The editorial team of China Business Law Journal, drawing on market insights and independent research, has selected this year’s most promising Rising Stars in China’s legal market. Pan Xinyi reports
W
hile the legal profession often equates seniority with experience, a new wave of elite lawyers is rewriting these assumptions with a disruptive edge. As of September 2024, the number of practising lawyers in China under the age of 40 exceeded 375,000, accounting for nearly half of all legal professionals in the country.
Against the backdrop of mounting economic pressures and intensifying industry competition, these early-career lawyers are making their mark with exceptional performances far beyond their years.
From cross-border M&A to data compliance and environmental and social governance (ESG) initiatives, they are building formidable expertise in cutting-edge fields, leveraging digital tools, and reimagining traditional service models.
Their rise signals a structural shift in China’s legal services market, where the measure of expertise is less the degree of tenure and more the demonstrable possession of problem solving capabilities.
This year’s A-List spotlights a new generation of trailblazers who are breaking through established career ceilings. By redefining excellence through innovation and reshaping value standards, they are injecting fresh momentum into the legal industry.
Continuing its tradition of rigorous research, China Business Law Journal has once again compiled its annual list of the most recommended legal professionals in the Chinese market for 2024 in three categories: The Visionaries, The Growth Drivers and Rising Stars.
Reports and complete lists of the first two categories were published in volume 15, issues 9 and 10, respectively, on our website and social media platforms.
This article focuses on the Rising Stars, highlighting their unique contributions through client and partner testimonials. It also underscores the market’s expectations for these lawyers as future leaders of the profession.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants in this year’s research and offer our sincere congratulations to the award recipients.
Methodology
To identify the most esteemed lawyers in the market, we invited corporate counsel and executives from Chinese and global businesses, partners from Chinese and international law firms, and legal experts across diverse industries to nominate their lawyers of choice.
All lawyers engaging in private practice and China-related business were eligible to be nominated. In the principle of neutrality, as always, lawyers were not allowed to nominate themselves or colleagues practising at the same firm.
The market response was overwhelming, with thousands of nominations received. We subsequently notified eligible nominees, inviting them to submit details of major transactions they led, and other notable achievements in the past 12 months.
The final selection is based on market nominations, candidate submissions and independent editorial research. Notably, the entire evaluation process is free of charge, from nomination to final selection.
Masters of fields
In today’s complex commercial environment, where intricate transactions and diverse risks intersect, legal experts with deep sectoral knowledge and forward-looking risk management capabilities have become indispensable for businesses seeking precise risk control and efficient problem solving.
Gloria Wang , a Beijing-based partner at Han Kun Law Offices, has earned recognition for her profound understanding of international energy law frameworks, providing comprehensive legal support to Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration & Production Corporation in areas such as international oil and gas upstream block bidding and tendering, asset acquisitions and disposals, project exits, and compliance in daily operations.
Zhang Yunhao, legal affairs manager at the corporation, praises her as “one of the few lawyers in China’s legal market capable of handling the complex legal issues associated with cross-border energy projects”. In particular, Zhang mentions that her leadership on Brazil’s Búzios oilfield record-breaking tender resolved several unprecedented legal challenges.
Zhang Hao, a Hangzhou-based partner at Capital Equity Legal Group, is highly regarded for his expertise and insights in the live-streaming and e-commerce sectors. Melvin Zhang, vice president of legal & compliance at industry leader Be Friends Holding, notes: “[Zhang Hao] excels at integrating domestic and international legal resources, providing us with robust support in areas such as company formation, labour management and influencer agreements.”
Qian Jin, a Shanghai-based partner at Han Kun Law Offices, is highly experienced in venture capital. As lead counsel for prominent VC firm Qiming Venture Partners, he provides comprehensive legal services for its RMB fund formation, fundraising and compliance processes. “Qian demonstrates strong professionalism and excellent communication skills, balancing commercial objectives with investor interests to facilitate the negotiation and implementation of reasonable terms,” says Zhang Xi, deputy legal director at Qiming Venture Partners.
Li Ruixuan, a Beijing-based partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm, has demonstrated exceptional skill in securities compliance and litigation, earning widespread recognition from corporate clients. As lead counsel, he represented Dongxing Securities in China’s first Star Market special representative litigation, ultimately achieving a settlement.
Yang Zhi, general manager of the investment banking division at Dongxing Securities, describes Li as having a deep understanding of the rules, supply and evolution of capital markets, paired with sharp legal acumen and multifaceted problem solving capabilities. “Li is a highly trusted professional in our securities compliance and litigation matters,” he says.
Zhang Jianxin, a Shenzhen-based partner at Merits & Tree Law Offices, has established a strong reputation in bankruptcy restructuring and liquidation, with several of his cases designated as landmark cases, both provincially and nationally.
Sun Bingbing, an investment director at China Resources YuKang Asset Management, highlights Zhang’s role in the restructuring of the Chongqing Xintianze Industrial Holding Group’s related real estate company and Chongqing Iron & Steel Company. “[Zhang Jianxin] often brings innovative solutions to complex cases, achieving clients’ commercial objectives and delivering results beyond expectations,” he says.
Cross-border expertise
As Chinese companies accelerate their international expansions, the demand for cross-border legal services continues to rise. Lawyers with a global perspective and cross-jurisdictional expertise have become pivotal to supporting businesses in their global strategies.
Andrew Lin, international counsel at Rajah & Tann’s Shanghai representative office, earns recognition from Zhang Ben, legal counsel for Minmetals Engineering, who praises Lin’s rich experience in international infrastructure and engineering. “He is well-versed in international laws and industry standards, capable of identifying the specific needs of Chinese companies in complex projects and cases,” he says. “He develops tailored solutions and strategies to help clients achieve their business objectives in today’s challenging geopolitical environment.”
In the realm of international dispute resolution, Rachel Li , a Beijing-based partner at Tian Yuan Law Firm, leads a cross-jurisdictional team delivering comprehensive services. Her “extensive knowledge of foreign legal systems and practical expertise”, coupled with mastery of cross-border legal procedures, earns the recognition of Tian Chunyu, compliance manager at CCB Principal Asset Management, who describes her as a “rare talent in the field of international dispute resolution”.
Luan Yi, a partner at Hui Ye Law Firm’s Shanghai office, led China’s first dispute involving “rental loan” financing. Co-ordinating with legal teams in the Cayman Islands and the US, she employed a combination of domestic litigation and overseas asset preservation measures to successfully resolve the case.
Cheng Guangdong, general counsel of Nanshan Group, commends Luan’s expertise: “Luan adopts a comprehensive approach, thoroughly analysing complex cases. In high-value disputes with intricate legal relationships, she demonstrates a keen ability to identify clients’ true needs, distill key issues, and deliver multidimensional legal solutions with efficiency.”
He Xiangjun, a Changsha-based partner at JunZeJun Law Offices, served as lead counsel in Longping Biotechnology (Hainan)’s RMB7.5 billion (USD1.03 billion) acquisition of a Brazilian seed company. Longping’s founder, Lyu Yuping, praises her exceptional contributions to cross-border M&A, and “indispensable talent for safeguarding the IP and business operations of Chinese companies expanding overseas”.
Icons of innovation
In an increasingly complex business environment, lawyers are addressing novel legal challenges with innovative strategies, reshaping traditional approaches to help businesses overcome obstacles.
In a dispute involving an equity repurchase agreement, Wang Sifa, a Beijing-based partner at Dacheng Law Offices, broke away from conventional litigation frameworks, designing multifaceted legal claims that effectively blocked the opposing party’s asset transfers, securing a critical buffer period for his client, Chongqing Shuimu Xinghua Equity Investment Fund Management.
Bi Lubin, the grateful executive director and general manager of the company, describes Wang’s litigation strategy as “ingenious and groundbreaking”, calling him “a rising star with genuine strength and potential, and a trustworthy litigator”.
At Commerce & Finance Law Offices in Beijing, partner Ma Yuanmeng demonstrated innovation in a primary market healthcare VC project. Through creative contractual design and multiple rounds of negotiation, she achieved a balance between legal compliance and commercial objectives.
Her client, Li Han, executive director at Biotrack Capital, praises her for “adhering to principles while demonstrating great flexibility, proposing creative solutions during multiple rounds of negotiation on key terms, and ensuring the successful completion of the project”.
Wang Haiying, head of the legal department at Fuyao Group, shares her experience working with Zhang Yang, a Guangzhou-based senior partner at Wang Jing & GH Law Firm, praising her exceptional professionalism, strong sense of responsibility and ability to pinpoint key issues in cases.
Zhang’s use of litigation visualisation techniques – which help judges quickly grasp the essence of disputes – are a highlight for Haiying, along with Zhang “consistently crafting solutions that align with the spirit of the law while offering creative strategies, securing the most favourable outcomes for the company”.
Ding Xueming, a Shanghai-based managing partner of Landing Law Offices, specialises in digital economy and data compliance, providing legal services to data exchanges in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhengzhou.
He also serves as a long-term adviser to Shanghai Benqumark Network Tech, where head of corporate integrated management, Gao Wei, highlights that in a complex legal environment with rapid technological innovation, the compliant operation and intelligent development of apps rely on “legal advisers who are both professional and forward-thinking”. Ding, he says, has become an “indispensable pillar for the company at the nexus of law and technological innovation”.
In the real estate sector’s downturn, Su Xiaowei, a senior partner at Grandall Law Firm’s Hangzhou office, leads a team managing the legal affairs, litigation and non-litigation matters for China Jinmao Holdings Group in Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Huzhou and Jinhua.
Qiao Yiming, senior manager of legal affairs at China Jinmao, admires Su’s unique three-tier mechanism comprising “pre-litigation negotiations to minimise lawsuits, mediation during litigation to facilitate settlements whenever possible, and the creation of benchmark cases to promote resolutions”. This approach “reduces the burden on clients, saves public resources, and supports the stable development of the industry, ” says Qiao.
Collaboration achievers
The complexities of modern commerce are raising the bar for legal collaboration. Lawyers with strong cross-team co-ordination skills are delivering results that far exceed expectations.
Xu Siyuan, legal manager of Zhongke Construction Group, has worked with Tian Siyuan, a partner at Bohe & Hansen Law Firm’s Shanghai headquarters, for many years and says his “attention to detail far surpasses that of the average lawyer”.
Xu notes: “From the initial investigation of a case to the formulation of final legal strategies, he consistently upholds the highest standards of rigor.” He also praises the strong support offered by Tian’s team, noting that their “professional specialisation and exceptional collaborative spirit enable them to deliver precise solutions in the shortest possible time”.
Yao Yuchen, vice president of investment banking at CICC, lauds Xiao Jinqing, a Beijing-based partner at Commerce & Finance Law Offices, for his role in the IPO of Huadian New Energy. “Xiao has excellent communication and co-ordination skills. He collaborated efficiently with other intermediaries, driving the project forward and setting a benchmark for IPO services in the renewable energy sector,” says Yao.
In handling Kwai Technology’s complex IP disputes, Wang Yi, a senior partner at Faxian Law Firm’s Chengdu office, swiftly organised a team to review the works in question and co-ordinated with notary institutions to secure evidence, effectively countering malicious litigation. Wang also maintained strong co-operation with various corporate departments, ensuring smooth business operations.
Liu Xi, legal director of Kwai Technology, praises Wang for his “meticulous work ethic, efficient approach, excellent communication skills, and strong team collaboration, making him one of the company’s most trusted lawyers”.
In a patent dispute, Li Yifan, a co-founder of Beijing-based Lingshi Law Firm, led his team in an in-depth analysis of the patent technology at issue, crafting a comprehensive litigation strategy and demonstrating exceptional courtroom skills, which ultimately delivered a favourable outcome.
His collaborative abilities are duly commended by Qiao Yi, director of IP litigation at Roborock Technology. “Li communicates seamlessly with clients, co-counsel and his team, ensuring all parties fully understand the case’s progress and the importance of each decision,” says Qiao.
