Han Kun Law Offices‘ far-reaching practice offers expertise in the establishment of fintech and blockchain products, in addition to coverage of data protection and compliance matters. The unit is also well-placed to advise on capital markets work such as initial public offerings and investment in quasi-financial institutions. Jun Zhu is a key contact at the firm, with a portfolio of work which includes advising on the design of third-party payments products. Wei Quan has a proven track record of advising on matters relating to consumer finance and supply chain finance, while Tiecheng Yang has a strong focus on financial regulations. Domestic and cross-border asset management transactional mandates are firmly in the wheelhouse of Kanxi Liao.

King & Wood Mallesons is trusted by a broad range of clients, such as multinational corporations, significant regulatory bodies, and leading companies from traditional sectors to handle issues in fintech, including digital transformation projects, regulatory development advice, and cross-border internet payments. Leadership duties fall jointly to Leimin Yu and Xin Zhong. Zhong, who is based in Shanghai, has longstanding experience in advising financial infrastructure institutions and both domestic and international banks on financial regulation and compliance. Fushen Chen frequently advises on private equity investments in fintechs, while Chunjia Shao is equipped to advise on SaaS system projects.

From transaction structuring, to compliance review, to business formation, Zhong Lun Law Firm is equipped to advise financial institutions, big data companies, and large internet players with a range of mandates related to fintech and financial innovations. The team's expertise encompasses data breaches, loan facilitation, cloud computing and data compliance investigations – with the team able to advise both on compliance with Chinese regulation and international policy such as GDPR. A trio of partners heads up the team: Scott Yu and Zhisong He jointly head the financial services practice, while Jeffrey Liu leads the financial innovation & fintech industry groups. Liu assists clients such as government departments and multinational corporations with issues such as cybersecurity and data protection. Jihong Chen is a key contact for data infrastructure matters, while Roy Zheng is well-placed to advise private equity and venture capital funds on investments in the fintech sector.

Beijing DaHui Lawyers assists multinational and domestic clients with fintech matters such as payment processing, operating, data protection and dispute resolution. The team is also well-placed to conduct investigations aimed at helping clients prevent or respond to objections from PRC regulatory authorities. Practice head Richard Ma frequently assists fintech clients with market entry and restructuring matters. Cloud Li is instructed by both Western multinationals and large state-owned and private Chinese companies on matters such as M&A and regulatory compliance. Joanna Jiang‘s varied practice extends to complex data compliance work, while Chris Beall counts China-foreign joint venture formation among his areas of competency.

Led by Amanda Zhou, Chen Bao, Jian Fang, Zhiyi Ren and Kate Yin, Fangda Partners is notably strong in financings and cross-border work involving digital platforms. The team is equally adept at handling M&A work and compliance in the fintech space. Fang has a proven track record of advising on cross-border investments. Lawrence Yuan specialises in acquisition finance, while establishing data compliance programmes is an area of expertise for Gil Zhang. Lily Yan is a popular contact for Chinese enterprises seeking assistance with outbound investments.

The practice at Global Law Office, which covers both contentious and non-contentious matters, is active across regulatory investigations, strategic investments, licensing and mobile payments.  Maggie Meng, Vincent Wang, Steven Yu and Meph Jia Gui share leadership duties. Meng has in-depth knowledge of data compliance systems; Yu assists major tech clients and VC funds with their investment in China-based fintechs; and Wang enhances the contentious experience at the firm. Capital markets specialist Jinrong Liu is an additional name to note.

V&T Law Firm stands out for its ability to handle NFT projects and data compliance matters. The team is also equipped to advise on tax matters relating to digital assets. Practice chair Feng Zhang has a strong track record in matters with a blockchain dimension, and is the permanent legal advisor for a number of prominent clients in this space.

Yingke Law Firm wins plaudits for being ‘sensitive to the latest domestic and foreign trends.’ The team is particularly strong in matters involving AI technology, intelligent risk control and data compliance. The ‘excellent coordinator’ Hua Li drives the firm’s offering and is well versed in corporate governance and dispute resolution. Both Caiqin Wang and Liang Zhang are noted by peers in the market for their data protection expertise.

Financial institutions, industrial associations and technology platform clients trust Zhao Sheng Law Firm to handle the regulation of their data-related activities in China. The team’s reach is expanded by its joint operation with Linklaters. Colette Pan leads the team, and is well versed in matters relating to China’s increasingly complex data law regime. Cross-border investment expert Eric Liu assists major corporates and funds with inbound and outbound transactions. Ningying Bao advises on the establishment of joint ventures.