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 2023

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 Competition/Antitrust (International Firms)
Band 1 in Corporate/M&A: The Elite (International Firms)
Band 1 in Financial Services (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

"Clifford Chance is very responsive and able to work to tight timeframes. They are very familiar with a wide range of issues that present themselves."
"There were numerous complex structuring issues and the team at Clifford Chance handled them well. They were responsive, attentive and proactive."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2023 – Aviation: Finance (International Firms)

"Clifford Chance have very strong capability in handling complex matters. The team shows good communication skills in understanding our business logic throughout negotiations."
"The team is detailed oriented and able to provide constructive ideas on complex structures."
"The CC team supported me well, managing the communication and negotiation with all the key stakeholders."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2023 - Banking & Finance (International Firms)

"Clifford Chance are very responsive and extremely efficient. They worked round the clock without any delay throughout our debt issuance process. They do not shy away from any tight schedule and technical issues and always provide their thinking hats to solve the issues in a sensible way."
"The team are very responsive and always available to answer questions and provide guidance. They are also very practical and very commercial."
"The team's commercial awareness was extraordinary. It consisted of partners, senior associates and associates who are qualified in various jurisdictions, with expertise in capital markets legal matters."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2023 – Capital Markets: Equity (International Firms)

"They are quite articulate and quite good, with very good experience and a very good work product."
"The team is very professional and dedicated, responds rapidly and fully understands our needs."
"Clifford Chance has good knowledge of the industry our company is in and knows about business models and, as a result, risks are exposed. The firm is well equipped with a team that can offer a holistic assessment, not only from an antitrust perspective but on complex matters and sometimes with another jurisdiction's information as an add-on."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2023 – Competition/ Antitrust (International Firms)

"Clifford Chance has an experienced team with a deep understanding of customer needs that spends time with clients to discuss solutions to their goals."
"They are quick to understand the commercials of the matter and that understanding helps the handling of the transaction."
"They always provide a high standard of service."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2023 – Corporate/M&A: The Elite (International Firms)

"The Clifford Chance team have demonstrated strong legal strengths throughout the entire arbitration case, clarified multiple complex issues, and helped clients gain key information in the process. They are an international team that is very much in line with the best interests of Chinese clients."
"They are very well positioned to offer a commercial view and consider the different angles. They are always available to respond to an email or call, which provides great comfort."
"The team is quite diversified, with solid experience. They are up to date with the market situation and responsive for urgent issues."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2023 – Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)

"The team not only considered the cases from the Hong Kong side, but also took into account situations from the mainland side and provided very valuable advice to us. They always considered the commercial angle and gave us feasible advice based on their experiences."
"Our matter involved multiple protracted proceedings with complex issues; in handling these, a proper and practical strategy was of paramount importance in terms of results and costs. The team was able to deliver both. It is a strong team which is very dedicated and hands-on, with good-quality advice and strategy."
"Clifford Chance offers a large multidisciplinary practice with experts in almost every field; they are very service-oriented and responsive."

Chamber & Partners, Greater China Region 2023 – Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)

"Their deep knowledge in the financial business was very helpful to handle the case, which was specific to the industry. The advice was very clear and easy to understand."
"My experience working with the team has been an exceptionally pleasant one. The team is always responsive and attentive to our needs, with regular follow-ups on the matters."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2023 – Financial Services (International Firms)

"The team is able to provide sound solutions to practical problems."
"The team is commercial, practical, responsive and friendly."

Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2023 – Investment Funds: Hedge Funds (International Firms)

"Their team is first-class."
"Their performance is consistently well above standard, definitely value for money!"

Chambers & Partner, Greater China Region 2023 – Projects & Infrastructure (International Firms)

"Commercial, practical, responsive and friendly; we can count on Clifford Chance to provide sound advice and guidance."
"They are efficient and very responsive, with clear analysis provided."

Chambers & Partner, Greater China Region 2023 – 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:

International Law Firm of the Year
Asian Legal Business China Law Awards 2023
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
Capital Markets Firm of the Year
China Law and Practice Awards 2023
M&A International Firm of the Year
China Law and Practice Awards 2022
TMT International Firm of the Year
China Law and Practice Awards 2022
International Firm of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2022