Yao Yuexi

Introduction

Yao Yuexi, managing partner of Hylands Law Firm’s Shanghai Office, and leading partner of the International Investment & M&A Committee of Hylands Law Firm, graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University with a Bachelor’s degree in Law and a Master’s degree in International Law. Yao is admitted to practise law in the People’s Republic of China and the US (New York state). Yao’s areas of expertise encompass cross-border M&A, general corporate matters, private equity and investment funds, and asset management. She previously served for many years with the China office of a premier US international law firm and leading Chinese law firms, demonstrating both exceptional professional expertise and comprehensive law firm management experience.

Yao is the 2025 “Shanghai Oriental Talents Programme – Distinguished Project” laureate and a “Dingxin Legal Pioneer”, named by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice. She is repeatedly “Highly Recommended” by IFLR1000 China for M&A and Private Equity, listed in Chambers Asia-Pacific for Greater China Corporate/Commercial; Chambers for Global Corporate/M&A; and The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific for Corporate/M&A. Individual accolades include 2025 & 2023 LEGALBAND Client Choice: Top 15 M&A Lawyers; China Business Law Journal’s A-List 2024-25: Growth Drivers; and 2024 LEGALBAND Special Recommendation: Top 15 Chinese Lawyers for Corporate Outbound Investment.

Yao also serves as a member of the Overseas Chinese, Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the 7th Standing Committee of Pudong New Area People’s Congress; Deputy Chair of the International Investment & Belt and Road Professional Committee of the 12th Shanghai Bar Association; Panel Foreign-Related Lawyer of Shanghai; member of the 12th Shanghai Bar Association Foreign Affairs Committee; member of the 12th Pudong Lawyers’ Work Committee; arbitrator at the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (SHIAC); adjunct master’s supervisor and Vice President of the Alumni Association of KoGuan School of Law at Shanghai Jiao Tong University; professional mentor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law; one of the “Top 10 Outstanding Young Lawyers of Pudong” (8th edition); Director of the Pudong Female Lawyers Association; and an independent director qualified by the Shanghai Stock Exchange.