Clifford Chance — China

About

- Clifford Chance LLP > Beijing - Clifford Chance LLP > Shanghai - Managing Partner: Charles Adams - Senior Partner: Adrian Cartwright - Executive Partner & Legal Counsel: Robin Abraham ### Firm Overview Clifford Chance is a global law firm committed to creating advantage for its clients. The firm combines legal and commercial intelligence to grow, transform, protect and defend its clients’ business. Operating as a single, fully-integrated global partnership Clifford Chance provides forward-thinking insights and tech-enabled solutions in the sectors and markets that matter most to its clients. The firm’s culture of collaboration and commitment to rigorous and ethical standards, ensures consistent, high-quality service worldwide. In 2025 Clifford Chance LLP and Shanghai He Ping Law Firm established a Joint Operation in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone under the name Clifford Chance LLP and Shanghai He Ping Law Firm (FTZ) Joint Operation Office with the approval of the Shanghai Bureau of Justice. The Joint Operation provides clients with seamless PRC and international legal services across a wide range of practice areas including Corporate and M&A, Financial Regulatory, Antitrust, IP and Dispute Resolution. ### Main areas of practice - Antitrust Antitrust challenges are growing across the world. Over 130 jurisdictions now have antitrust laws, and that number continues to grow. The range of business practices giving rise to antitrust enforcement is likewise expanding, and fines for antitrust infringements are rising. We have the expertise and global network to help our clients address these antitrust risks. Our global network of over 200 antitrust lawyers covers all the key hubs of Europe, Asia Pacific, the US and the Middle East, enabling us to support our clients on their most complex and important antitrust matters across the world. Our antitrust teams work together to solve multinational antitrust issues, taking into account the interplay between different practices and rules, and always mindful of the practical implications antitrust issues may have on our clients' business. - Capital Markets We advise major market participants including leading financial institutions, corporates, governments and supranational organisations across the world as well as first time issuers and other new players in the capital markets. Our lawyers cover the whole spectrum of capital markets work including debt and equity transactions, structured debt, high yield and trusts. Alongside mainstream capital markets issuances in the major economies we work on benchmarking and other innovative transactions including in new frontier markets. With over 120 partners and a further 400 lawyers dedicated to capital markets, as well as close links with our finance, corporate and tax practices, we can quickly assemble cross-border teams who combine local and industry focus with international perspective to provide practical, integrated legal advice for all our clients' capital markets activities. - Corporate We advise clients on public and private M&A, disposals, demergers, joint ventures, restructurings, corporate governance and regulatory compliance, with a particular focus on complex, cross-border transactions. Our integrated team includes experts in antitrust/competition law, funds and investment management, insurance, private equity and public policy. Our clients include many of the world's leading companies including more than half of the Global Fortune 500. Our extensive global reach, combined with international deal execution skills and local market knowledge, provides clients with access to 200 partners and a further 500 lawyers with global and local capability. Our team also offers clients the combination of focused technical and industry expertise across 12 sectors from financial services through to energy & resources and healthcare. We are also supported by partners in our market leading finance, capital markets, litigation, tax, pensions, employment and real estate practices. - Energy Transition We advise clients on the full breadth of energy transition-related matters, ranging from project development, construction and financing to M&A and joint ventures, as well as providing detailed regulatory and tax advice. We are also well-positioned to advise and represent multinational clients in cross-border litigation, international arbitration, investigations and risk mitigation. Across the globe, our lawyers are routinely involved in many first-of-a-kind and award-winning transactions as we support our clients in their energy transition journey, across onshore and offshore wind, floating offshore wind, solar, carbon capture, clean hydrogen, battery storage, EV charging, grids, interconnection, carbon trading, digital infrastructure and new nuclear. - Finance We have an expert international finance practice. We act on many of the financial markets' ground-breaking deals and have become trusted advisers to the corporations and financial institutions that define the global markets. We advise on a full spectrum of financial products, including asset finance, corporate & investment grade lending, derivatives & structured finance, fintech, Islamic finance, leveraged & acquisition finance, projects & infrastructure finance, real estate finance, restructuring & insolvency, and trade, commodities & export finance. - Intellectual Property We advise on the IP aspects of our client’s most complex and business-critical projects, including contracts, technology adoption, transactions and disputes. Our team possesses a deep understanding of the intricacies of intellectual property law and its practical application in various industries. Whether your project is a standalone initiative or part of a larger transaction, we are equipped to navigate the complexities involved. We leverage our expertise to protect your innovations and maximise the value of your intellectual assets, ensuring that your business remains competitive and secure. - Litigation & Dispute Resolution Clifford Chance's global litigation & dispute resolution practice has around 500 lawyers based in the UK, Continental Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the United States, who are experienced in the full spectrum of litigation, dispute resolution and regulatory issues that our clients face. Our highly qualified teams are focused on resolving high risk litigation, international arbitration and regulatory investigations. We are committed to resolving disputes as efficiently as possible and are focused on offering solutions that are practical and commercial. Our peers know that we are always prepared to proceed, however, and recognise our record in delivering results for clients in major litigation and arbitrations. Our credibility is also acknowledged by regulators and prosecutors, which assists with the effective resolution of investigations and other negotiations. - Real Estate Acting for the real estate industry's leading players, we advise on the full range of real estate-related transactions. With an integrated network of highly qualified individuals, we have the commitment, resources and know-how to get your deals done, whatever and wherever they are. Forward thinking and commercial in our approach, with a proven ability to deliver complex deals, we handle the entire property 'life-cycle' from the initial acquisition, development, leasing, joint venturing and financing through to the final exit. Our scale, geographical reach and seamless, coordinated approach means that we can support any real estate project. - Sustainability and ESG We provide support as businesses pursue the opportunities presented by the exponential growth of sustainable finance and investment opportunities, action on emissions, climate tech, innovation and infrastructure to facilitate the energy transition, and the promotion of human rights, talent and diversity in the workforce across businesses and supply chains. Core to business resilience in a time of change, are corporate governance frameworks that support coherent management of the opportunities and risks associated with a just transition to a carbon neutral or negative future. We advise clients internationally and locally as they incorporate ESG into business strategies and implement ESG in operations, supply chains and business relationships throughout value chains. We support businesses as they seek to transition to net zero and invest in new clean or low carbon businesses or products. We provide advice on comprehensive ESG management, implementing net zero strategies, identifying risks and obligations such an increasing reporting disclosure and due diligence requirements on ESG matters, to assistance with litigation, dispute and reputation risks arising from ESG, where effective stakeholder engagement is increasingly paramount. - Tax, Pensions, Employment and Incentives Unlike many competitors, we have offices with tax expertise across the globe and with over 170 tax advisors worldwide, we possess one of the largest international tax groups of any single law firm. We deliver commercial advice across the full spectrum of international and domestic tax issues and have unparalleled experience in advising on cross-border transactions. Our experienced employment, incentives and pensions specialists work with clients from a wide range of sectors to address local and cross-border issues. ### International offices - Abu Dhabi: Tel: +971 2 419 2500 - Amsterdam: Tel: +31 20 711 9000 - Barcelona: Tel: +34 93344 2200 - Beijing: Tel: +86 10 6505 9018 - Brussels: Tel: +32 2 533 5911 - Bucharest*: Tel: +40 21 666 6100 - Casablanca: Tel: +212 5201 3 2080 - Delhi: Tel: +91 (0) 124 401 7300 - Dubai: Tel: +971 4 362 0444 - Düsseldorf: Tel: +49 211 43 550 - Frankfurt: Tel: +49 69 71 9901 - Hong Kong: Tel: +852 2825 8888 - Houston: Tel: +1 713 821 2800 - Istanbul: Tel: +90 212 339 0001 - London: Tel: +44 20 7006 1000 - Luxembourg: Tel: +352 48 50 501 - Madrid: Tel: +34 91 590 7500 - Milan: Tel: +39 02 806 341 - Munich: Tel: +49 8921 6320 - Newcastle: Tel: +442070061000 - New York: Tel: +1 212 878 8000 - Paris: Tel: +33 1 44 05 52 52 - Perth: Tel: +61 8 9262 5555 - Prague**: Tel: +420222555222 - Riyadh***: Tel: +966 1 478 0220 - Rome: Tel: +39 06 422 911 - São Paulo: Tel: +55 11 3049 3188 - Shanghai: Tel: +86 21 6335 0086 - Singapore: Tel: +65 6410 2200 - Sydney: Tel: +61 2 8922 8000 - Tokyo: Tel: +81 3 5561 6600 - Warsaw: Tel: +48 22 627 1177 - Washington DC: Tel: +1 202 912 5000 *Clifford Chance has entered into an association agreement with Clifford Chance Badea SPRL in Bucharest. **Clifford Chance has entered into an association agreement with Clifford Chance Prague Association S.R.O. in Prague. - ***AS&H Clifford Chance, a joint venture entered into by Clifford Chance LLP ### Staffing Figures - 43 Number of partners - 273 Number of other fee-earners

Office locations

Practice areas

Lawyers in this office

Dayu Man

Dayu Man specialises in antitrust and competition law. Dayu has advised multinational and domestic corporations, investment banks and private equity firms on antitrust matters in relation to global merger control filings, FDI filings as well as antitrust conduct rules across a range of sectors. · Antitrust & Competition

Fang Bao

Fang BAO focuses her practice on cross-border mergers and acquisitions (including foreign direct investment and outbound direct investment), private equity investments, as well as general corporate advisory. She has extensive experience advising clients in a wide range of industry sectors including energy and resources, financial services, TMT and consumer goods & retail. · Mergers & Acquisitions

Jiahua Ni

Jiahua Ni is a partner in the Global Financial Markets Group of Clifford Chance. He specializes in PRC-related cross-border financings and focuses on advising outbound financings for major Chinese banks. He also has extensive experience in advising international banks on their financings into China and assists clients in resolving complicated issues in PRC foreign exchange, security and other financial regulatory aspects. Jiahua joined Clifford Chance in 2007 and became a partner since 2013. Jiahua is admitted in New York and also holds a PRC legal professional qualification certificate (currently not a PRC practising lawyer). Jiahua is a native Mandarin speaker and fluent in English. · Banking & Finance

Kelly Gregory

Kelly Gregory is a partner in the Corporate group of Clifford Chance's Shanghai Office. With 20 years of on the ground experience in Clifford Chance's Shanghai office, Kelly Gregory specialises in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, minority investments, disposals, reorganisations and general corporate advisory matters. Her clients include both multinational and Chinese corporations. Kelly has extensive experience advising international and Chinese clients across a broad range of industries, including consumer goods & retail, energy, technology and industrials (in particular aerospace, automotive and chemicals). Kelly is ranked as Band 1 in Corporate/M&A by Chambers Greater China Region Guide 2025 and Highly Regarded in Corporate & M&A and Private Equity in China by the IFLR 1000. She has also been inducted to the “Hall of Fame” in M&A in China by the Legal 500. · Corporate / M&A

Lei Shi

Lei Shi is the Managing Partner of Clifford Chance's Mainland China offices and specialises in China-related dispute resolution matters, including international arbitration, regulatory compliance and investigation, and commercial litigation. Lei also co-leads the firm's Greater China international arbitration practice. In the arbitration area, Lei has extensive experiences in acting for clients in arbitration under HKIAC, ICC, SIAC, CIETAC, LCIA, SCC, AAA, UNCITRAL and ICSID Rules in relation to M&A, corporate governance, banking, technology, life science, mining and other commercial or investor-state disputes. He also sits as arbitrator and is on the list of arbitrators of HKIAC and SHIAC. Lei is a member of ICC's Belt and Road Commission. In the regulatory area, Lei advises client in daily compliance, due diligence, internal investigation and government investigation, with a focus on anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, sanctions and export control. Lei has worked at our Hong Kong and New York offices for many years. Prior to joining Clifford Chance, he practiced at a leading PRC firm for three years. · International Arbitration

Ling Ho

Ling Ho has spent over 30 years advising clients on intellectual property related matters in the Greater China region. Her expertise covers the full spread of contentious and non-contentious IP issues. She is the head of the Hong Kong Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice and is a core member of the firm's global Tech Group with particular focus on IP, cyber, tech disputes and risk management. Ling has extensive trial, deal and strategic counselling experience, and has acted in leading cases in the fields of trademarks, patents, copyright, designs to confidential information. Ling is regularly involved in negotiating and drafting brand usage, technology transfer and other IP related collaboration agreements for clients investing into Asia markets. Ling's practice also spans arbitration, commercial litigation, cyber, data privacy, defamation as well as product liability claims. Her clients range from multinational corporations and government agencies to leading businesses and individuals in the region, across a broad spectrum of industries including healthcare, technology, media, consumer goods and retail, financial services and leisure. · Intellectual Property

Terence Foo

Terence Foo is a partner of Clifford Chance's Singapore Office. He heads our China Desk for South East Asia, having previously been China Co-Managing Partner for 8 years. Terence Foo has over 25 years of experience in advising on cross-border M&A and joint ventures, including advising multinational clients on inbound investments in China, as well as advising Chinese enterprises on their outbound investments. Apart from Terence's cross-border M&A experience, he also has extensive experience in advising private equity and sovereign wealth funds on investments in China. He has advised clients on a broad range of sectors and has particular expertise in the energy (including renewable energy) technology (including digital infrastructure), mining, transport and logistics sectors. Currently based in Singapore, Terence has previously worked in London, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. · Corporate / M&A

Yang Yi

Yi Yang has over 15 years’ experience in advising multinational and Chinese companies on cross-border mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, disposals and strategic alliances across a wide range of sectors, including healthcare & life sciences, consumer goods & retail, real estate and manufacturing. · Corporate / M&A

Ying White

Ying White is a partner in the Funds and Investment Management Group of Clifford Chance. Ying has advised numerous global fund managers and institutional investors on their investments in public and private markets and funds in China. She also advises Chinese clients on the structuring, establishment and operations of offshore private equity funds and hedge funds. Ying joined Clifford Chance as a Partner in 2012. Prior to that, she was a legal counsel at the World Bank in Washington, DC for seven years. Ying was admitted in the District of Columbia. Ying is a native Mandarin speaker and fluent in English. · Funds

Yong Bai

He specializes in antitrust and competition issues and has more than 15 years of experience advising Chinese and multinational corporations on business investment, regulatory matters and investigations across a range of industries. Yong has worked in the London and Brussels offices, and prior to joining the firm, he worked for the PRC's Ministry of Commerce. · Antitrust / Competition

Yufei Liao

Yufei Liao specialises in corporate M&A, private equity, and capital markets work, with a focus on the tech sector. Yufei regularly advises Chinese privately-owned and state-owned enterprises and investment funds on their cross-border acquisitions and investments, as well as public market transactions. He also represents international financial investors on their investments in China (including growth capital/venture capital, pre-IPO, cornerstone and PIPE) as international counsel. He has extensive experience in a wide range of industry sectors including TMT, real estate, financial services, and consumer goods & retail. · Corporate / M&A