9 772220 270006 ISSN 2220-2706 CHINESE FIRMS ACCELERATE GLOBAL FOOTPRINT 中国律所加速全球布局 OVERSEAS COMPLIANCE BECOMES KEY CAPABILITY 中国企业强化境外合规 DISPUTE RESOLUTION FACES NEW DEMANDS, CHANGES 争议解决业务持续演进
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 https://www.legalbusinessonline.com/ihs/SHIHLS2024
1 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM/CHINA CONTENTS BRI EFS 4 Briefs 焦点故事 6 Appointments 律师转所信息 7 Deals 交易 COVER STORY 8 2024 ALB China Regional Ranking: West China Firms, Rising Lawyers, Client Choice 2024 ALB China 区域市场排名： 西部地区律所、 律师新星、 客户首选律师 ALB has set its sights on the West China region for the third consecutive year, observing with industry players the development trend of the legal services market there. ALB连续第三年将目 光锁定于广袤的西部 地区，与业界共同关 注当地法律服务市场 的发展走向。 Ranking by ALB, text by Victor Wu FEATURES 16 Global mindset 探索全新“出海”策略 Chinese law firms are adapting their global strategies in the post-pandemic era, responding to evolving client needs and shifting overseas expansion patterns. ALB对话中国领先律 师事务所的管理者， 希望了解“后疫情”时 代中国律所国际化策 略的变化、客户海外 法律需求的演进，以 及律所下一步的全球 发展计划。 22 Navigating compliance complexities 穿越合规“迷雾” The international business operations of Chinese enterprises are constantly evolving, and the scope of overseas compliance they must navigate is becoming more diverse and complex. 中国企业的国际化经 营需求及能力不断提 升，他们所面对的境 外合规维度也日益多 元、深度不断加剧。在 此背景下，中国律师 事务所正在持续提升 境外合规领域的法律 服务能力。 26 An evolving scene 争议解决业务持续 演进 The shrinking of transactional work stands in contrast to the “return” of dispute resolution to the centre of the business of law firms in the past two years. 在交易类项目缩减的 情况下，过去两年，争 议解决某种程度上“ 重返”业务舞台中心， 在律所营收中扮演愈 发重要的角色。 32 Legal elites feted at ALB China Law Awards for the 21st year 二零二四年ALB中国 法律大奖颁奖盛典圆 满举办 On May 23, 2024, the 21st annual ALB China Law Awards ceremony took place at Rosewood Beijing, with 44 awards being presented during this unforgettable night. 2024年5月23日，二 零二四年ALB中国 法律大奖颁奖盛典 于北京瑰丽酒店成 功举办，大奖44个 奖项相继颁出，您将 在本期杂志中一览获 奖名单。 With contribution from: • Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati 美国威尔逊律师事务所 16 GLOBAL MINDSET 探索全新“出海”策略 Image: Rob Nazh/Shutterstock.com
2 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2024 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 PUBLISHING COORDINATOR Tracy Yang 杨紫薇 tracy.yang@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, Korea (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 Simon Wan Hong Kong (852) 3462 7730 simon.wan@thomsonsreuters.com As we unveil our 2024 ALB China Regional Ranking for West China, it’s clear that the legal landscape in this vast and diverse region continues to evolve and mature. This year’s rankings showcase the dynamic interplay between local powerhouses and national firms expanding their footprint, reflecting the growing sophistication and competitiveness of the western legal market. Our cover story delves deep into the trends shaping the legal industry in West China. From the burgeoning legal services ecosystem in cities like Xi’an and Chengdu to the challenges and opportunities faced by firms in the region, we provide a comprehensive overview of the market’s current state and future trajectory. This year, we’re particularly excited to introduce our new “Client Choice” category, highlighting lawyers who have earned the trust and recognition of their clients. This addition underscores our commitment to providing a holistic view of legal excellence in the region. The insights shared by leading lawyers and firms in this issue paint a picture of a market in transition. While challenges remain, including uneven resource distribution and the need for enhanced professional capabilities, there’s a palpable sense of optimism. Firms are adapting strategies, expanding their reach, and investing in talent to meet the evolving needs of clients in this rapidly developing region. 在展开2024 ALB China西部地区排名过程中，我们看到，这片广阔多样 的地区正在不断经历法律市场格局的发展和成熟。西部本地律所与全国性品牌 律所你追我赶，反映了西部法律市场日益复杂和竞争激烈的现状。 本期的封面故事深入探讨塑造西部法律市场的诸多趋势。从西安、成都等 城市蓬勃发展的法律服务生态系统，到该地区律所面临的挑战和机遇，我们为 您讲述西部市场当前状态，以及未来走向。 今年的西部地区榜单还特别新增了“客户首选律师”排名，聚焦那些备受 客户信任和认可的律师。这进一步彰显了ALB陪伴中国区域法律市场发展、见 证西部市场卓越性的承诺。 THE BEST OF THE WEST 西部最佳 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) 004/02/2024 ISSN 0219 – 6875 KDN PPS 1867/10/2015(025605) Thomson Reuters Alice @ Mediapolis, 29 Media Circle, #09-05, Singapore 138565 / T (65) 6775 5088 10/F, Cityplaza 3, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong / T (852) 3762 3269 www.thomsonreuters.com
www.legalbusinessonline.com/conferences/China-IP-2024 Wang Jin 王瑾 jin.wang@tr.com / (8610) 5669 2009 Amantha Chia 谢京庭 amantha.chia@tr.com / (65) 6973 8258
4 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2024 BIG STORY China is meeting force with force after European Union decided to press ahead with new tariffs on certain Chinamade EVs following the collapse of more than three weeks of negotiations. EU decided to levy an additional 17.4 per cent import duties on Chinese EV champion BYD, 19.9 per cent on Geely, and 37.6 per cent on SAIC, on top of the current 10 per cent levies. Other carmakers will face extra duties of 20.8 per cent or 37.6 per cent, depending on whether they have cooperated with the EU investigation. Hang Guoliang, a partner at Global Law Office, tells ALB that the EU’s antisubsidy investigations typically focus on loans, raw materials, land, income tax CHINA EV MAKERS ‘HANDS TIED’ FACING FRESH EU TARIFFS, SAY LAWYERS 欧盟初裁向中国电动车加税， 救济手段略显乏力 exemptions, and government grants. These investigations would compare loan interest rates, raw material procurement prices, and land prices with benchmark prices in targeted countries to calculate the subsidy margins. “Generally, anti-subsidy investigations focus on raw material prices and loan interest rates, which usually account for over 70 per cent of the subsidy margins. However, in the case of EVs, there are also various government grants to consider,” says Hang. Since the beginning of the EU investigation, Chinese carmakers have been seeking ways to mitigate the potential impact under the imposition of additional tariffs. One of the most widely discussed and seemingly “once-and-for-all” options is to establish manufacturing plants overseas, particularly in Europe. However, a partner from a leading Chinese law firm specializing in overseas investments in new energy cautions that investing in local manufacturing might not be a practical solution for all. “The investment cycle for building a factory is long, requiring substantial fixed asset investments and extended construction periods. Additionally, companies must meet high environmental and other compliance standards, with no immediate returns during the construction phase,” the partner says. Even if succeeding in building factories, Chinese EV makers may still face potential anti-circumvention investigations. “According to EU anti-circumvention regulations, if 60 per cent or more of the component value is imported from a country subject to tariffs, and the added value from assembly does not exceed 25 per cent, it may be deemed as circumvention. Therefore, if carmakers simply ship parts to Europe for basic assembly with minimal added value, the EU may still consider the vehicles to be of Chinese origin and subject them to countervailing duties,” explains Hang. Even shifting production to other markets such as Southeast Asia and Latin America might not be sufficient to shield the China-made EVs from anti-circumvention investigations. In a more direct response, Chinese EV makers can opt to raise the prices of their vehicles in a bid to increase the price competitiveness of European cars. According to Reuters, Tesla has already announced price increases, while BYD and SAIC have not yet decided on them. Geely believes that its Spanish factory will mitigate some negative impacts, and Polestar – which it jointly owns with Volvo – is considering lowering supply chain costs to ease the pressure. Hang points out that an alternative avenue could be negotiating a price commitment agreement. “Price commitment means that Chinese car manufacturers commit to selling EVs to the EU at no less than a certain price. If they do not comply, the EU will continue to impose BY HU YANGXIAOXIAO, WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SARAH WONG 作者：胡阳潇潇、黄婉君 Cars for export are seen at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China April 2, 2020. China Daily via REUTERS
5 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM/CHINA BIG STORY 经过三个多星期谈判，中国与欧 盟就电动车增收反补贴税事宜暂未能达 成一致结果，欧盟从7月5日起对中国进口 电动汽车征收额外关税。 根据调整后的反补贴税率，欧盟在 目前10%的关税基础上，将对比亚迪额 外征收反补贴税17.4%、对吉利征收反 补贴税19.9%、对上海汽车集团征收反 补贴税37.6%。其他车企将依据其与欧 盟合作程度，额外征收反补贴税20.8% 或37.6%。 由于仅是初裁结果，反补贴税将由 中国车企先以保证金形式向欧盟海关支 付，等四个月后欧盟做出最终裁决，才会 根据终裁反补贴税率征收最终反补贴税。 2023年10月，欧委会正式启动对中 国产电动车的反补贴调查，理由是中国 车企得到了中国政府的巨额补贴，得以 压低出口价格，构成对于欧洲本土汽车 企业的不公平竞争。 过去三年，中国制造的电动车中30% 销往欧洲市场，2023年，中国电动车在欧 洲的市场份额达到22%。 环球律师事务所合伙人杭国良律师 告诉ALB，欧盟的反补贴调查通常针对贷 款、原材料、土地、所得税减免、政府拨款 展开，会将贷款利率、原材料采购价格、土 地价格与替代国基准价（benchmark）进 行比较，从而计算补贴幅度。 “一般来说，反补贴调查最关注原材 料价格和贷款利率，它们通常占到补贴幅 度的70%以上。但针对电动车，还存在各 项政府补贴的问题。”杭律师说。 今年4月，欧委会曾发布所谓“中国 市场扭曲国家报告”，其中指出了多项欧 盟关注的中国政府行为，例如对国有企 业的支持——包括通过国有银行提供不 计利润的低息贷款、来自地方政府的财 政支持；以及购买电动车免征车辆购置 税的政策——这项举措所涉金额在2022 年一年就达到119亿美元。 据杭律师了解，中国电动车企业积 极应诉，递交了反补贴答卷，最终反补贴 税将根据各企业反补贴答卷，实地核查 情况确定各企业终裁反补贴税率。 如何应对？ 实际上，去年10月欧盟启动调查以来，中 国车企便开始寻求措施，降低加税带来 的负面影响。 其中，到海外尤其是欧洲建厂，成 为了讨论较多、看起来“一劳永逸”的选 项。今年1月，比亚迪宣布将在匈牙利建 设中国车企在欧洲的首个乘用车生产基 地；4月，吉利在西班牙签署合资协议，将 通过直接购买工厂的方式在欧洲展开电 动车生产。 此外，上汽名爵、长安汽车、长城汽 车、蔚来、哪吒汽车等也宣布了赴欧建厂 的计划，考虑的目的国包括匈牙利、波兰、 西班牙、意大利。 不过，一位从事新能源海外投资业 务的中国头部律所合伙人认为，到当地 投资建厂不见得是现实的选择，“投资建 厂周期很长，需要高额的固定资产投资、 较长的建设周期，此外还要承担较高的 环保等合规义务，而且建设期间企业基 本看不到效益”。 即便能够成功建厂，杭国良律师指 出，中国车企还需要面对可能的反规避 调查问题。 anti-subsidy duties. China and the EU have previously reached such an agreement on photovoltaic products,” he says. A third strategy is to further diversify export markets. Recently, Neta Auto and Xpeng have been strengthening their presence in the African market. At the end of June, Neta opened its first flagship store in Kenya with plans to expand to 20 African countries over the next two years. Xpeng has begun sales in Egypt since mid-June. In the Middle East, 20 Chinese EV brands were on the market in the UAE in 2022. In Latin America, Brazil has become the largest single export destination for Chinese EVs in recent months. Negotiations on the definitive tariffs will continue during the window before the final EU ruling in November this year, in hopes of reaching a mutually acceptable solution between the bloc and China, its largest trading partner. An advisory vote by all member states will be held in two weeks, followed by a final vote in October to decide whether to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs for the next five years. The decision will only pass if at least 65 per cent of the countries, or 15 countries, vote in favour of imposing tariffs. If the final ruling is implemented, Hang says, the Chinese government could also file a complaint with the WTO’s dispute settlement body. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has also stated that it reserves the right to file a complaint with the WTO. 他解释道：“根据欧盟反规避规定， 如果零部件价值的60%或以上是从应征 税的国家进口的，且组装的附加值不超过 25%，则会被认定存在反规避。因此，如果 车企只是把零部件运送到欧洲，在当地进 行简单组装，增值幅度过低，很可能还会 被欧盟认定为规避行为，仍然认定电动 汽车原产于中国，照样要征收反补贴税。” 同理，中国车企如果选择到东南亚、 拉美等第三国市场设厂生产，再出口到欧 洲，照样可能引发反规避调查“。中国的光 伏产品曾遭遇过一样的问题，当时欧美对 东南亚光伏产品发起反规避调查，如果在 第三国的加工增值幅度不足，仍会被认定 为原产于中国。”杭律师说。 在此背景下，协助中国企业应对反 规避调查，正成为中国律所的一项新兴 热门业务。 另一种应对手段更直接，即对电动 车提价。根据路透社报道，目前特斯拉已 经宣布涨价计划；比亚迪、上汽尚未做出 决定；吉利认为西班牙工厂将缓释一部分 负面影响，其与沃尔沃共同控股的极星汽 车则考虑通过降低供应链成本缓解压力。 第三种方式是推动外销市场进一步 多元化。近日，哪吒汽车和小鹏汽车都在 强化非洲市场：哪吒于6月底在肯尼亚开 设了第一家旗舰店，并计划在未来两年内 进军20个非洲国家；小鹏则在6月中旬开 启了在埃及市场的销售。 在中东，根据2022年数据，已有20 个中国品牌电动车在阿联酋销售；在拉 美，以巴西为例，过去几个月巴西已经成 为中国电动车最大的单一出口目的地。 不过，如欧盟和中国商务部所述，今 年11月欧盟终裁结果做出前，双方还将继 续利用窗口期推进磋商，以期达成双方均 可接受的解决方案。 欧盟内部的“分裂”观点使最终结果目 前看来摇摆不定。德国、匈牙利、斯洛伐克明 确表示反对态度，法国则是加税的坚定支持 者。两周后，27个欧盟成员国将进行一轮非 正式投票；10月，他们将进行正式投票，决定 是否在未来五年内对中国电动车加收关税。 不过，至少要有65%的国家，即15国 以上投出赞成票，该决议才会正式通过。 杭国良律师指出，双方最终以“价格 承诺协议”的方式完成谈判也是种选项，“ 价格承诺的意思是中国车企承诺不低于 一定价格向欧盟销售电动汽车，否则欧盟 将继续征收反补贴税。中国和欧盟曾经就 光伏产品达成过价格承诺协议”，他说。 如果终裁落地，杭律师说，中国政府 也可以选择到WTO争端解决机构提起申 诉——中国商务部也曾明确表示保留向 WTO提出申诉的权利。
6 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2024 APPOINTMENTS TONY CHOW 周敦彦 LEAVING 原就职律所 King & Wood Mallesons 金杜律师事务所 JOINING 现就职律所 Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 富而德律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 Restructuring and Insolvency 破产重组 LOCATION 地点 Hong Kong SAR 中国香港特别行政区 CASSIDY GUO 郭繁 LEAVING 原就职律所 King & Wood Mallesons 金杜律师事务所 JOINING 现就职律所 FenXun Partners 奋迅律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 Intellectual Property 知识产权 LOCATION 地点 Beijing 北京 CARL LI 李雄 LEAVING 原就职律所 AllBright Law Offices 锦天城律师事务所 JOINING 现就职律所 Zhong Lun Law Firm 中伦律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 M&A 并购 LOCATION 地点 Shanghai 上海 BEN MCCOSKER LEAVING 原就职律所 Mayer Brown 孖士打律师行 JOINING 现就职律所 Appleby 毅柏律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 Litigation 诉讼 LOCATION 地点 Shanghai 上海 WANG BENQIAO 王本桥 LEAVING 原就职律所 Zhonglun W&D Law Firm 中伦文德律师事务所 JOINING 现就职律所 East & Concord Partners 天达共和律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 Corporate Compliance 公司合规 LOCATION 地点 Shanghai 上海 ZHANG QI 张琦 LEAVING 原就职律所 Zhong Lun Law Firm 中伦律师事务所 JOINING 现就职律所 Merits & Tree Law Offices 植德律师事务所 PRACTICE 业务领域 Dispute Resolution 争议解决 LOCATION 地点 Beijing 北京
7 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM/CHINA DEALS $870MLN China Merchants Capital’s equity investment in HK telecom Deal Type: M&A Firms: Clifford Chance Jurisdictions: China, Hong Kong SAR 招商资本收购香港电讯无源网络基础 设施资产 交易类型：并购 参与律所：高伟绅律师事务所 管辖地：中国，中国香港特别行政区 $691MLN Henlius’ take-private deal Deal Type: Privatisation Firms: Reed Smith, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Kirkland & Ellis Jurisdictions: China, Hong Kong SAR 复宏汉霖私有化交易 交易类型：私有化 参与律所：礼德律师事务所、富而德律师 事务所、凯易国际律师事务所 管辖地：中国，中国香港特别行政区 $640MLN Yankuang Energy Group Company’s H-share placement Deal Type: ECM Firms: King & Wood Mallesons, Baker McKenzie Jurisdictions: China, Hong Kong SAR 兖矿能源集团H股配售 交易类型：股权融资 参与律所：金杜律师事务所、贝克·麦坚 时律师事务所 管辖地：中国，中国香港特别行政区 $500MLN Huaneng Group’s issuance of perpetual bond Deal Type: DCM Firm: Herbert Smith Freehills Jurisdictions: China, U.S. 华能集团发行永续债券 交易类型：债券 参与律所：史密夫斐尔律师事务所 管辖地：中国，美国 $445MLN Seche Environment’s purchase of Singapore ECO from Beijing Capital Deal Type: M&A Firm: Zhong Lun Law Firm, Latham & Watkins Jurisdictions: China, France 首创环保向法国Seche Holdings (SG) Pte. Ltd.出售新加坡ECO公司 交易类型：并购 参与律所：中伦律师事务所、瑞生国际 律师事务所 管辖地：中国，法国 $215MLN BSAM’s acquisition of Credit Suisse China venture stake Deal Type: M&A Firm: Guantao Law Firm, Fangda Partners Jurisdictions: China, Switzerland 北京国资收购瑞信证券股权项目 交易类型：并购 参与律所：观韬中茂律师事务所、方达 律师事务所 管辖地：中国，瑞士 $209MLN Asia Cement’s take-private deal Deal Type: Privatisation Firm: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Sullivan & Cromwell Jurisdictions: China, Hong Kong SAR 亚洲水泥（中国）私有化项目 交易类型：私有化 参与律所：富而德律师事务所、苏利文 律师事务所 管辖地：中国，中国香港特别行政区 $126MLN QuantumPharm’s listing in Hong Kong Deal Type: ECM Firm: Fangda Partners, Sidley Austin, JunHe, Herbert Smith Freehills Jurisdictions: China, Hong Kong SAR 晶泰科技香港上市 交易类型：股权融资 参与律所：方达律师事务所、盛德律师 事务所、君合律师事务所、史密夫斐尔 律师事务所 管辖地：中国，中国香港特别行政区 $116MLN Laopu Gold’s listing in Hong Kong Deal Type: DCM Firm: Global Law Office, O’Melveny & Myers, Haiwen & Partners, Linklaters Jurisdictions: China, Hong Kong SAR 老铺黄金香港上市 交易类型：股权融资 参与律所：环球律师事务所、美迈斯律 师事务所、海问律师事务所、年利达律 师事务所 管辖地：中国，中国香港特别行政区
8 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2024 Chongqing and Xi’an, with two of them hailing from Xining and Kunming. UNTAPPED POTENTIAL, REGIONAL DISPARITIES What characterizes the legal services industry in West China? Partners from locally rooted firms offer their insights based on first-hand experience. Wang Zhiping, Director of TianTai Law Firm’s Xi’an office, observes that West China’s legal industry has been experiencing steady, healthy growth in recent years. He notes that the industry’s size aligns well with the region’s economic development. “Across the ten provinces and autonomous regions in West China, there are approximately 8,000 law firms. This represents 20 percent of the national total, mirroring the western region’s contribution to national GDP - a reasonable proportion,” Wang explains. In terms of geographical distribution, among the 15 local firms, six, four and three are respectively headquartered in Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi’an, while the remaining two firms are based in Yinchuan and Xining. On the other hand, all the 15 non-local firms have their headquarters in Beijing or Shanghai. Apart from top firms, ALB also pays close attention to outstanding lawyers. Like last year, a total of 25 lawyers have made the list of West China Rising Lawyers. Most of them are based in Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi’an, although there are also three lawyers who work out of Lhasa, Yinchuan and Lanzhou. What is new this year is that ALB has added a list of West China Client Choice where clients were surveyed by online questionnaires on their reviews of lawyers before 15 trusted and recognized top lawyers were selected. These lawyers are mainly based in Chengdu, As we enter the latter half of 2024, ALB once again focuses on the crucial West China market. This region encompasses ten provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities: Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, Tibet, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Shaanxi, and Gansu. From a pool of exceptional firms and lawyers, ALB presents its 2024 China Regional Ranking for West China, highlighting top firms, rising lawyers, and client-preferred legal professionals. The ranking features 15 local and 15 non-local firms, with five additional local firms making the list compared to last year. Four new local entrants underscore the continued growth of regional practices, demonstrating their increasing ability to compete with larger, more established firms. Additionally, one nonlocal firm has debuted on the list this year, further diversifying the competitive landscape. COVER STORY 今年4月，“新时代推动西部大开发”被提上国家议事日程，广袤的中国西部地区被寄予新的期待， 法治建设也持续走深走实。ALB连续第三年将目光锁定于此，与业界共同关注法律服务市场的发展走向。 This April, “promoting China Western Development in the new era” was put on the national agenda. New expectations are now placed on the vast western region of China, and rule of law development continues to go deeper and more tangible. ALB has set its sights on this region for the third consecutive year, observing with industry players the development trend of the legal services market there. RANKING BY ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS, TEXT BY VICTOR WU 排名：《亚洲法律杂志》，作者：吴嘉林 WEST CHINA FIRMS, RISING LAWYERS, CLIENT CHOICE 西部地区律所、律师新星、客户首选律师
9 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM/CHINA COVER STORY However, Wang acknowledges significant developmental disparities among the western provinces and autonomous regions. Recent statistics reveal stark contrasts: Shaanxi boasts 923 firms, while Ningxia has 137, and Tibet only 79. Moreover, the overall number of firms in the west remains considerably lower than in central and eastern China. Nevertheless, he still senses opportunities. “With economic recovery and the continuous development of the western region, and considering that the western region has lagged behind during development in earlier days, the regional legal services industry still has a large market space and development potential.” He also says that the constant strengthening of the legal awareness and literacy of the general public and companies has brought about more legal advisory and service needs. Wang Yiren, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Baijus Law Firm and Director of its Chengdu office, says that although the development of the legal services industry in the western region has generally been slow, since last year she has felt significant improvement in the industry ecosystem which can mainly be attributed to efforts to progress the protection, opening-up and high-quality development of the western region as well as the pivotal role the region already plays in the overall picture of national reform, development and stability. “Multiple national economic strategies have been implemented in the west, such as the construction of the new western land-sea channel, high-quality joint development of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, construction of inland highlands and hubs for opening-up and development such as Chongqing, Sichuan and Shaanxi, construction of various industrial parks, border economic cooperation zones and cross-border economic cooperation zones in border areas, and the high-quality development of pilot free trade zones. All these strategies have created a broad legal services market for lawyers in the west,” says Wang Yiren. “The major measures taken by the western region to build a business environment based on rule of law have not only generated powerful impetus for Local Firms 西部地区本地律所 Chihkao Law Firm 四川致高律师事务所 Chongqing Baijus Law Firm 重庆百君律师事务所 Chongqing Jingsheng Law Firm 重庆静昇律师事务所 Help Reaching Law Firm 陕西海普睿诚律师事务所 K&H Law Firm 重庆坤源衡泰律师事务所 Ning Ren Law Firm 宁人律师事务所 Qinghai Shuren Law Firm 青海树人律师事务所 Shaanxi Jiaxuan Law Firm 陕西稼轩律师事务所 Sichuan Henghexin Law Firm 四川恒和信律师事务所 Sichuan Mingju Law Firm 四川明炬律师事务所 Sichuan SUN&CO. Law Firm 四川善嘉律师事务所 Sichuan Yingling Heshi Law Firm 四川瀛领禾石律师事务所 Tahota Law Firm 泰和泰律师事务所 Yong Jia Xin Law Firm 陕西永嘉信律师事务所 ZHH & Robin LLP 中豪律师事务所 Non-Local Firms 西部地区非本地律所（西部地区业务） AllBright Law Offices 锦天城律师事务所 City Development Law Firm 建纬律师事务所 Dacheng Law Offices 大成律师事务所 DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所 Grandall Law Firm 国浩律师事务所 Hui Ye Law Firm 汇业律师事务所 Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm 金诚同达律师事务所 Kangda Law Firm 康达律师事务所 King & Wood Mallesons 金杜律师事务所 Long An Law Firm 隆安律师事务所 SGLA Law Firm 中联律师事务所 Tian Yuan Law Firm 天元律师事务所 TianTai Law Firm 天驰君泰律师事务所 W&H Law Firm 炜衡律师事务所 Zhong Lun Law Firm 中伦律师事务所 Rising Lawyers – Local Law Firms 西部地区律师新星-本地律所 HE YANYU 何妍雨 Sichuan Henghexin Law Firm 四川恒和信律师事务所 LI YANG 李杨 Help Reaching Law Firm 陕西海普睿诚律师事务所 LIAO HUAIXUE 廖怀学 Tahota Law Firm 泰和泰律师事务所 MA JUN 马军 Ning Ren Law Firm 宁人律师事务所 MENG ENHAI 孟恩海 Yong Jia Xin Law Firm 陕西永嘉信律师事务所 SU WENHAN 苏文悍 Shaanxi Jiaxuan Law Firm 陕西稼轩律师事务所 TANG YUZHOU 唐昱州 Chongqing Baijus Law Firm 重庆百君律师事务所 TSERING DHONDUP 次仁顿珠 Tibet Guo Ang Law Firm 西藏国昂律师事务所 WANG JUAN 王娟 Shaanxi Bo Shuo Law Firm 陕西博硕律师事务所 XIONG XIN 熊鑫 K&H Law Firm 重庆坤源衡泰律师事务所 Rising Lawyers – Non-Local Law Firms 西部地区律师新星-非本地律所 BI YINGZHI 毕英鸷 Hui Ye Law Firm 汇业律师事务所 CHEN MEIQIN 陈美琴 Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm 金诚同达律师事务所 DING XIAO 丁潇 Tian Yuan Law Firm 天元律师事务所 HE YUNFAN 贺云帆 Zhong Lun Law Firm 中伦律师事务所 LI YANGZI 李阳紫 Silkroad, Anchorite and Sage Law Firm 锦路安生律师事务所 LIU QINGQING 刘庆庆 Long An Law Firm 隆安律师事务所
10 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2024 COVER STORY Wang of TianTai notes that Xi’an’s legal services industry is developing rapidly. In 2023, lawyers’ fees in the city reached 3.389 billion yuan ($0.47 billion), an increase of approximately 45 percent from the 1.89 billion yuan ($0.26 billion) recorded in 2022. By the end of 2023, there are over 12,000 practicing lawyers in Xi’an and more than 510 firms, including 21 firms that have more than 100 practicing lawyers. Further, in recent years, many large firms have set up offices in Xi’an, with the offices of those large firms accounting for about 40 percent of all firms in Xi’an with over 100 practicing lawyers. “Competition is fierce on Xi’an’s legal industry, but competition is also relatively fair and compliant. This is healthy competition and is conducive to the social and economic development as well as the legal industry development in the region. Xi’an has the largest number of enterprises and population across the entire northwest, and the concentration of resources is also relatively high. Therefore, it enjoys a large market demand, which means that the legal industry still has a lot of room for development.” Zhang Zitan, Senior Partner of the Xi’an office of Hai Run Law Firm and a West China Rising Lawyer, says that Xi’an’s legal services industry provides the platform for outstanding lawyers and firms to showcase their talents, and has largely formed a favorable ecological environment. “We have been praised for our professional competency when working with peers and clients in tier-1 cities, although some information gaps and even misunderstandings continue to exist. Many people still have the impression that Xi’an’s legal industry is rather backward. In fact, however, Xi’an has a solid talent pool with supplies from top law schools, boasts business areas with comparative advantages such as energy and technology, and enjoys policy guidance from the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ as well as rule of law for cross-border matters. Many lawyers can get extensive exposure and stand out in Xi’an. They are capable of establishing themselves in the local market, competing on the national stage, and gaining the respect and trust of partners.” Rising Lawyers – Non-Local Law Firms 西部地区律师新星-非本地律所 LIU YUANTAO 刘元涛 Grandway Law Offices 国枫律师事务所 SHI FENGJIE 施峰杰 DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所 WANG DONGDONG 王东东 Global Law Office 环球律师事务所 YE FEI 叶飞 AllBright Law Offices 锦天城律师事务所 ZHANG HONGZHANG 张洪章 SGLA Law Firm 中联律师事务所 ZHANG LINA 张丽娜 Duan & Duan Law Firm 段和段律师事务所 ZHANG RUNDING 张润丁 W&H Law Firm 炜衡律师事务所 ZHANG SHU 张树 King & Wood Mallesons 金杜律师事务所 ZHANG ZITAN 张紫檀 Hai Run Law Firm 海润天睿律师事务所 Client Choice 西部地区客户首选律师 AN HUAN 安欢 Jincheng Tongda & Neal Law Firm 金诚同达律师事务所 CHEN JUN 陈军 Commerce & Finance Law Offices 通商律师事务所 CHENG DICHANG 程地昌 Tahota Law Firm 泰和泰律师事务所 GUO XUEPING 郭雪平 Tian Yuan Law Firm 天元律师事务所 HU XIAOFEI 胡晓菲 K&H Law Firm 重庆坤源衡泰律师事务所 LA CHENGLIN 喇成霖 Qinghai Shuren Law Firm 青海树人律师事务所 LAI SIQI 赖思奇 Chongqing Baijus Law Firm 重庆百君律师事务所 LIAN GAOBO 廉高波 Kangda Law Firm 康达律师事务所 LUO JUN 罗俊 Chihkao Law Firm 四川致高律师事务所 PENG SONG 彭松 DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所 SHI QI 史琦 JunHe LLP 君合律师事务所 SU SHAOKUI 苏绍魁 Dacheng Law Offices 大成律师事务所 TANG HAO 唐浩 City Development Law Firm 建纬律师事务所 XUE YUTING 薛玉婷 Grandway Law Offices 国枫律师事务所 ZHU HONGJUN 祝红军 Shaanxi Jiaxuan Law Firm 陕西稼轩律师事务所 economic development, but also promoted the optimization of the ecosystem for the legal services industry. For example, the Tianfu Central Legal Services District in Sichuan and the Upper Yangtze River Legal Services Center in Chongqing are not merely initiatives to build a robust legal services industry in the west. They also serve to develop a highly open legal services market environment where resources congregate and competition is orderly.” Wang Yiren adds that national policies have given more targeted support to the development of the legal industry in the west, such as the work by the Ministry of Justice to optimize industry pairing and targeted assistance among lawyers in the eastern, central and western regions. GROWING MATURITY IN CITIES As mentioned above, the development of the legal services industry in various places in the west varies greatly. Xi’an and Chengdu are respectively the most representative city in the northwest and southwest, with advanced economic development levels. The winning firms have shared trends of the legal services market in different cities.
11 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM/CHINA COVER STORY “Compared to developed cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, however, the development of Xi’an’s legal industry still lags behind and is in transition to more commercialized and market-oriented competition.” According to Zhang, for example, the “black box” phenomenon still exists to some extent on the market when it comes to the disclosure of commercial information, and firms and lawyers continue to rely on job titles and specific connections to acquire clients. “Pushing for changes to these general mentality and transaction environment issues left over from the previous generation still takes time.” On the other hand, Zhang notes that positive changes also continue to take place. “Clients and even the whole market have become more rational when choosing lawyers. They place more value on professional competency and service quality and require lawyers to have higher and more comprehensive service capabilities. Some colleagues may think this is excessive competition, but we believe this is an inevitable process for the market to mature. Therefore, the entire industry needs to actively embrace such changes and create more positive value for clients, the industry and even the society at large.” Yates Bi, Senior Partner of Hui Ye Law Firm and Director of its Chengdu office, is another “Rising Lawyer” winner. When leading the firm forward, Bi can feel that competition on Chengdu’s legal industry is more intense than that of other places in the west, and Chengdu may even be considered “one of the most competitive markets in the country”. Data seem to back Bi’s assessment. “The 2023 Sichuan Legal Industry Big Data Report shows that there are more than 22,400 lawyers and over 1,139 firms in Chengdu. Most national firms have offices in Chengdu. However, Chengdu’s own economic volume is not yet large enough to support the rapid development of its legal industry.” “In addition, legal services companies and legal consulting companies have also created large pressure on the individual client and the small corporate client markets of firms.” Bi admits that due to the economic downturn and the impact of international dynamics, the overall workload of firms has increased, but their ability to generate revenue has declined, affecting industry confidence. Bi adds that Sichuan’s legal industry is rather active, with many young lawyers. They are very capable professionally and closely follow emerging business areas and new marketing methods. If the younger generation can keep up, they may bring changes to and reshape the traditional legal services market. FUTURE PLANNING Looking ahead, the interviewed firms unanimously identify common 2024 ALB China 西部地区律师新星 王娟律师，陕西博硕律师事务所高级合伙人，西安交通大学MBA校外导师， 西安财经大学法学院实务导师，陕西省人民政府法律专家库成员，毕业于西 安交通大学，经济学博士。在专业领域深耕十多载，先后曾就职于四大会计 师事务所以及西部证券、海通证券投资银行，主持并参与多项IPO以及再融 资，同时具有中国注册会计师、保荐代表人资格，具有法律、金融交叉学科 背景，深入了解资本市场的运作模式。 从事律师以来，专注于一般公司业务、企业并购重组、金融与资本市场法律 服务以及相关争议解决。先后为多个基金、大型国有企业、以及金融机构提 供收并购、发债、设立基金等全流程法律服务，为众多重大复杂交易提供综 合解决方案，也曾主办多个受关注的公司商事、银行金融、借贷担保及各类 合同纠纷的争议解决。 王娟 高级合伙人 电话：18629260539 邮箱：wangjuan@bsls.com.cn
12 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 JULY 2024 COVER STORY 的传统所同台竞技的实力。非本地律 所榜单中则有一家首次登榜。 从地域分布上看，15家本地律所 中，总部位于成都、重庆、西安的分别 有6家、4家、3家，另外两家总部在银 川、西宁；而15家非本地律所的总部 均位于北京或上海。 除了律所维度，ALB同样关注拥 有出色业务能力的律师个人。同去年 一样，共有25位律师登上了西部地区 律师新星榜单，其办公地点多为成都、 重庆、西安，也有三位律师常驻拉萨、 银川、兰州。 值得注意的是，今年榜单新增“ 西部地区客户首选律师”评选，通过 在线调查问卷的方式获取客户对律 师的评价，最终评选出15位备受信 赖和肯定的优秀律师。他们的常驻 地以成渝、西安为主，还有两位来自 西宁、昆明。 整体生态：潜力仍在 西部地区的法律服务行业生态究竟 如何？扎根西部的律所合伙人们有着 来自一线的观察。 天驰君泰律师事务所西安分所 主任王治平律师认为，西部地区律 师行业整体呈现出健康态势，近年 来实现了稳步发展，其行业规模与 地区经济发展相协调。“西部十省区 的律师事务所总数约为8000所，占 全国总量的20%，与西部地区在全 国GDP中的占比相当，显示出相对 合理的规模。” 然而，一个不争的事实是，西部 各省区之间的发展存在显著差异。王 律师举例，据先前统计，陕西共有律 所923家，宁夏有137家，西藏仅有79 家。另外，与中东部地区相比，律所数 量仍有较大差距。 但是王律师也看到了机遇：“随着 经济的复苏、西部地区的持续发展，并 考虑到前期发展的滞后性，西部地区 在法律服务领域仍有较大的市场空间 和发展潜力。”他还表示，大众及企业 的法律意识和素养不断增强，也带来 了更多法律咨询和服务需求。 百君律师事务所董事局副主席、 成都所主任王怡人律师则直言，西部 地区法律服务行业的发展总体较为 缓慢，但是自去年以来，她感受到行 业生态有明显提升，主要原因是西 部大保护、大开放、高质量发展新格 局建设的推进，西部地区在全国改革 发展稳定大局中已经有着举足轻重 的地位。 2024年下半年伊始，ALB再次 聚焦中国西部地区这一重要的区域 市场，即四川、重庆、云南、贵州、西 藏、宁夏、新疆、青海、陕西、甘肃十 个省区市，在众多优秀律所和律师群 体中，评选出2024 ALB China 区 域市场排名：西部地区律所、律师新 星、客户首选律师。 律所榜单包括15家本地律所和 15家非本地律所，其中，本地律所上 榜者比去年新增五家。共有4家本地 律所首次上榜，可见本土力量持续壮 大，逐渐具备与历史更久、规模更大 challenges facing the legal industry in the western region. Bi summarizes the main issues: “Compared to developed regions like Beijing and Shanghai, western firms are generally smaller with lower levels of professional competency. The region lacks strong legal brands, and the distribution of high-quality legal service resources is uneven and scarce.” Wang from Baijus echoes these concerns while highlighting additional challenges. She emphasizes the need to improve the practice environment and convenience for lawyers in the west, noting inconsistent support across different locations. Wang asserts that enhancing the professional capabilities of firms and lawyers remains fundamental for advancement. “As client needs become more sophisticated, our services must become more targeted,” she explains. “Baijus has implemented a firm-wide mechanism of interdisciplinary and cross-regional teams to meet evolving client demands for legal services.” “Under the model of borderless cooperation, Baijus’s Chengdu office has been implementing a practice area mandatory referral system since 2019. After five years, the Chengdu office has made great strides in both service quality and performance.” Wang Yiren says that the office will continue to uplift advantageous practice areas and make up for shortcomings, and strive to become a model for Baijus’s integrated and national development. TianTai’s Wang gives examples of the “tough nuts to crack” in the development of a firm. “There is a huge demand for cross-border legal services in the west. However, the western region has been in a relatively “closed” state for quite some time. How to cope with such demand for cross-border legal services in a short period of time is a big challenge for lawyers.” “Other examples will be the problems of operation, coordination, culture, etc. that arise during the upscaling and integration of a firm, whether a firm should grow up in a natural way or a forced way, and how to achieve true “integration” after “upscaling”. These are also urgent issues that firms in the western region and even the whole country need to address.” “Further, the lawsuits and legal matters handled by the legal services industry in west China are generally not as sophisticated as those in the central and eastern regions in terms of standards and representativeness. The professional voice and authoritativeness of the legal services industry in the west are also not as solid as that of the central and eastern regions.” Wang Zhiping adds that TianTai’s Xi’an office will maintain close contact with the head office, share brand, resources, performance and talents with the head office and other offices, make most use of the advantages of “integration”, and enhance brand value and influence. “TianTai hopes for more opportunities to exchange ideas and work with peers to jointly promote the development of the legal services industry in the western region.” Zhang tells ALB that Hai Run’s Xi’an office will make appropriate and necessary division of professional capabilities under a fully market-oriented internal and external environment, thereby improving the delivery efficiency of lawyers and their teams. “We will also explore integration that can be accepted by partners in the firm, respect the patterns of industry development, and not pre-impose any constraints of rules and systems, so as to attract more outstanding talents to join us.”
13 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS CHINA • 亚洲法律杂志-中国版 WWW.LEGALBUSINESSONLINE.COM/CHINA COVER STORY “多重国家经济战略相继在西 部落地，例如西部陆海新通道建设， 高质量共建‘一带一路’，重庆、四川、 陕西等内陆开放高地和开发开放枢纽 建设，沿边地区各类产业园区、边境经 济合作区、跨境经济合作区布局，自 由贸易试验区高质量发展等。这些战 略都为西部律师提供了广阔的法律 服务市场。”王怡人律师说。 “西部地区构建法治化营商环 境的重大举措，既是为经济发展注入 的强大动力，也是对法律服务行业的 生态优化。比如，四川的天府中央法 务区、重庆的长江上游法律服务中心 既是建设完备的西部法律服务高地 的举措，也是在营造高度开放、资源集 聚、竞争有序的法律服务市场环境。” 王怡人律师还补充道，国家政策 针对西部律师行业发展给予了更加精 细化的支持，比如司法部开展的东中西 部律师行业优化结对和对口帮扶工作。 城市视角：趋向成熟 如前所述，西部各地区的法律服务行 业发展情况存在较大差异。西安、成 都分别是西北、西南地区最有代表性 的城市，经济水平领先。上榜律所分 享了不同城市的法律服务市场动向。 天驰君泰的王治平律师注意到， 西安的法律服务行业发展迅猛：2023 年，律师业务收费达33.89亿元人民 币，较2022年的18.9亿增长了约45% ；2023年底，西安的执业律师有1.2万 余人，律所510多家，执业律师在100 人以上的有21家；近年来，许多品牌 大所纷纷在西安布局，“百人所”中的 分支机构大约占据四成。 “西安律师行业竞争激烈，但竞 争较为公平、合规，属于良性竞争，有 利于地区社会经济、法律行业的发展； 西安在整个西北地区企业数量、人口 体量基本是最大的，资源集中度较高， 因此具有较大的市场需求，法律行业 仍有很大的发展空间。”他补充道。 登上本次“律师新星”榜单的海 润天睿律师事务所西安办公室高级 合伙人张紫檀律师认为，西安法律服 务行业为优秀的律师和律所提供了 施展才华的舞台，已经初步形成了良 好的生态环境。 “我们与一线城市的同行和客户 合作时，专业水准得到了赞誉，但一些 信息差、甚至是误解依然存在，很多朋 友对西安律师行业仍然存在‘黄土高 坡’的印象。实际上，西安有优秀法学 院的人才供给，有能源、科创等具备比 较优势的业务领域，还有‘一带一路’ 与涉外法治的政策引导，许多律师能 够得到广泛历练并脱颖而出，有实力 立足本地市场、参与全国竞争，赢得 合作伙伴的尊重与信赖。” “不过，与北京、上海、深圳等发 达地区相比，西安法律行业发展仍然 滞后，处于向更充分商业化、市场化竞 争转变的过程中。”张律师举例道，市 场上的商业信息披露仍然存在一定“ 黑箱化”现象，律所及律师在获客上 依赖职务头衔和特定关系背景，“这些 上个时代遗留的普遍心态和交易环境 仍然需要时间来推动改变”。 张律师注意到，好的变化也在持 续发生：“客户乃至市场在选择律师 时，变得更加理性，更加重视专业水 准和服务质量，要求律师具备更高且 更综合的服务能力。有些同行认为这 中国 上海 延安西路726号华敏翰尊国际广场5/12/13/14楼 电话：(86)21-52370950 邮箱：info@huiyelaw.com 网址：www.huiyelaw.com 联系我们:
legalbusinessonline.comRkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA0NzE4Mw==