For more than 25 years, our China practice has advised multinational corporations and financial institutions on the business opportunities and challenges offered by China’s rapidly evolving markets.
China's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in November 2001 quickened the pace of change in the country’s economic and legal structures, and continues to open more doors for our clients.
In addition to the opportunities offered by the rapid development of mainland China, Hong Kong remains an important business and financial hub for both mainland China and the wider Asian region.
Our people in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong work together closely, offering our clients an integrated mainland China practice and substantial skills and experience in the Hong Kong market.
Our Hong Kong office was established in 1979 and is working on client projects in Hong Kong, mainland China and across Asia.
Our Beijing office first opened in 1985.
Our Shanghai office was established in 1993.
Clifford Chance in: China
- Banking and Finance
- Capital Markets
- Communications, Media and Technology
- Funds and Insurance
- Employment
- Intellectual Property
- Joint ventures and other strategic investments
- Litigation and dispute resolution
- Mergers, Acquisitions and Disposals
- Private Equity
- Projects
- Real Estate
- Taxation
Recent experience in China
- Representing Aluminum Corporation of China ("Chinalco"), China's largest alumina and primary aluminum producer on the acquisition by its wholly owned subsidiary, Shining Prospect Pte Ltd, of c.12% of Rio Tinto plc
- Representing Telefónica Internacional S.A.U., on agreements to acquire from four PRC state-owned entities, an additional 2.22% stake in China Netcom, one of the mainland's leading broadband communications and fixed-line telecoms operators. This is a high-profile deal in the highly regulated China telecoms market worth some US$454 million in total and, when regulatory approvals are complete, will increase Telefónica's stake in China Netcom to approximately 7.22%
- Representing CVC Asia Pacific on its US$225,000,000 acquisition of a 29% interest in tradable A-shares in Zhuhai Zhongfu Enterprise Co., Ltd., which is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and is one of the largest beverage bottling companies in China. This is to date the largest announced investment by a private equity fund in a PRC listed company following recent regulatory reform which allow foreign investors to take strategic stakes in tradable A-shares of a PRC listed company
Advised Citigroup on their bid for a portfolio of non-performing loans from the Bank of China, an approximate value of US$2 billion
Advised Amazon.com on their entry into China, through the acquisition of Joyo.com shares, a BVI company owned and operated through affiliated companies and the largest on-line retailer of books and audio video products in China
Advising Mori Building on the development, construction, hotel arrangements, bank financing and equity financing of the Shanghai World Financial Center project which will be the tallest occupied structure in the world
Advised the Arrangers and Joint Global Coordinators in the HK$20 billion debut global bond offering by the Hong Kong SAR Government
Advised The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd and Citigroup International Ltd in the HK$6,000,000,000 securitisation of the toll revenues generated by Hong Kong SAR Government-owned bridges and tunnels
Advised the lead arrangers Citigroup and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China on the US$2.9 billion Integrated Petrochemical Site financing for Sinopec and BASF in Nanjing, PRC
Advising International Finance Corporation on its acquisition of a 4% stake in China Industrial Bank, simultaneously with a 15.98% investment by Hang Seng Bank and 5% stake by GIC Special Investments
Advised AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc. on its acquisition of the HR management and business intelligence software division of Pacific Software (China) Ltd a Hong Kong based company, from its affiliate, New Century Pacific Software (Beijing) Ltd, a wholly-foreign-owned enterprise
Advised ING Barings in its joint venture with China Merchants in China's first approved foreign-invested fund management company