The antitrust practice at Clifford Chance LLP advises both multinational and national clients on a range of issues such as high-profile, global joint acquisitions, Asian regional deals, and restructuring and mergers. Yong Bai leads the practice, utilising his previous experience at MOFCOM to advise clients on the full spectrum of antitrust issues. Foreign legal counsel Dayu Man (New York qualified) joined the Hong Kong office in 2022, so strengthening the team's expertise in global merger control practices. Zibo Liu acts as counsel on merger controls, antitrust investigations, and mock dawn raids.

 

Linklaters‘ antitrust and foreign investment group excels at advising its varied client base on complex merger controls and providing expertise on investigations and litigation. The team uses its expansive knowledge to provide advice in sectors such as technology, healthcare, and automotive industries. Clients include large multinationals and Chinese state-owned enterprises. Beijing-based Fay Zhou heads up the team specialising in competition law and regulatory issues for both multinational and local clients. She uses her experience at China’s Ministry of Commerce to assist with regulatory issues and often acts as an advisor to Chinese authorities, ensuring her team has a strong relationship with SAMR. The firm runs a joint operation with Zhao Sheng Law Firm where co-heads Xi Liao and Arthur Peng work as part of an integrated team.  Qiuying Zheng and Larry Zhou both handle high-profile cases of merger control/compliance, investigations and regulatory issues.

 

Allen & Overy LLP works together with its joint operation Lang Yue Law Firm to advise clients across multiple sectors and jurisdictions on their antitrust issues. The firm represents clients in merger control filings, cartel investigations, and arbitration cases. Recently the team has been engaging in more antitrust litigation work due to growing enforcement activities and private actions within China. François Renard chairs the practice with a history of representing clients in complex proceedings and merger control investigations. Working alongside Renard is Vivian Cao who joined Lang Yue in January 2023 from Zhao Sheng Law Firm to lead the antitrust practice there.

 

 

Baker McKenzie FenXun advises clients on a range of cross-border antitrust and competition matters alongside their Beijing-based joint operation FenXun Partners. The practice handles merger controls as well as global cartels and competition investment issues for its local and international clientele. Practice head Stephen Crosswell leads the team from Hong Kong advising on complex multi-jurisdictional cartel investigations, merger clearance for M&A transactions, and competition audits. Laura Liu from FenXun Partners works closely with the team. Tom Jenkins joined as special counsel in January 2023 from Baker McKenzie CVBA/SCRL in Belgium.

The competition and antitrust team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP works closely with its corporate and dispute practices to advise on merger transactions and competition law enforcement cases including SASAC controlled Chinese state owned enterprises. Chairing the team, Adelaide Luke specialises in Hong Kong competition law but also handles antitrust and merger control within China. In Shanghai at its joint operation  Kewei Law Firm, Frances Xu assists on all aspects of competition law. Senior associate Howard Chan is knowledgeable on competition law regimes across Asia, while associate Hazel Xu  focuses on commodity trading and M&As.

 

The competition and antitrust team at Hogan Lovells International LLP sits within its global antitrust, competition, and economic regulation practice enabling the firm to integrate its work with other key antitrust jurisdictions. Its work encompasses both merger and non-merger issues, including government and internal investigations as well as counselling work. TMT is where the team shines, advising major local and international technology and internet companies on the full scope of their antitrust issues. Adrian Emch leads the team from Beijing, utilising his expertise to advise on merger controls, cartel/abuse of dominance investigations, and competition law. Associate Qing Lyu advises national and multinational companies on conduct investigations, policy analysis, and antitrust compliance.

Jones Day utilises its global approach to aid in antitrust investigations and litigations both inside and outside of China. Domestic and international clients regularly seek out the practice for antitrust advice and merger reviews. Hong Kong-based Peter Wang leads on the antitrust and litigation practices, establishing himself as a go-to for M&A and non-merger investigations for US and Chinese clients. Yizhe Zhang and Qiang Xue (who is valued for his 'profound knowledge of government regulation and anti-monopoly law') are well qualified to advise on Chinese enforcement agencies’ investigations and decision-making practices. In Beijing, Yichen Wu handles merger filing reviews and private litigation, while Lawrence Wang focuses on pre-merger notifications and antitrust government investigations.

 

Advising clients from across automotive, machinery and manufacturing, life sciences, and TMT, the antitrust, competition and trade practice at CMS is well versed in handling a range of antitrust issues. Typical work for the team covers merger control filings and creating anti-trust compliance programmes. Corporate, M&A and competition specialist Kevin Wang re-joined as principal counsel and co-head in March 2022. Ulrike Glueck leads the team in Shanghai with her skills in antitrust projects. Associate Yedi Zhu also joined the team in April 2023 assisting on merger control filings and competition law matters. Nick Beckett leads the Beijing antitrust team alongside Vera Zhang.

 

The competition team at Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. handles both transactional and compliance matters for global businesses in China. The practice is retained by clients to advise on anti-monopoly law, reviewing commercial policies, and merger filings. David Boitout, Jiannian Fan , and Min Guo  all lead the team with their combined expertise in competition and antitrust law. Associate Xi Chen is based in Beijing and handles merger notifications to SAMR, compliance, and project work.

 

O'Melveny works across all areas of antitrust and competition law from merger controls to investigating sensitive price-fixing and abuse of dominance cases. On the merger control side it assists semiconductor, technology, and automotive industries on SAMR merger processes and non-competition issues. For competition issues the team advises on anti-monopoly law changes while also providing strategic counselling on compliance and enforcement risks, including abuse of dominance claims. Practice head Philip Monaghan combines his EU law background with his antitrust expertise in Hong Kong – he is particularly noted for his knowledge of merger control within the semiconductor industry. Lining Shan resides in Beijing aiding with merger filings and anti-unfair competition training for clients, while Vivian Wang handles merger review from Shanghai.

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP deals with cross-border transactions and regional conduct and litigation matters across Asia Pacific. Merger control approvals for international transactions is another highlight for the firm, working closely with its M&A team to advise both local and international clients. Practice head Andrew Foster is knowledgeable on China’s anti-monopoly enforcement procedures, but also advises on a range of antitrust matters. Asia Pacific counsel Kexin Li works on high-profile merger control cases and handles on-going remedy compliance efforts at SAMR. Senior competition attorney Julia Zhu works across both the Beijing and Hong Kong offices, focusing on antitrust law within China. Jacqueline Arena is also noted for her merger transaction work.