12 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 DECEMBER 2023 After nearly two months of evaluation, ALB is delighted to unveil its 2023 ALB China Top 15 In-house Teams ranking. The victorious teams represent a variety of industries, such as the Internet, logistics, manufacturing, food, finance, energy, and new energy. Hailing from various cities across the country and even overseas, these teams are forging unique paths for advancement, each navigating distinct playbooks and contexts. RANKING BY ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS, TEXT BY VICTOR WU 经过近两个月的评选，2023 ALB China十五佳公司法务团队榜单呈现在您面前。上榜的团队来自互联网、物流、 制造业、食品、金融、能源、新能源等多元领域，分布在全国多个城市甚至境外部分地区，在各不相同的规则和话 语体系中，描摹着法务团队进阶的多重路径。 排名：《亚洲法律杂志》，作者：吴嘉林 COVER STORY As we approach the end of 2023, a retrospective view reveals that in-house teams have borne increasing expectations and shouldered heightened pressure. Amidst shifting domestic and international dynamics, as well as the intricate and evolving business landscape, these teams have played a pivotal role in not only supporting but also propelling the continual advancement of their organizations across various facets. ALB once again turns its attention to these indispensable teams, recognizing and honoring the best in various industries in China based on the intricacies of in-house work, innovative thinking, and exceptional performance. Some of this year’s winners graciously share insights into their work in 2023 with ALB. METICULOUS WORK In 2023, diverse industries and sectors experience varying operating conditions and growth momentum, leading to distinct legal challenges for companies. All winning teams this year have diligently maintained and fortified their in-house legal frameworks, tailored to their industry and organizational environment, resulting in exceptionally fulfilling years. Frank Wu, General Counsel of China Southern Power Grid International, highlights the team’s pivotal role in numerous major projects amid the company’s robust push for overseas development. Wu states, “Between 2021 and 2023, the in-house team played a vital role in securing the bid for the Chilean high-voltage DC transmission greenfield investment project, the converter station EPC project, and the acquisition of the controlling stake in Peru’s largest power distribution company. Our team actively engaged in due diligence, transaction structuring, financial modeling, valuation, M&A guarantee insurance, risk identification, assessment, management and control, as well as negotiations involving consortium agreements, shareholder agreements, EPC contracts, and equity acquisition agreements.” China Southern Power Grid International also inked two significant overseas projects this year. Wu emphasizes the team’s hands-on approach, stating, “Our team members visited the host countries, investing significant time and effort in on-the-ground due diligence, key project agreement negotiations, and regulatory approval work. We didn’t merely direct external law firms from our desks.” In 2023, SF Group elevated its inhouse department to the Legal Affairs Centre, implementing substantial reforms. Hawk Chow, the group’s chief legal and compliance officer, notes that the overall professional coverage and level of the team have significantly improved. The Legal Affairs Centre introduced specialized teams such as legal BP, corporate transaction and governance, compliance governance, contract management, litigation management, covering a wide range of areas in the group’s domestic and overseas operations. Chow explains, “In the past year, the Legal Affairs Centre led pioneering work, revising systems such as contract management, litigation management, and compliance management, and establishing risk classification and decision-making processes. The team provided crucial support for significant TOP 15 IN-HOUSE TEAMS 十五佳公司法务团队
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