Clifford Chance
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
- Clifford Chance advises China Three Gorges Spain on its acquisition of a 619MW renewables portfolio in Spain from Nexwell Power
- Clifford Chance advises China Huarong Asset Management on its RMB42 billion recapitalisation
- Clifford Chance advises EQT Private Equity on sale of majority stake in CFB Group
- Clifford Chance advises on three pioneer Swiss GDR listings as lead counsel under the expanded China-Europe Stock Connect scheme
- Clifford Chance advises on Zhihu's landmark Hong Kong IPO and Dual Primary Listing
- Clifford Chance advises on Tianqi Lithium's US$2 billion IPO and Hong Kong Listing
- Clifford Chance advises on CALB's US$1.3 billion Hong Kong IPO and Listing
- Clifford Chance advises ICBC’s SINO-CEEF on establishment of SINO-CEE Fund II in Luxembourg
- Clifford Chance advises Export-Import Bank of China on China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund II
Directory and client comments
Chambers & Partners, Greater China Region 2025
- 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 Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
- Band 1 in Dispute Resolution: Litigation (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, 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 Dispute Resolution, Arbitration: Foreign Firms
- Tier 1 in Dispute Resolution, Litigation: 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, 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
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
