China

We have been in China for more than three decades. We use our know-how, experience, and full-service capability to get the best possible results for clients.

Our view has always been that if you want to succeed in China then you have to know China well. We've had a Hong Kong office since 1980 and we were the first international law firm to open an office in Beijing in 1985, followed by our Shanghai office in 1993. We have since built a full-service capability - our team includes lawyers in corporate/M&A, capital markets, banking and finance, real estate, employment, intellectual property, competition/antitrust, anti-corruption, dispute resolution and financial regulatory. We find that international and Chinese clients value this on the ground commitment because it delivers results. They can see that our in-China capability is built on the solid know-how that comes from more than three decades of experience.

We work with international and Chinese clients

Chinese clients know that we understand their business culture and that our international network gives them the reach and depth to make the most of international opportunities, whether it's an investment in a new energy project, expanding into a new market, or raising capital in foreign markets.

Greater China and beyond – China Desks

All three of our Greater China offices (Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai) often work together on inbound and outbound deals, and our Hong Kong office has a dedicated mainland China team.

We have also established the China Desks, a cross-practice network of over 60 lawyers with mainland China experience within the firm, to make sure that Chinese clients get the full benefit of our global network. These China Desk lawyers give clients a first point of contact in their own jurisdictions. We have desks in Africa, the Americas, the Asia Pacific region, Europe and the Middle East.

Recent highlights

Directory and client comments

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2024

Band 1 in Aviation: Finance (International Firms)
Band 1 in Banking & Finance (International Firms)
Band 1 in Banking & Finance: Leveraged & Acquisition Finance (International Firms)
Band 1 in Capital Markets: Equity (International Firms)
Band 1 in Corporate/M&A: The Elite (International Firms)
Band 1 in FinTech Legal (International Firms)
Band 1 in Investment Funds: Hedge funds (International Firms)
Band 1 in Projects & Infrastructure (International Firms)
Band 1 in Restructuring/ Insolvency (International Firms)

Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024, China

Tier 1 in Antitrust and Competition: Foreign Firms
Tier 1 in Banking and finance: Foreign Firms
Tier 1 in Corporate and M&A: Foreign Firms
Tier 1 in Fintech: foreign firms
Tier 1 in Investment Funds: Foregin Firms
Tier 1 in Private Equity: Foreign Firms

IFLR 1000 Asia Pacific, 33rd edition (2022/2023), China

Tier 1 in Banking: Foreign Firms
Tier 1 in Capital markets: Foreign Firms
Tier 1 in Project Development: Foreign Firms
Tier 1 in Private Equity: Foreign Firms
Tier 1 in Project Finance: Foreign Firms
Tier 1 in M&A: Foreign Firms

Client comments

"Their team has particular strength in handling complex and sophisticated matters, especially for innovative structures."
"They are very responsive and can provide speedy feedback to clients."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2024 – Aviation: Finance (International Firms)

"They will go the extra mile to find solutions. In the process, they exhibit lateral thinking and are commercially minded but also very reasonable."
"Clifford Chance is a first-class law firm. They are very client-friendly, very responsive when time is of the essence."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2024 - Banking & Finance (International Firms)

"We have established a positive and collaborative working relationship with the team and they have consistently provided sound advice as needed. Clifford Chance's constructive suggestions have been helpful in navigating complex legal matters related to bond issuance."
"Their level of service has been exceptional, with the team members displaying a deep understanding of the business and industry. They have been proactive in anticipating our needs and providing timely guidance and advice. Their attention to detail and thoroughness have instilled confidence."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2024 – Capital Markets: Equity (International Firms)

"The team have rich experience, can predict possible problems in the transaction and respond to our needs in a timely and accurate manner."
"They have very good knowledge about the law and the enforcement reality of the law."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2024 – Competition/ Antitrust (International Firms)

"The team have impressive expertise in the Hong Kong takeovers code, are very responsive and have strong execution capabilities."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2024 – Corporate/M&A: The Elite (International Firms)

"They have a great team with wide depth and breadth to handle almost every kind of matter. They always respond on time with detail-oriented replies."
"They're enormously experienced."
"Commercial awareness is a necessary and important component of our work, and that's part of the reason we choose Clifford Chance."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2024 – Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)

"The whole team, ranging from trainee, junior associate, senior associate to partner, are very knowledgeable and very familiar with the case. They are client-oriented, commercial and quick to respond."
"The team has the ability to work through complex issues and distil them into succinct recommendations in the context of litigation strategy."

Chamber & Partners, Greater China Region 2024 – Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)

"Clifford Chance is plugged into the nuances stemming from proposed and existing PRC regulations, which is a key issue in dealing with the complexities of transactional and regulatory issues in the region."
"They are really nice people to work with. They are always open to ideas and suggestions."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2024 – Financial Services (International Firms)

"Clifford Chance is a serious contender in the funds space, including in setting up GP-led, continuation and secondaries funds."
"There are a number of senior lawyers that we work with across the funds and regulatory advisory practices, and we find their experience both deep and broad."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2024 – Investment Funds: Hedge Funds (International Firms)

"Clifford Chance has a very strong ability to handle complex matters. They also have a big working team which can cover different regions."
"They do good paperwork and respond promptly, and they also have good language capabilities."

Chambers & Partner, Greater China Region 2024 – Projects & Infrastructure (International Firms)

"Clifford Chance is very experienced and capable of problem-solving and process management."
"Clifford Chance is a full-service international firm with a solid team that is also able to pull resources for all areas of relevance - finance, capital markets, litigation as they become necessary in complex distressed situations."
"Clifford Chance was fantastic. It was responsive, and had handled a complicated deal timely."

Chambers & Partner, Greater China Region 2024 – Restructuring/Insolvency (International Firms)

Awards

Our China practice frequently wins industry awards from various independent legal publications for its extensive experience and ever-growing prominence.

As an acknowledgement of our market-leading position in China, we have been awarded:

Antitrust and Competition: Foreign Firms Firm of the Year
Legal 500 China Awards 2024
Fintech: Foreign Firms Firm of the Year
Legal 500 China Awards 2024
International Firm of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024
China Practice of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024
M&A Team of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024
Securitisation and Structured Finance Team of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024
Specialist Award: Financial Services Regulatory – International
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024
International Law Firm of the Year
Asian Legal Business China Law Awards 2024
International Private Equity Law Firm of the Year
Asian Legal Business China Law Awards 2024
International Regulatory Compliance Law Firm of the Year
Asian Legal Business China Law Awards 2024
Asia Pacifc Law Firm of the Year
Chambers Asia Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2023
China (International Firms) Corporate & Finance Firm of the Year
Chambers Asia Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2023
International Law Firm of the Year
China Law and Practice Awards 2022, 2023
Competition International Firm of the Year
China Law and Practice Awards 2022, 2023
Debt And Equity-Linked Capital Markets Team of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2023
Specialist Award: Financial Services Regulatory – International
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2023
Capital Markets Firm of the Year
China Law and Practice Awards 2023