Chongqing Beer, CITIC Securities, JCET Group.
Work highlights
Advised Dencare (Chongqing) Oral Care on its IPO on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The company is in the first batch of Main Board-listed enterprises after the reform of fully implementing the registration-based IPO system.
Advised Beijing Health Guard Biotechnology on its listing on the Main Board of the HKEX.
Advised China Southern Air Logistics Company on its listing on the Main Board of Shanghai Stock Exchange and the spin-off from China Southern Airlines Company.
Key clients
BofA Securities, China Gezhouba Group, China Publishing & Media Holdings, CICC, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley.
Work highlights
Represented JD.com in filing an antitrust lawsuit against Alibaba for abuse of dominance before the Beijing High People's Court.
Advised Yunnan Energy New Material on a merger filing of the establishment of a joint venture with Contemporary Amperex Technology.
Advised Baowu Group for PRC merger filing on its investment in Simandou iron ore mine.
Key clients
AXA, Beijing Automotive Group, Motorola Solutions, Shell (China), Tongcheng Network Technology.
Work highlights
Advised the onshore and offshore syndicates consisting of DBS Bank (China) Shanghai Branch, OCBC Bank, and Australia and New Zealand Bank (China) Company Shanghai Branch on the onshore-offshore linked financing in an aggregate amount over $629 million (Rmb4.5 billion) granted to the onshore and offshore subsidiaries of CapitaLand Group for the refinancing project of Hongkou Plaza in Shanghai.
Advised China Foreign Trade Financial Leasing on converting the equity held by existing shareholders of CRRC Leasing, including CRRC Group, CRRC Corporation, and Tianjin Trust, by issuing additional shares.
Advised an investment company of a famous alcohol producer in the objection to enforcement proceedings concerning the transfer of partnership equity valued at $180 million against a famous IT company
Key clients
China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation, China Great Wall Asset Management, Foxconn Industrial Internet, The Export-Import Bank of China.
Work highlights
Advised China Central Television (CCTV) on the construction project of CCTV’s new site.
Advised The Universal Beijing Theme Park and Resort on whole-process legal services on construction.
Advised Greentown Zhefan Real Estate on the development and construction of the Jinsha Project, which was a benchmark project delivered by Greentown China in Hangzhou that year.
Key clients
China Energy Engineering Investment Corporation, Cummins (China) Investment, PowerChina Eco-Environment Group, Shanghai Shen-tie Investment.
Work highlights
Advised the SoftBank Group’s domestic subsidiaries to complete the Personal Information Export Standard Contract Filing per the PRC laws and regulations.
Advised China Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction on establishment of the comprehensive compliance management system.
Advised a central state-owned enterprise and its subsidiaries in enhancing its integrity compliance programme, receiving compliance inspections and audits by the independent compliance monitor at overseas branches and projects in eight countries, including in southeast Asia, south Asia, central Asia, and Oceania, as well as four domestic subsidiaries, and successfully releasing from the sanction imposed by the Asian Development Bank.
Key clients
ByteDance, China Huadian Engineering, China Mobile, China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Tencent.
