9 772220 270006 ISSN 2220-2706 TOP FIRMS AND LAWYERS IN THE WEST CHINA MARKET 西部地区律所和 律师新星榜单公布 LAWYERS TACKLE ESG RISKS AT HOME AND ABROAD 律师助力应对 投资领域ESG挑战 UNVEILING THE BEST YOUNG PRACTITIONERS 认识中国市场 冉冉上升的青年律师
PROUDLY PRESENTED BY SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES 演讲事宜请联系 Wang Jin 王瑾 jin.wang@tr.com / (8610) 5669 2009 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 赞助机会请联系 Amantha Chia 谢京庭 amantha.chia@tr.com / (65) 6873 8258 FOR MORE INFORMATION, KINDLY VISIT 更多信息欢迎访问本次活动页面 https://www.legalbusinessonline.com/ihs/SZIHLS2023 Innovation has always been an important “gene” for Shenzhen’s development, and the business needs driven by technological innovation have made Shenzhen enterprises full of vitality. At present, Shenzhen has entered a golden development period driven by “dual districts” and superimposed by “dual districts”, and various policy advantages have also injected more innovative impetus into Shenzhen’s development. At the same time, how should corporate legal advisors cooperate with corporate innovation strategies, respond quickly to business needs, and at the same time comprehensively prevent legal risks and efficiently achieve corporate business goals in a rapidly developing and complex environment. Asian Legal Business is proud to present the 8th ALB Shenzhen In-House Legal Summit on 20 October, 2023. This annual summit gathers senior-level corporate counsels, business leaders and private practitioners from Shanghai and its surrounding areas to gain insights into the frontiers of business, and discuss and share the role of in-house counsels in helping enterprises develop business. 创新始终是深圳的重要发展“基因”，在以科技创新为核心的驱动下带动的商业需求使深圳企业充满活力。当前，深 圳进入了“双区”驱动、“双区”叠加的黄金发展期，各项政策优势也为深圳发展注入着更多创新动力。与此同时，企业 法律顾问又应如何在快速发展和复杂多变的环境下，配合企业创新方略，迅速响应商业需求，同时全面防范法律风 险，高效实现企业商业目标。 带着这些热点问题，《亚洲法律杂志》将于2023年10月20日再次来到深圳，举办第八届ALB深圳企业法律顾问峰会。 本次大咖云集的年度盛会将汇集百余位深圳及其周边地区的资深法务、商业精英、业界专家，解读法律热点，洞察商 业前沿态势，深度挖掘时代赋予深圳的发展新机遇。 20 October - Shenzhen 10月20日 – 深圳 ALB SHENZHEN IN-HOUSE LEGAL SUMMIT 2023 2023 ALB 深圳企业法律顾问峰会 WORKSHOP SPONSORS
1 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM/CHINA CONTENTS 2023 ALB China 律师新星 Professionalism, enthusiasm, and diligence are the hallmarks of the ALB China Top 15 Rising Lawyers who have already established themselves on a fulfilling career path. 回望成长经历，十五 佳律师新星以专业 立身，以热爱坚持， 以努力进取。展望未 来，他们坚定深耕信 念，建设培养团队， 联合更多新生力量， 为完善中国法治建 设而努力。 BRI EFS 4 Big Story 焦点故事 8 Appointments 律师转所信息 9 Deals 交易 COVER STORY 10 2023 ALB China Top 15 GCs 2023 ALB China 十五佳总法律顾问 For the ninth consecutive year, ALB has selected outstanding general counsels in the Chinese market. Throughout this journey, we have witnessed general counsels expanding their role boundaries, shaping their own value, and achieving growth amidst challenges. They are not only valuable assets to their respective companies but also continuously script a remarkable life story with their outstanding achievements. 连续第九年，ALB评 选出了中国市场上 杰出的企业总法律 顾问。我们一路见证 总法律顾问们拓宽 角色边界、塑造自身 价值、在挑战中实现 成长，他们不但是所 在企业的宝贵财富， 也不断用优异的成 绩，书写浓墨重彩的 人生。 Ranking by Asian Legal Business, text by Hu Yangxiaoxiao With contributions from: • SINOHYDRO ENGINEERING BUREAU 8 中国水利水电第八工程 局有限公司 FEATURES 16 2023 ALB China Regional Ranking: West China Firms & Rising Lawyers 2023 ALB China 区域市场排名：西部 地区律所和律师新星 Despite a relatively late start, the legal services industry in West China has been showing strong growth momentum thanks to the region’s rich natural resources, favourable national policies and dedication by the legal community. For the second year in a row, ALB highlights top firms and young lawyers in this market. 西部地区的法律服 务业起步相对较晚， 但凭借该区域丰厚 的自然资源优势、国 家政策的推动以及 诸多法律人才的长 期耕耘，这片土地已 具备天时、地利、人 和，法律服务业增势 迅猛。ALB连续第二 年观察了这一市场 中杰出的律所及年 轻律师。 With contributions from: • TianTong Law Firm 天同律师事务所 • W&H Law Firm 炜衡律师事务所 26 Investing in the future “投资于未来” The importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in investment, financing, and M&A deals is gaining prominence and exerting significant influence on transaction negotiations, post-transaction operations, and more. Lawyers discuss the ESG challenges that Chinese companies often face both domestically and abroad, as well as how lawyers in this field can enhance their expertise. 环境、社会和治理 （ESG）在投融资、 并购交易中的重要 性正不断凸显，并对 交易洽谈、交割、后 期运营等环节产生 重大影响。在中国， 服务于ESG这一新 兴领域的律师队伍 因此不断壮大。 32 2023 ALB China Rising Lawyers 26 INVESTING IN THE FUTURE “投资于未来” Image: Thx4Stock/Shutterstock.com
2 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2023 Asian Legal Business is available by subscription. Please visit www.legalbusinessonline.com for details. Asian Legal Business has an audited average circulation of 11,402 as of 30 September 2016.Copyright is reserved throughout. No part of this publication can be reproduced in whole or part without the express permission of the editor. Contributions are invited, but copies of work should be kept, as Asian Legal Business can accept no responsibility for loss. MCI (P) 003/02/2023 issn 0219 – 6875 KDN PPS 1867/10/2015(025605) Thomson Reuters 18 Science Park Drive Singapore 118229 / T (65) 6775 5088 / F (65) 6333 0900 10/F, Cityplaza 3, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong / T (852) 3762 3269 www.thomsonreuters.com RANAJIT DAM, Managing Editor, Asian Legal Business, Thomson Reuters HEAD OF LEGAL MEDIA BUSINESS, ASIA & EMERGING MARKETS Amantha Chia 谢京庭 amantha.chia@thomsonreuters.com MANAGING EDITOR Ranajit Dam 邓文杰 ranajit.dam@thomsonreuters.com CHINA EDITOR Hu Yangxiaoxiao 胡阳潇潇 yangxiaoxiao.hu@thomsonreuters.com SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Victor Wu 吴嘉林 victor.wu@thomsonreuters.com EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE Charlie Wu 吴卓言 charlie.wu@thomsonreuters.com SENIOR CONTENT MANAGER Wang Jin 王瑾 jin.wang@thomsonreuters.com CHINA RESEARCH Bian Jie 边洁 jie.bian@thomsonreuters.com SENIOR DESIGNER John Agra john.agra@thomsonreuters.com TRAFFIC/CIRCULATION MANAGER Rozidah Jambari rozidah.jambari@thomsonreuters.com MEDIA PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATOR Amy Lai 黎凯盈 amy.lai@thomsonreuters.com SALES MANAGERS Yvonne Cheung 张裕裕 China Key Accounts (852) 2847 2003 yvonne.cheung@thomsonreuters.com Steven Zhao 赵树群 China Key Accounts (86) 010 5669 2021 s.zhao@thomsonreuters.com Steffi Yang 杨绮繁 South and West China (86) 010 5669 2041 qifan.yang@thomsonreuters.com Hiroshi Kaneko Japan (81) 3 4520 1192 hiroshi.kaneko@thomsonreuters.com Jonathan Yap Indonesia, Singapore (65) 9832 8945 jonathan.yap@thomsonreuters.com Krupa Dalal India, Middle East, Singapore (91) 22 6189 7087 krupa.dalal@thomsonreuters.com Romulus Tham Southeast Asia (65) 6870 3035 romulus.tham@thomsonreuters.com Welcome to our highly anticipated annual ranking of China’s top 15 general counsel. As the legal landscape continues to evolve in this dynamic nation, it is crucial to recognize and celebrate the exemplary individuals who are leading the charge in the corporate legal sphere. In a time of unprecedented challenges and opportunities, the role of general counsel has become more pivotal than ever. These legal leaders are at the forefront of driving innovation, fostering compliance, and safeguarding the interests of their respective organizations amidst a rapidly changing global business environment. Our rigorous selection process involved an in-depth evaluation of their legal acumen, strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and noteworthy contributions to their companies and the legal community. The top 15 general counsel showcased exceptional dedication, navigating complex legal landscapes with finesse, and setting benchmarks for excellence within their industries. This ranking not only acknowledges the outstanding achievements of these legal luminaries but also serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring professionals in the legal fraternity. As we share their stories, we hope that their experiences, challenges, and triumphs will serve as valuable lessons for the broader legal community. As we celebrate their achievements, let us also recognize the transformative power of the legal profession in shaping the future of business in China. May this ranking continue to inspire and ignite the pursuit of excellence in the legal community for years to come. 欢迎阅读我们备受期待的年度15佳总法律顾问排名。在这个充满活力的 国度，法律环境不断发展变化，认识和庆贺这些在企业法律领域中引领潮流的 杰出人物显得至关重要。 在前所未有的挑战和机遇面前，总法律顾问的角色比以往任何时候都更为 关键。这些法律领袖处于推动创新、促进合规并在全球商业环境快速变化的背景 下保护各自组织利益的最前沿。 我们严格的评选过程包括对他们的法律才能、战略思维、领导能力以及对 公司和法律界的显著贡献进行深入评估。这15位总法律顾问展示了非凡的奉献 精神，以娴熟的技巧应对复杂的法律环境，并在自己的行业树立了卓越的标杆。 这份排名不仅是对他们杰出成就的认可，也为法律从业者提供了启示。通 过分享他们的故事，我们希望他们的经历、挑战和成功将成为法律界更广泛群 体的宝贵经验。 在庆祝他们的成就的同时，让我们也认识到法律职业在塑造中国商业未来 方面的能力。愿这份排名持续激励并点燃法律界追求卓越的激情，助力其在未来 的岁月中继续创造卓越。 CELEBRATING GENERAL COUNSEL 庆贺总法律顾问的杰出成绩
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4 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2023 BIG STORY Similar to the gradual process of ice melting, the thawing of the market also requires a considerable amount of time. Due to various factors, law firms catering to the Chinese market approached talent recruitment cautiously in 2022. In early 2023, despite the relaxation of pandemic measures, the global economic and political landscape entered a period of “order restructuring” in the post-pandemic era. Uncertainties persisted, prompting law firms to exercise caution when significantly increasing their recruitment efforts. The first quarter of this year witnessed a notable lack of activity in the legal recruitment market in China. However, as the second quarter progressed, there was a gradual resurgence in market activity. During these three months, ALB recorded approximately 70 lateral partner-level recruitments in the Chinese market. Some fast-growing Chinese law firms, such as Merits & Tree and Anjie Broad, displayed notable activity in talent acquisition. Additionally, Grandway, Huiye, Jingtian & Gongcheng, Han Kun, and Hylands saw the addition of several new partners to their firms. In terms of regional activity, Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen remained the most active. Nine recruitments were recorded in the Yangtze River Delta region, and two in the Sichuan-Chongqing area. With Hong Kong reclaiming its position as a regional financial center, Chinese law firms expanded their presence in the city, resulting in two recorded recruitments there. More specifically, traditional capital markets, private equity/venture capital, investment and mergers, and banking and finance continued to exhibit the highest levels of recruitment activity. Additionally, sectors such as dispute resolution, intellectual property, real estate, private wealth management, bankruptcy restructuring, and non-performing assets also showed significant levels of activity. In the second quarter, there were several instances of recruitments for managing partner/chief legal counsel positions. Another emerging trend observed in the market was the “return” of foreign lawyers to Chinese law firms. Regarding foreign law firms, ALB recorded 12 recruitments in the second quarter. In addition to Hong Kong, some law firms actively sought new talent for their offices in Beijing and Shanghai in mainland China. However, the number of hires across various law firms was relatively limited, with the most notable activity occurring in fields such as funds, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring. RECOVERY TAKES TIME According to Betty Chen, deputy director at recruitment firm SSQ, the legal recruitment market exhibited a cautious sentiment in the first half of this year, likely due to the economic downturn and the international political landscape. “From the perspective of employers, there has been a slight decline in the number of hires by law firms compared to last year or previous years,” she says. Chen has also observed changes in lawyer salaries associated with the increasing costs and decreasing profits of law firms. During the first half of the year, the salaries of lawyers recruited by Chen were relatively less competitive compared to previous years and even showed a decline. She notes that “most of these positions were for junior lawyers or those with limited earning potential.” “Amidst the present market conditions, both Chinese and foreign law firms are encountering substantial financial pressures. Some of the top Chinese law firms have resorted to strategies like ‘salary freeze’ or ‘minimal salary increments.’ Certain law firms have chosen not to renew employment contracts as a way to mitigate financial strain,” Chen tells ALB. When discussing the recruitment market in the first half of the year, Brian Chan, Hong Kong-based head of the Legal & Governance practice at another recruiter, Ethos BeathChapman, notes that “recruitment activities within legal private practice in Mainland China are picking up in the second quarter. We observed an increased number of lateral partner moves compared to previous quarters, including partner moves from international law firms to PRC firms and those within PRC firms.” “But most law firms are being cautious in making hiring decisions, particularly in the search for partners with strong client origination abilities, while associatelevel recruitment for transactional teams remained slow,” he said. Indeed, it’s not only law firms that exercise caution; candidates themselves are even more diligent when considering lateral moves. Regarding this, Chen has observed that “stability” has emerged as one of the most crucial considerations for candidates when making job decisions. When contemplating job transitions, stability takes precedence for many lawyers, followed by considerations such as practice areas, personal interest, salary levels, and opportunities for personal career growth. POPULAR FIELDS According to Chan’s observations, there is significant lateral recruitment activity in four specific areas: contentious practice, including U.S. and SEC litigations and insolvency disputes; investigations and compliance, such as internal investigations, FCPA-related investigations, and government investigations; restructuring; and a broader intellectual STABILITY ABOVE ALL “稳”字当头 Legal recruitment experts discuss trends and developments from the preceding six months, and their predictions for the second half of the year ALB邀请法律招聘专家分享过去半年的招聘市场动向，以及他们 对下半年的预判。 BY CHARLIE WU 作者：吴卓言
5 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM/CHINA BIG STORY Betty Chen Brian Chan property practice, including data privacy, cybersecurity, digital assets, and fintech advisory. This surge in recruitment is primarily driven by market demands and the ability of certain industries to counter-cyclical trends. Chen also shares similar observations. She highlights a significant level of recruitment activity in areas such as litigation and arbitration, intellectual property, patent litigation, as well as compliance regulation, particularly in export control and sanctions. Additionally, law firms highly value the expertise of “industry experts.” She further points out, “Due to the international political environment, there is a substantial shortage of legal professionals in the field of compliance regulation, especially in export control and sanctions. We have recently witnessed an increasing number of foreign and Chinese firms seeking our assistance in recruiting legal professionals with expertise in these fields to meet the rising demand. Currently, there is a scarcity of individuals who meet these requirements, particularly those with extensive practical experience in the legal field. These sectors present promising opportunities for legal recruitment.” Furthermore, both legal recruitment experts have noticed an increase in recruitment activity in investment and financing funds as the industry gradually recovers. OUTLOOK FOR THE SECOND HALF According to Chan’s observations, there is significant lateral recruitment activity in four specific areas: contentious practice, including US and SEC litigations and insolvency disputes; investigations and compliance, such as internal investigations, FCPA-related investigations, and government investigations; restructuring; and a broader intellectual property practice, including data privacy, cybersecurity, digital assets, and fintech advisory. This surge in recruitment is primarily driven by market demands and the ability of certain industries to counter-cyclical trends. Born To Lead BEIJING | SHANGHAI | SHENZHEN | CHENGDU www.glo.com.cn
6 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2023 冰冻三尺非一日之寒，同样，寒 冰解冻也无法一蹴而就。2022年，受 各种因素影响，服务于中国市场的律 师事务所在人才招聘上采取了谨慎态 度。2023年初，虽然疫情措施放缓，但 全球经济及政治局势滑入了后疫情时 代的“秩序重构”时期，整个世界仍旧 处于某种不确定之中，对于大幅度恢 复人才招聘，律所依旧不愿操之过急。 今年第一季度，中国法律招聘市场 可谓寂静无声，到了第二季度，市场活 跃度则出现缓慢回升。3个月中，ALB在 中国市场共录得了约70起合伙人级别 的横向招聘。 在中国所方面，部分处于快速发展 阶段的律所，例如植德、安杰世泽，在 吸纳人才方面尤为活跃，国枫、汇业、 竞天公诚、汉坤、浩天等也迎来了多位 合伙人加盟。 地域上，北京、上海、深圳依旧最 为活跃，长三角也录得9宗招聘，川渝 地区有2宗，伴随香港重构其区域金融 中心地位，中国所加紧布局，其也录得 2宗招聘。 Chen also shares similar observations. She highlights a significant level of recruitment activity in areas such as litigation and arbitration, intellectual property, patent litigation, as well as compliance regulation, particularly in export control and sanctions. Additionally, law firms highly value the expertise of “industry experts.” She further points out, “Due to the international political environment, there is a substantial shortage of legal professionals in the field of compliance regulation, especially in export control and sanctions. We have recently witnessed an increasing number of foreign and Chinese firms seeking our assistance in recruiting legal professionals with expertise in these fields to meet the rising demand. Currently, there is a scarcity of individuals who meet these requirements, particularly those with extensive practical experience in the legal field. These sectors present promising opportunities for legal recruitment.” Furthermore, both legal recruitment experts have noticed an increase in recruitment activity in investment and financing funds as the industry gradually recovers. 业务领域的“抗周期”特点，Chan观 察到诉讼业务 (包括涉及到美国法律 和美国证监会的诉讼和破产纠纷)、调 查与合规（例如内部调查、FCPA相关 调查、政府调查）、重组、知识产权（包 括数据隐私、网络安全、数字资产和 金融技术咨询）四大领域的横向招聘 活动较为活跃。 陈明敏也有着相似的观察。她指 出，诉讼仲裁、知识产权和专利诉讼、 合规监管特别是出口管制和制裁领域 的招聘活动相对比较活跃，另外，律所 对于“行业专家”也十分欢迎。 她继而指出：“受制于国际政治环 境，合规监管，特别是出口管制和制裁 领域的法律人才的需求缺口较大，最 近不乏一些外资所和中国所希望通过 我们去聘请这样的专家型法律人才。 但目前来看这样的人不是很多，尤其缺 乏拥有丰富执业经验的候选人，这些或 许将成为发展前景较好的业务领域。” 此外，随着投融资基金业务的稳步 恢复，两位专家也都观察到了该领域招 聘活动的回温趋势。 后半年展望 谈及下半年的法律招聘市场，陈明 敏依旧持保留和谨慎态度，认为“从目 前的迹象来看，并没有看到会有很大 的变化”。她呼吁法律人可以更多地关 注热门业务领域，例如诉讼仲裁、知识 产权、合规监管等，为下一步的职业发 展积累更多筹码。 在Chan看来，未来市场对具备跨 境、多司法管辖区工作能力，以及深耕 合规领域的律师需求将会不断增长， 特别是具有很强的中英双语能力的中 年级及以上律师。其次，由于国内人才 储备式微，中国所或将进一步吸纳海 外归国人员的加入。 此外，除了上海、北京等强势市场， 伴随大湾区法律业务的不断发展，近 期一些国际所，特别是精专于知识产 权，以及科技、电信和媒体相关业务领 域的律所开始进军深圳，获许会构成 新的招聘机会。 最后，Chan指出，法律需求将继续 随着商业趋势的变化而变化，其中，生 命科学、科技、电子商务应该是法律人 重点关注的行业领域。 总而言之，虽然上半年的法律招聘 市场相对谨慎，但某些业务领域仍存在 机会。对于希望寻求新发展的律所及律 师来说，了解市场环境、把握业务发展 趋势将有助于他们更好地规划律所发 展，以及个人职业生涯。 其中，传统的资本市场、PE/VC、投 资并购、银行金融等依旧是最活跃的招 聘领域；其他展现出较高活跃度的领域 则包括争议解决、知识产权、私人财富， 以及破产重组及不良资产处置。 此外，第二季度市场还出现了几宗 管理合伙人/总法律顾问级别的招聘， 外资所律师“回流”也成为一股小趋势。 外资所方面，ALB在第二季度也录 得12宗招聘，除香港外，部分律所也在 内地的北京、上海办公室招兵买马。不 过各家律所的招聘人数较为零星，基金、 私募股权、并购、重组等领域最为热门。 仍需时间恢复 陈明敏是全球法律市场咨询和人 才解决方案公司SSQ的副总监，据她观 察，伴随着经济的下行趋势与国际政治 环境的影响，今年上半年，法律招聘市 场依旧保持着相对谨慎的发展态势：“ 从招聘方的角度来看，相对于去年或者 前年，律所的招聘数量是有一些下滑。” 伴随着律所成本的升高和利润的 降低，陈明敏也观察到了律师的薪酬 变化。上半年，通过她招聘的律师薪酬 和往年相比不具备较强的竞争性，甚 至有所下滑，且“多数是较为初级或者 是付费能力不强的岗位”。 “中国所和外资所在现在的市场 环境下都面临着较大的财务压力，甚 至一些中国顶尖律所也采取了所谓‘ 冻薪’或是‘微涨幅’的做法，有些律所 则采取不续约劳动合同的方式来缓解 财务的紧张状况。”陈明敏告诉ALB。 谈到上半年的招聘市场，猎头公司 Ethos BeathChapman香港法律事务 负责人Brian Chan观察到，“与前几个 季度相比，合伙人横向招聘的数量有所 增加，其中包括从国际所跳槽至中国所 以及中国所之间的合伙人变动”。 “但是，大多数律所在做出招聘决 定时通常非常谨慎，他们希望寻找具有 强大的客户开发能力的合伙人，而交 易型团队的律师招聘仍然保持着缓慢 的态势。”他说。 实际上，不光是律所谨慎，候选人 在选择横向跳槽时也有着更为深度的 考虑。对此陈明敏观察到，“稳定性”目 前成为了候选人最重要的考量因素之 一。“许多律师朋友在选择换工作时会 将稳定性放在首要位置，其次才是业 务领域、兴趣度、薪酬水平和个人职业 成长空间等等因素。” 较受欢迎的领域 基于市场的需求驱动，以及某些 BIG STORY
8 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2023 APPOINTMENTS TOM CHAU 邹兆麟 LEAVING 原就职律所 Herbert Smith Freehills 史密夫斐尔律师事务所 JOINING 现就职律所 Haiwen & Partners 海问律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 Capital Markets 资本市场 LOCATION 地点 Beijing, Hong Kong SAR 北京、中国香港特别行政区 DIAO LINA 刁丽娜 LEAVING 原就职律所 Zhong Lun Law Firm 中伦律师事务所 JOINING 现就职律所 JunHe 君合律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 Investment Funds 基金 LOCATION 地点 Shanghai 上海 GUO JINGWEI 郭经纬 LEAVING 原就职律所 Dentons 大成律师事务所 JOINING 现就职律所 Shihui Partners 世辉律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 Dispute Resolution 争议解决 LOCATION 地点 Beijing 北京 HAN DAI 韩岱 LEAVING 原就职律所 Anli Partners 安理律师事务所 JOINING 现就职律所 JunZeJun Law Offices 君泽君律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 Dispute Resolution 争议解决 LOCATION 地点 Beijing 北京 MARK YANG 杨东洋 LEAVING 原就职律所 Wang Jing & Co 敬海律师事务所 JOINING 现就职律所 Anjie Broad Law Firm 安杰世泽律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 Cross-border Investment 跨境投资 LOCATION 地点 Xiamen 厦门 ZHANG HAN 张晗 LEAVING 原就职律所 China Commercial Law Firm 华商律师事务所 JOINING 现就职律所 Jingtian & Gongcheng 竞天公诚律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 Capital Markets 资本市场 LOCATION 地点 Shenzhen 深圳
9 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM/CHINA DEALS $876MLN XIAMEN C&D’s acquisition of partial stake of Red Star Macalline Group Deal Type: M&A Firms: Clifford Chance Jurisdictions: China 厦门建发收购红星美凯龙部分股权 交易类型：并购 参与律所：高伟绅律师事务所 管辖地：中国 $583MLN Huayou Cobalt’s GDR listing on SIX Deal Type: ECM Firm: Linklaters, Clifford Chance, Jingtian & Gongcheng, Grandall Law Firm Jurisdictions: China, Switzerland 华友钴业瑞交所上市 交易类型：股权融资 参与律所：年利达律师事务所、 高伟绅律师事务所、竞天公诚律师事务所、 国浩律师事务所 管辖地：中国，瑞士 $386MLN Drinda New Energy Technology’s private placement of new shares Deal Type: ECM Firm: Merits & Tree Jurisdictions: China 钧达股份向特定对象发行股票 交易类型：股权融资 参与律所：植德律师事务所 管辖地：中国 $278MLN Liaoning Fangda Group’s issuance of medium term notes Deal Type: Note Firm: DeHeng Law Offices Jurisdictions: China 辽宁方大发行第一期中期票据 交易类型：票据 参与律所：德恒律师事务所 管辖地：中国 $205MLN XDLK Microsystem’s listing on the STAR Market Deal Type: ECM Firm: Grandway Law Offices Jurisdictions: China 芯动联科科创板上市 交易类型：股权融资 参与律所：国枫律师事务所 管辖地：中国 $205MLN Foxconn Interconnect Technology’s acquisition of FIT Voltaira Deal Type: M&A Firms: Sullivan & Cromwell Jurisdictions: China, Switzerland 鸿腾精密科技收购FIT Voltaira 交易类型：并购 参与律所：苏利文•克伦威尔律师事务所 管辖地：中国，瑞士 $174MLN Mengniu’s acquisition of Yashili Deal Type: M&A Firm: Sullivan & Cromwell Jurisdictions: China 蒙牛对雅士利私有化 交易类型：并购 参与律所：苏利文•克伦威尔律师事务所 管辖地：中国 $166MLN Kelun-Biotech’s listing on HKEX Deal Type: ECM Firm: King & Wood Mallesons, Kirkland & Ellis, Global Law Office, Sullivan & Cromwell, Zhong Lun Law Firm Jurisdictions: China, Hong Kong SAR 科伦博泰香港上市 交易类型：股权融资 参与律所：金杜律师事务所、 凯易律师事务所、环球律师事务所、 苏利文•克伦威尔律师事务所、 中伦律师事务所 管辖地：中国，中国香港特别行政区 $127MLN Longhorn Auto’s listing on GEM Deal Type: ECM Firms: Commerce & Finance Law Offices Jurisdictions: China 豪恩汽电创业板上市 交易类型：股权融资 参与律所：通商律师事务所 管辖地：中国
10 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2023 How to define a “general counsel (GC)”? Amid an increasingly stringent regulatory environment and ever-changing geopolitical landscape, exceptional professionals are continuously reshaping the scope and value of the GC role through their own experiences. The fifteen GCs who made it to this year’s ALB China ranking are true exemplars in this regard. They come from diverse corporate backgrounds (including state-owned enterprises, private companies, and foreign-invested firms), spanning various industries (such as energy, aviation, TMT, biotech, manufacturing, finance, consumer goods, media and entertainment, new energy, infrastructure, and environmental protection). Additionally, these GCs hail not only from Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen but also from cities like Jinan, Nanjing, Chengdu, Changsha, and Tianjin. Despite working in different professional environments, they radiate a similar brilliance and passion for their roles. Some of the ranked GCs shared their observations with ALB on the expansion of their professional boundaries, which has brought themchallenges as well as a strong sense of professional fulfillment and achievement. THE ROAD TO GC Christy Zhou serves as the senior director of legal & compliance and internal audit departments at pharmaceutical company CanSino Biologics. Before taking on the role of legal head in the biotech industry, like many GCs, she has experience in various legal roles. Reflecting on her career path, she believes that these COVER STORY Image: Master1305/Shutterstock.com RANKING BY ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS, TEXT BY HU YANGXIAOXIAO 排名：《亚洲法律杂志》，作者：胡阳潇潇 For the ninth consecutive year, ALB has selected outstanding general counsels in the Chinese market. Throughout this journey, we have witnessed general counsels expanding their role boundaries, shaping their own value, and achieving growth amidst challenges. They are not only valuable assets to their respective companies but also continuously script a remarkable life story with their outstanding achievements. 连续第九年，ALB评选出了中国市场上杰出的企业总法律顾问。我们一路见证总法律顾问们拓宽角色边界、塑造 自身价值、在挑战中实现成长，他们不但是所在企业的宝贵财富，也不断用优异的成绩，书写浓墨重彩的人生。
11 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM/CHINA COVER STORY experiences accumulated at different stages have contributed to her growth as a better legal leader. At the onset of her career, Christy Zhou chose to become a lawyer. “This allowed me to transition from being a law student to a professional lawyer. I gained overall improvement in my expertise and, as the counterparty, developed valuable skills in communication while dealing with clients,” she recalled. Later, Christy Zhou joined a futures company as the head of legal and compliance. “The three-year experience allowed me to gain a lot in the compliance field, and I learned good compliance-management thinking and logic.” In 2019, armed with this wealth of experience, Christy Zhou joined CanSino. She describes herself as a “grassrootsraised GC”: starting as the sole member of the legal team and now expanding to a team of 17, providing support to the company’s legal, compliance, intellectual property, internal controls, and internal audit departments. Christy Zhou tells ALB that her rapid growth after joining CanSino was indeed due to the rapid expansion of the company and the industry in recent years. As the legal team’s size and functions expand, she feels her management skills continue to improve. “In fact, for over a year, I have been trying to adjust the internal organizational structure to make management more reasonable. This has brought me great joy and has been a good exercise for my management abilities.” Zhou Benqiang is the chief compliance officer and general counsel at Sinohydro Engineering Bureau 8. He has been part of the company’s legal team for 16 years, serving as legal head for the past decade, during which he continuously explored and deepened his understanding of the GC role. Today, Benqiang describes the essential qualities a qualified GC should possess as “strategic vision, strong professional competence, and exceptional management skills.” He explains, “having a strategic vision means that a GC should start from the big picture of the company and make accurate judgments on any legal matter, providing precise decision-making support and strategic analysis for the company’s leadership.” “Strong professional competence is the foundation for our profession,” Zhou adds. “A GC needs to be familiar with and master all aspects of the company’s business.” “Finally, a GC should have the management capabilities of an entrepreneur. When handling problems, they should not only analyze legal risks but also comprehensively consider the actual needs of the company’s development from a management perspective,” he concludes. EXPANDED FUNCTIONS With the continuous improvement of their abilities and the “call of the times” prompted by external environmental changes in recent years, GCs have keenly felt the widening of their professional boundaries. “In recent years, there has indeed been a profound feeling that the responsibilities of a GC within the company keep expanding. In my case, for example, I am responsible for both legal and compliance matters, in addition to other management responsibilities,” says Benqiang. “The expansion of responsibilities reflects the importance placed on the rule of law and compliance, but it also brings challenges and increased practice risks for GCs. Therefore, achieving responsibility expansion while ‘staying within the boundaries’ is crucial, and it is also the direction I will explore in the future.” In Christy Zhou’s view, the expansion of GCs’ responsibilities responds to the demands of the times. “If we go back 5 to 10 years, many aspects, such as internal control and audit, would be managed by the finance department, and intellectual property would be managed by the research and development department. However, the current trend is to centralize them under the GC, and we have indeed found that many matters can be better coordinated when placed under the GC,” she says. Specifically for CanSino, Zhou believes that as a biotech company, CanSino has been continuously TRACY GUO 郭易玥 Vaillant Group (China) Heating, Cooling and Environmental Technology Co., Ltd 威能（中国）供热制冷环境技术有限公司 HONG YUWEN 洪育文 China National Aviation Logistics Co. 中国航油集团物流公司 JIN HAO 金浩 IBM Greater China Group IBM大中华区 RICHARD LI 李程 I-Mab 天境生物 LI QIONGJIA 李琼嘉 HIVE BOX NETWORK TECHNOLOGY LIMITED 丰巢网络技术有限公司 LEO LI 李阳 Lingong Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd. 临工重机股份有限公司 ANNIE LING 凌涛涛 Micro Connect Group 滴灌通集团 ROCKY PAN 潘高翔 Shanghai M&G Stationery INC. 晨光文具 RICKY SHEN 慎凯 Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. 满帮集团 EVE WAN 万宜 Tianqi Lithium Corporation 天齐锂业股份有限公司 LUCY XU 徐斓 China Literature Group 阅文集团 ZHANG XIAOFENG 张小凤 China Tea Co., Ltd. Under COFCO Corporation 中粮集团中国茶叶股份有限公司 ZHOU BENQIANG 周本强 SINOHYDRO ENGINEERING BUREAU 8 CO.,LTD. 中国水利水电第八工程局有限公司 LEO ZHOU 周永强 Suez (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd. 苏伊士（上海）投资有限公司 CHRISTY ZHOU 周媛 CanSino Biologics Inc. 康希诺生物股份公司
12 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2023 COVER STORY developing more comprehensive legal and compliance functions along with the company’s growth stages, which also serve as a typical example for the industry. She explains that during the early financing stage, the company didn’t have many functional departments set up, and her work primarily focused on legal matters. As the biotech company reached a certain stage and sought development in the capital markets, CanSino went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2019 and on the A-share market in 2020. Zhou’s responsibilities immediately expanded to include internal control functions. With the company’s progress into commercialization, compliance and audit functions were also added. As the company matured, especially during the transition from biotech to biopharma, Zhou’s responsibilities expanded again to include intellectual property management. “We control the entire process of intellectual property, including establishing a dedicated IPR team and integrating the management of patents, trademarks, know-how, trade secrets, and business secrets.” Through this journey of taking on more responsibilities, Zhou has gained a deeper understanding of her capabilities as a legal professional. Today, she confidently says, “you can expand your business according to the company’s needs and your own growth potential; This is entirely achievable, although it also requires a lot of learning along the way.” VISIBLE ROLES With the expansion of functions, Christy Zhou’s key realization is that legal work must be made visible to the business in order to be effective. “As legal professionals, we often work at our desks, making changes to documents and replying to emails. How can we truly integrate these desk-bound tasks with the business?” This has been a question she has been pondering. Zhou has created a motto for her department: ‘precision is care.’ “We include this motto in every internal communication email to gradually change the business’ perception of us. By removing their defensiveness, we can establish a better connection.” Furthermore, Zhou emphasizes that her team must carry out their work with professionalism and attention to detail, actively communicating to make the business “see” their efforts. “For example, we have been publishing a weekly internal legal newsletter for three years, covering various aspects related to the company’s business. Many colleagues have provided positive feedback, finding the content interesting.” In addition, the team takes the initiative to lead legal risk assessments for different types of business within the company. “During the assessment process, we interact with the business departments, and they can clearly see what we are doing. We also proactively provide guidelines to assist with preevaluations before projects begin, ensuring smoother progress later on.” Zhou Benqiang points out that he has also been contemplating the positioning and boundaries of legal work in the past few years, and his perspective aligns with Christy Zhou’s approach. “I have been exploring the integration of legal work with corporate development strategies, business management, and corporate culture. This shift transforms legal from a ‘service department’ to a ‘value-creating department,’ moving from the background to the forefront,” he explains. “After years of efforts, we have achieved significant results. Now, the company’s legal department can create value for the company, just like the marketing and production departments, by participating in the market, securing projects, and generating profits,” he adds. COMPLIANCE CHALLENGES As Zhou Benqiang mentioned, the expansion of responsibilities brings both fulfillment and greater challenges, and this was especially evident in the past year. “The most memorable challenge of the past year was compliance. How to ensure the company achieves rapid development on a compliant track was a major question,” Zhou Benqiang admits. “As Sinohydro Engineering Bureau 8 is an international construction company with business spread across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, involving various fields such as hydropower, thermal power, solar power, municipal engineering, railways, highways, smelting, petrochemicals, and agricultural infrastructure, the legal issues we face are complex.” “Therefore, we need to collaborate with other business departments to jointly explore and study cutting-edge legal issues. Looking back, I can say that we have handled various challenges remarkably well.” For Christy Zhou, the most unforgettable challenge of the past year also occurred in the compliance field, specifically, the “construction of a marketing compliance system.” This, too, was a question posed by the pandemic-era. Originally, biotech companies were “small but beautiful” players in the pharmaceutical industry, progressing in a step-by-step manner. However, the past three years saw the industry thrust into the limelight due to the pandemic, pushing them to go through years of development within a short period. This rapid transformation brought significant challenges in commercialization, marketization, and internal compliance management. Zhou recalls that in 2020, her team had already built a basic marketing compliance system for the company. However, they realized its vulnerability when faced with real-world challenges. Over the past 12 months, with rapid expansion, the system faced numerous challenges from various business departments. Additionally, CanSino explored a new CSO business model beyond selfoperation, adding even more pressure on compliance. “We had to gradually integrate everything,” she says. Fortunately, they successfully weathered this challenging period. Zhou tells ALB that in the next phase, they will focus on “establishing a standardized compliance system for the company, continuously refining the standards to align with business needs, seeking a balance between regulations and development, and ensuring compliance is implemented in specific business projects.”
13 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM/CHINA COVER STORY 如何定义“总法律顾问”？在逐 渐收紧的监管环境、变幻莫测的国际 局势之下，优秀的从业者正在不断用 自身经历，重塑总法律顾问角色所囊 括的职能，以及所能提供的价值。 今年登上ALB China榜单的十 五位总法律顾问正是这方面的佼佼 者。他们所在企业的性质不同（包括 央国企、民营企业、外资企业），所属 行业庞杂（包括能源、航空、TMT、生 物医药、机械制造、金融、消费品、传 媒文娱、新能源、基础建设、环保等） ，北上深之外，还有多位总法来自济 南、南京、成都、长沙、天津几座城市， 虽然有着不同的从业环境，他们身上 却散发出近似的光芒。 扎实的法律专业基础已不必多 谈，他们谙熟行业和企业，思考的是如 何将规则更巧妙地嵌入到真实的业务 流程之中；基础合规体系的搭建已是昨 天的话题，他们正带领团队走在合规 理念的最前沿，探索新的制度可能性。 单纯的起诉应诉已显得“入门”， 他们的目标是搭建完善的纠纷管理体 系，将风险的火苗吹灭，让诉讼也具 备价值；简单的商标专利管理也已达 成，他们早就和研发并肩作战，站在 了企业创新的第一排。 部分上榜总法和ALB分享了他们 对于自身职业边界拓展的观察，这给 他们带来了怎样的挑战，以及怎样的 职业乐趣感和成就感。 走上总法之路 周媛是康希诺生物股份公司的法务与 合规部、内审部高级总监，在担任生物 医药行业的法务负责人之前，她和许 多总法一样，有过律师以及其他行业 的法务从业经历。回顾职业道路，她认 为不同阶段积累的经验都在帮助她成 为一名更好的法务负责人。 入行时，周媛先是选择成为一名 律师，主要从事金融、并购重组、上市 等商事业务。“这帮我完成了从法学 生到专业律师的角色转变。我在特定 领域的专业能力得到了整体提升，同 时作为乙方，在面对客户的过程中得 到了与人交往沟通的锻炼，这些都是 宝贵的收获。”她回忆到。 后来，周媛进入企业，成为了金 融领域一家期货公司的法务合规负 责人。“三年的经历让我在合规领域 收获颇多，我学到了很好的合规管理 思维和逻辑。” 2019年，带着这些“财富”，周媛 加入康希诺。她笑称自己是“从基层做 起来的总法”：入职时只有自己一人， 如今团队规模扩展到17人，在法律、 合规、知识产权、内控内审等各方面 为公司提供支持。 周媛告诉ALB，来到康希诺后自 身快速的成长，其实得益于公司和所 在行业近年的飞速发展。如今，她已 深深喜欢上了生物医药行业，决心在 这一领域的法律职业赛道上不断扎 根。同时，伴随团队规模和职能的扩 大，她感到自己的管理能力也在不断 提升，“实际上过去一年多时间，我都 在尝试调整内部组织架构，使管理更 合理，这给我带来很大的乐趣，对管 理能力也是很好的锻炼”。 周本强是中国水利水电第八工 程局有限公司的首席合规官、总法律 顾问，他在水电八局从事法务工作已 有16年，并在过去十年担任法务负责 人，过程中也在不断探索、加深对总法 角色的理解。 如今，周本强如此描述一位合格 总法律顾问所应具备的特质，即“战 略布局高远、专业能力过硬、管理能 力出众”。 他具体解释道：“战略眼光高远， 意味着总法应该从企业大局出发，对 任何一个法律事务做出精确的判断， 为企业领导提供准确的决策依据和 参谋分析。同时还要具备一定的战略 布局眼光，能够创新工作理念方法， 带领团队可持续发展。” “专业能力过硬则是安身立命 之本，总法需要熟悉掌握公司的各项 业务，在为企业把好风险关的同时， 更重要的是要积极推动和促进企业的 业务发展。”他说，“最后，总法还应当 具备企业家的管理能力，处理问题不 仅要从专业角度去分析法律风险，还 要从企业管理的角度综合考虑公司 发展过程中的实际需求。” 拓宽的边界 伴随自身能力的不断提升，加之过去 几年外部环境变化所引发的“时代的 召唤”，总法律顾问们都深刻感受到 了职业边界的不断拓宽。 “这几年确实有一个深刻的感 受：总法在公司内所承担的职责不 断拓展。以我个人为例：我是总法律 顾问，同时也是首席合规官，承担了 公司法治与合规两项职责，而且还 有其他管理职责。”周本强说，“职责 拓展体现了国家对法治与合规的重 视，但也给总法带来挑战，加大了执 业风险。因此，要做到职责拓展且‘ NEXT STEPS Exceptional GCs never rest on current achievements and are always actively contemplating future challenges. Zhou Benqiang confesses that there are so many things he wants to do in terms of next steps in work planning. “I will lead the team to focus on AI, intelligent compliance, and other business areas. We will continuously bring in more legal talents, explore and innovate talent development mechanisms, and place particular emphasis on cultivating talents in investment, financing, and legal compliance. We will strengthen ‘legal product output’ and build a top-notch team of versatile legal and business professionals.” Christy Zhou summarizes her key themes for the future in three words: support, risk control, and innovation. “In the future, I will provide long-term support for the company’s goals and business development, especially in the face of challenges prevalent in the biotech industry. We have a lot of work to do in the market or technological aspects.” “Secondly, we will emphasize identifying legal and compliance risks, conducting evaluations, and ultimately formulating specific risk control measures to ensure their implementation,” she says. “Lastly, innovation, especially in the compliance field, is crucial for GCs.” During the process of achieving these goals, Zhou says she will also actively enjoy the sense of accomplishment that the role of a GC brings to her career and life. “My scope and vision as a legal professional have greatly expanded. I no longer speak solely in terms of laws and cases but can truly integrate rules into all aspects of business and practice.” “Additionally, this profession brings great honor to me, personally, and my family. I remember during the pandemic, one day, I had a meeting until 11 pm. My 3-year-old child asked, ‘Mommy, what are you doing?’ I said, ‘I’m helping other kids and adults not get sick.’ He said, ‘Mummy, you are my hero!’ At that moment, I felt that this profession truly leaves a significant mark in my life,” she says.
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