Fangda Partners continues to showcase its strength in the real estate sector, advising developers, private equity sponsors, institutional investors, and financial institutions on their regulatory and transactional issues. Transactional matters are where the firm shines, handling both onshore, offshore and cross-border transactions. The Shanghai-based team is sought out for real estate investments, acquisitions and disposals, and commercial leasing. Practice heads Yingying Wang and Stephen Lin are well respected for their real estate expertise. Wang has over 20 years’ experience in real estate, hospitality, construction, and PPP projects, while Lin is known for his skills in overseas real estate investments, M&A, commercial leasing and built-to suit projects. Zhenyu Wang handles cross-border M&A as well as real estate related private equity investments and Frank Fan focuses on real estate acquisitions and disposals as well as hotel management. Amber Wang acts as counsel and assists on all matters.

The real estate and construction practice at Global Law Office acts for a wide range of international and domestic clientele, combining its knowledge of project development and operation, M&A, and dispute resolution to advise on all areas of real estate and construction. The team represents contractors, owners, and other entities on their construction issues, including both contentious and non-contentious matters. A standout area for the practice is commercial real estate, in particular the hospitality industry. Huawei Lin represents clients such as Blackstone and Warburg Pincus on their real estate investments and onshore platforms in China, while Zhongcheng Wang works across real estate, project construction, infrastructure, and energy projects. Yue Wang focuses on hospitality, advising on numerous hotel projects for international brands, Miller Wang takes charge of domestic corporate infrastructure projects, and Minghao Xu handles real estate M&A as well as construction projects within China. The five aforementioned lawyers all co-lead the practice. Shiping Zuo and Tim Yimin Liu are also noted.

King & Wood Mallesons has a comprehensive real estate practice, with both international and local experience. The team is able to advise on real estate matters related to residential and office spaces, shopping malls, hotels and industrial complexes. Key areas include primary land development, urban renewal, cooperative development, and real estate financing. The practice boasts an impressive team of lawyers able to assist with a wide range of issues. Practice head Harry Du represents global investment banks and large multinational companies on a multitude of matters, including developments, investments in real estate, infrastructure projects, and new energy. Beijing based Shigang Cheng specialises in construction, mineral resources and PE investment litigation and arbitration, while William Jiang assists foreign and domestic clients from Shanghai. Zhangqi Tao takes on contentious and non-contentious issues in Shenzhen, Kathy Fan works on renewable energy projects, and Meidong Xing handles real estate funds and structured financing. Associate Chen Xi is also noted.

Zhong Lun Law Firm leverages its impressive team size to assist clients on the whole gamut of real estate issues. The practice covers four major sections; traditional real estate, urban infrastructure, transport and logistics, and cultural, tourism, and hospitality. Within these four areas, the team is able to provide comprehensive consultancy services, advising on land investment and transactions, real estate development projects, and real estate M&A. The firm also handles contentious work such as restructuring, bankruptcy, and liquidation of real estate companies and other arbitration and litigation matters. Key members of the team in Beijing include construction and real estate development expert Han Hao, Song Mu who advises state-owned enterprises, and Jiong Zhang who focuses on energy, power and rail infrastructure matters. Other practitioners include Shenzhen-based arbitration specialist Furong Deng and real estate acquisition partner Fanrong Wu over in Hangzhou. Jihong Wang, Maoyuan Zhu, and Wenjing Zhang are all names to note for their real estate expertise.

Construction specialists City Development Law Firm are a go-to for foreign and local clients looking for all-round advice on both contentious and non-contentious construction and real estate issues. The construction team regularly advises on infrastructure, public utilities and landmark projects across China. Due to the varied background of the team, which includes construction engineering, civil engineering, and urban planning experience, it can adeptly advise project employers, contracts, real estate developers, design institutes, and survey institutes on a myriad of construction and real estate matters. Shanghai based arbitration expert Zhongchun Song also aids in investment, construction, and infrastructure projects, while Junhua Li focuses on real estate from Kunming. In Nanjing, Ninglian Sun specialises in construction and engineering law and is an authority for industrial cases in Jiangsu Province. Founder Shuying Zhu is also noted.

Han Kun Law Offices makes its mark in the real estate sector with its skills in advising investors on launching real estate funds, and aiding them on related investments and financing. Clientele range from domestic and foreign real estate funds and investment banks to real estate and warehouse enterprises, transactional companies, and public entities. Dispute resolution, property management and operation, leases, and securitisation of real estate are all handled by the firm. Stephen (Shiwen) Dong is well-versed in all real estate related acquisitions, project finance, M&A, and offshore securities offerings. Rong Fang is a key name in real estate financing, PPPs, and real estate funds. Zhen (Cody) Chen handles domestic real estate transactions, while Yan Zhang is a skilled litigator for construction projects. Xiao Li is also noted for his work with state-owned enterprises and private real estate companies.

M&A and investments are the core of the real estate and construction practice at JunHe. With a strong transactional focus and lawyers located over Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, the practice is able to assist clients all over China with complex real estate projects that include development, financing, leasing and sale of projects and properties. The team works closely with other departments such as taxation, infrastructure, M&A, and dispute resolution to supplement real estate investment projects and transactions where required. Xueping Yu takes charge of the practice from Shanghai, specialising in real estate, property development and construction. In Beijing, co-head Yue Tang is an expert in real estate acquisitions and dispositions, as well as real estate financing.

The construction focused practice at Beijing Cyan Law Firm acts for key domestic clients, such as China Eastern Airlines, alongside other state-owned enterprises and international companies. The team is led by Wanhe Ye, who specialises in large-scale construction projects, legal services related to PPP projects and complex dispute resolution of PPP projects. Fellow head Yinli Gao is the lead arbitrator of the team, utilising his background in construction engineering and law to deal with major construction arbitration cases. Wei Shi focuses on commercial arbitration and litigation for construction and environmental protection industries.

Boasting a large practice across China, Dacheng Law Offices is able to provide its clients with comprehensive legal services related to real estate and construction. Construction is a strength of the firm, with lawyers specialising in architectural, civil, and electromechanical engineering projects. The team also regularly assists developers, investors, financial institutions, and real estate funds on the real estate side with a variety of matters such as raw land development, state-owned land transfer, and project development. Arbitrator Guanshan Yang heads up the transportation and infrastructure group at the firm. Chenyao Wu takes on real estate innovation projects such as urban redevelopments, while Jingpu Zhao handles government investments and PPP projects.

The practice at Guantao Law Firm has core strength in traditional real estate matters. The team regularly handles transactions and land development projects, as well as M&A and restructuring real estate projects. Construction work is also undertaken by the team, including project management, design and performance of contracts, and settlement of payments. Hongyi He and Yonghong Zhan co-lead the practice, with Zhan serving as counsel to many domestic real estate entities and state-owned enterprises, assisting on a range of matters including real estate projects, and commercial litigation and arbitration. Rong Zhang handles real estate development, house expropriation and relocation, Lei Meng aids on construction and real estate projects, and Xuexia Wang covers transactions.

Jincheng Tongda & Neal assists with both traditional and new real estate matters, such as investments and transactions to real estate investment trusts (REITs), and asset securitisation. The team also handles M&A transactions and a range of contentious cases. Guozhong Shao advises both real estate and construction clients on finance-related issues and land acquisitions. Bing Tian advises clients on real estate developments and investments, infrastructure construction, and foreign direct investments.

Jingtian & Gongcheng primarily assists state-owned enterprises, handling both contentious and non-contentious real estate and construction issues. Matters handled by the team include real estate finance, M&A, corporate real estate, and land investments. The practice is co-led by Fusheng Fu and Lingqin Wang. Fu specialises in infrastructure and project financing, while Wang is an expert in handling both contentious and non-contentious construction and real estate projects. Key team members include Linming Jin, who works on PPP implementation, Zejia Chen, who focuses on onshore and overseas listings, and Tao Yang, who assists with real estate development, infrastructure construction, and real estate finance. Jing Chen is also noted for her work across all real estate matters.

Jinghui Tan spearheads the real estate and construction practice at Jundu Law Firm, advising on a myriad of matters, including project construction, real estate development, and PPP projects. Tan utilises her previous experience working at state-owned enterprises to advise their mainly local clientele on their China based projects. The team also assists with complex real estate dispute cases for construction and PPP industries. Nanshan Chen handles commercial dispute resolution and infrastructure construction matters, while Heng Guo assists with domestic and overseas construction projects.

Llinks Law Offices is known for its domestic and cross-border real estate transactional aptitude, advising private equity funds, domestic and overseas investors, real estate developers, and construction companies on complex and varied transactional issues. The team utilises the firm's asset management, capital markets, and litigation teams, as well as their Hong Kong practice, to assist in all areas of transactions. The department additionally covers investments, financing, securitisation and dispute resolution. Practice head Nicholas Lou represents real estate funds and developers on acquisitions and transfers, as well as real estate construction and sales. Co-head Bernie Liu focuses on M&A related real estate matters. David Yu and Teddy Li are also noted.

Merits & Tree Law Offices has been rapidly growing its real estate practice, strengthening the team with the recruitment of practice head Hong Lu, in addition to Chun Gu and Lingyue Sun, all of whom joined from East & Concord Partners in March 2022. Real estate specialists Ping Zhang and Yi Wu both joined from Zhong Lun Law Firm in March 2022. The team covers a considerable breadth of real estate and construction work, including land acquisition, real estate project development and sales, investments, and financing, in addition to M&A. The firm handles a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters for its primarily domestic client base, dealing with infrastructure disputes, disputes over transfer of land use rights, and construction contract disputes. Lu is an expert in dispute resolution for construction projects and risk control, while Beijing-based Sun handles commercial real estate and hospitality matters. Zheyuan Jin is experienced in development, financing, and investment of real estate and infrastructure entities.

The real estate and construction engineering group at Tian Yuan Law Firm sits within the larger corporate and M&A practice, enabling the team to focus on real estate developments and investment plans for real estate projects. The firm also represents government entities, developers, and contractors in real estate projects including land transfer and bidding, project investment and financing, and listing and securitisation of real estate assets. Yanling Ren, Peng He, and Peng Xie all co-lead the practice. Ren has assisted on major infrastructure and public construction projects, as well as asset reorganisations of real estate enterprises. He focuses on the investment, financing and M&A side of real estate, while Xie handles construction projects and engineering-related dispute resolution matters.

Land investment, M&A, real estate development and financing are all key areas for AllBright Law Offices‘ real estate and construction practice. The team also advises on overseas listings of real estate enterprises, overseas issuance of bonds, and overseas fund investments in domestic real estate projects. Arbitrator Fang Wang leads the team from Nanjing and Jiangsu, handling both contentious and non-contentious issues for real estate, infrastructure construction and PPP. In Shanghai Binhui (David) Li works on cross-border real estate matters, Dongdong Bai specialises in urban renewal projects and Changsha-based Jingming Liu handles construction disputes. Zhi Yun is also noted.

FenXun Partners utilises its joint venture with Baker McKenzie FenXun to assist large multinational clients on a broad spectrum of property matters. Practice head Alexander Gong is known for his skills in transactional matters, commercial leasing, land and development projects, as well as private equity funds. Gong handles complex transactions involving MNCs and cross-border issues. Guangshui Yang is also noted.

Boss & Young, Attorneys At Law has a longstanding real estate and construction practice, assisting with real estate business matters such as land acquisition, housing sales and rent, and project M&A, as well as construction engineering issues including construction contract disputes. Guofei Lu leads the Shanghai-based team alongside Rui Qin, Tingting Wang, and Wenjun Yang. Lu advises clients on real estate, construction engineering, and real estate investment and financing matters. Qin focuses on land reserve consolidation and real estate development, Wang is the go-to for real estate finance and M&A matters, and Yang handles bankruptcy and reorganisation for real estate enterprises.

The real estate and construction team at DeHeng Law Offices utilises its background in real estate development, engineering, and law to advise environmental management and construction companies on their issues. The practice also deals with large-scale real estate developers and project owners, acting for clients on first and second stages of land development, engineering, and construction. The practice is co-led by Xiongwei Li, Jianwen Wang, and Kai Zhang. Ganghong Sun is an authority on M&A, construction engineering and real estate issues, Shan Cao handles dispute resolution for construction projects, and Yifeng Lai is core to the real estate team in Shenzhen.

Construction specialists JianLingChengDa Law Firm assist central and state-owned enterprises in Shanghai and across China in cases against large real estate enterprises. The practice mainly represents clients in litigation and arbitration cases such as construction-related bankruptcy claims, and preservation and enforcement for construction cases. Practice head Jigao Zhou is an expert in construction engineering cases, while Min Wang and Lingjun Wang advise on complex arbitration and litigation cases, respectively.