ESTABLISHED IN 1949
Managing Partner: Steven Sieker
Number of partners: 70+ (Mainland China/ Hong Kong) / 1,500+ (Global)
Number of associates: 290+ (Mainland China/ Hong Kong) / 4,700+ (Global)
Firm Overview
Baker McKenzie defined the global law firm in the 20th century, and we are redefining it to meet the challenges of the global economy in the 21st. We bring to matters the instinctively global perspective and deep market knowledge and insights of more than 13,000 people in 78 offices worldwide.
Baker McKenzie’s China offices have been assisting foreign and domestic companies succeed in Hong Kong, mainland China and globally for over 40 years. The firm is one of the leading and the largest international law firms in Hong Kong and mainland China, providing dedicated legal services to multi-national companies and domestic corporations doing business in China, as well as to Chinese state-owned enterprises and regional corporations doing business in the region and internationally.
With our diverse capabilities and experience, we serve clients across all major industry sectors. We are regularly involved in high-profile and first-to-market transactions with blue-chip multinationals and financial institutions, and regularly co-ordinate significant cross-border assignments emanating from Hong Kong and mainland China for market leading companies.
In April 2015, Baker McKenzie became the first international law firm that has been granted a Joint Operation (JO) licence in the China (Shanghai) Free Trade Zone with a local law firm – FenXun Partners. The JO is a historic step in providing clients with a joint global and local PRC law capacity from one single and uniquely aligned platform.
Awards
- World No. 1 Law Firm Brand in Acritas’ Sharplegal® Global Elite Brand Index, 2009-2019
- Ranked No. 1 in Acritas’ Sharplegal Asia Pacific Law Firm Brand Index, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015 & 2014
- Ranked No. 1 frim in the world by number of cross-border deals for the eighth year in a row, Thomson Reuters, 2017
- Best Overall International Law Firm for China Work – China Business Law Journal, China Business Law Awards 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014 & 2013
- Most Responsive International Firm of the Year (China) − Asian-MENA Counsel Representing Corporate Asia & Middle East Survey 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
Key Practice Areas
Antitrust and competition; Banking and finance; Capital markets; Dispute resolution; Employment; Energy, mining and infrastructure; Environment and climate change; Intellectual property; IT and communications; Mergers and acquisitions; Pharmaceuticals and healthcare; Private equity; Real estate; Regulatory and compliance; Tax; Trade and commerce; Wealth management.
Independent intelligence on this law firm
The following information is sourced directly from China Business Law Journal and/or Law.asia and is not part of the directory listing provided by the law firm.
Testimonials
“The [Baker McKenzie FenXun] team helps with our IP work with a one-stop service in China, from strategizing and maintaining the IP portfolio to enforcing IP rights against counterfeiters,” says Ying Yihong, director and corporate counsel of intellectual property at Starbucks Coffee Company. “[The firm] assists taking down online infringers by different means and IP rights to support the offline operation, of which the result is well received by the business.”
China Business Law Awards 2020
Dominique Amans, director of business development at GSK is “extremely pleased” with the services of Baker McKenzie FenXun. “I have worked with them twice in the past three years, in the context of the divestment of two legal entities including the sale of manufacturing sites to Chinese pharmaceutical companies,” says Amans. “The work delivered was to the highest possible standard, consistently.”
China Business Law Awards 2020
Baker McKenzie FenXun “can combine international practices with the realities of Chinese companies, provide efficient and professional services for Chinese enterprises and improve their corporate compliance in a short period of time,” says Duan Mingren, a legal counsel from the managing director’s office at China Merchants Industrial Holding.
China Business Law Awards 2020
With respect to intellectual property, a corporate counsel at a coffee company says the Baker McKenzie FenXun team helped with its IP work with a one-stop service in China. “Among all its impressive work, the team has delivered favourable decisions battling bad-faith trademark squatters in front of the Supreme Court in China, and has sent several blatant counterfeiters to jail with its enforcement efforts,” says the client.
China Business Law Awards 2019
In the area of real estate & REIT, a client at an investment firm says they are happy with the services and expertise provided by the Baker McKenzie FenXun team. “The team can provide us with new ideas, good solutions and at the same time they worked efficiently on all our deals,” says the client. “They are also very experienced negotiators.”
China Business Law Awards 2019
Baker McKenzie FenXun’s employment law team is considered as “responsive and provides tailored, commercial advice”. An employment counsel at an online social media company recommended Jonathan Isaacs and Joseph Yue: “Both assisted recently on a complex matter and their turnaround time, attention to detail and general level of support was outstanding.”
China Business Law Awards 2019
A client recommended Bee Chun Boo, at Baker McKenzie FenXun, for her rich experience in the energy and natural resources sector. “She has profound legal expertise and excellent negotiation skills, which help us a lot in those projects,” says the client. “[And] she can organize lawyers and experts from different countries and regions to accomplish difficult tasks efficiently.”
China Business Law Awards 2019
“The Baker McKenzie FenXun team helped us to manage a challenging topic for our business and did it in a very professional and supportive manner, making it easy for us to understand the requirements in China and to meet them while still achieving our objectives,” says a client from New Zealand.
China Business Law Awards 2017
Notable Deals
Recognised by China Business Law Journal as Deals of the Year
| Project | Year | Money | Section | Category |
| Air China’s secured notes | 2014 | USD385 million | Debt capital market | Debt capital market |
| CSR and CNR’s merger | 2015 | USD26 billion | Deals in China | M&A |
| Medtronic’s acquisition of China Kanghui | 2013 | USD816 million | Deals in China | M&A |
| New Century REIT’s Hong Kong IPO | 2013 | USD87 million | Overseas Deals | Equity capital market |
| New United in US section 337 investigation | 2014 | N/A | Intellectual property | Intellectual property |
| Sohu’s sale of a 36.5% interest in Sogou to Tencent | 2013 | USD448 million | Deals in China | M&A |
| Standard Chartered and Hang Seng’s two-tranche financing | 2014 | USD558 million | Banking & finance | Banking & finance |
| Stryker’s acquisition of Trauson | 2013 | USD760 million | Deals in China | M&A |
| TutorGroup’s subscription of Series B preferred equity | 2014 | USD80 million | Private equity & venture capital | Private equity & venture capital |
| Yue Xiu Enterprises’ takeover of Chong Hing Bank | 2014 | USD1.5 billion | Overseas Deals | M&A |
| Yue Xiu Group’s acquisition of HK-listed Chong Hing Bank | 2013 | USD1.5 billion | Overseas Deals | M&A |
| Yanzhou Coal Mining’s notes issuance | 2012 | USD1 billion | Capital market | debt |
| iPad case | 2012 | USD60 million | Intellectual Property | Intellectual Property |
| Sale of Motorola’s networks business to Nokia Siemens Networks | 2011 | USD975 million | Deals in China | M&A |
| Acquisition of stake in Brazilian niobium company | 2011 | USD1.95 billion | Overseas Deals | M&A |
| Hui Xian REIT IPO (Hong Kong) | 2011 | RMB10.5 billion | Overseas Deals | IPO |
| Acquisition and delisting of Tongjitang | 2011 | USD150 million | Take private | Take private |
| Air China aircraft financing | 2011 | USD270 million | Banking & Finance | Banking & Finance |
| Goldman Sachs buys AXA’s stake in Taikang Life | 2011 | USD940 million | Private Equity & Venture Capital | Private Equity & Venture Capital |
| Trademark infringement lawsuit for Nokia | 2011 | RMB120,000 | Intellectual Property | Intellectual Property |
| Bank of Communications rights issue | 2010 | RMB32.8 billion | Overseas Deals | Capital markets;listings |
| CNOOC buys stake in Bridas | 2010 | USD3.1 billion | Overseas Deals | M&A |
| China Eastern Airlines-Shanghai Airlines merger | 2010 | RMB9 billion | Deals in China | M&A |
| Shanghai Disneyland | 2010 | USD3.5 billion | Inbound M&A and FDI deals | Inbound M&A and FDI deals |
| Tidetime Sun’s purchase of Xinjiang coal mines | 2010 | HKD7.8 billion | Inbound M&A and FDI deals | Inbound M&A and FDI deals |
| First A-listed companies make Swiss GDR offering | 2022 | N/A | Capital Markets | Swiss listing; GDR |
| Wise Road’s acquisition of ASE Technology | 2022 | USD1.46 billion | Cross-border | M&A; semiconductors |
| Hengxing Gold privatisation | 2021 | N/A | Capital Markets | Privatisation |
| ICBC Aviation Leasing’s restructuring | 2021 | N/A | Cross-border | Asset restructuring; Aviation |
| JAC-VW’s strategic co-operation | 2021 | EUR1 billion | Cross-border | Restructuring; automotive |
| SF REIT’s Hong Kong listing | 2021 | USD335 million | Capital Markets | REIT; Hong Kong listing |
| China Merchants Commercial REIT’s HK listing | 2020 | HKD2.56 billion | Overseas Deals | REIT |
| China Yangtze Power acquires major Peru asset | 2020 | USD3.59 billion | Overseas Deals | Acquisition; energy |
| Consortium invests in Turkey road projects | 2020 | USD688 million | Belt & Road | Overseas acquisition; construction and infrastructure |
| Indonesian high-speed rail tunnel project launched | 2020 | USD5.5 billion | Overseas Deals | Infrastructure; financing |
| Pernod-Ricard sues over counterfeit spirit sales | 2020 | RMB15 million | Disputes & Investigations | Counterfeit |
| Starbucks files criminal action against counterfeiters | 2020 | RMB10 million | Disputes & Investigations | Trademark infringement |
| China Yangtze Power acquires Luz Del Sur | 2019 | USD3.59 billion | Overseas Deals | M&A; energy |
| Eddingpharm Group acquires Eli Lilly China rights | 2019 | USD375 million | Deals in China | Acquisition; pharmaceutical |
| JuneYao and CEAH’s stake, co-operation | 2019 | RMB13 billion | Deals in China | Equity swap; aviation industry |
| ARA Asset Management’s acquisition of Century Link in Shanghai | 2017 | RMB20 billion | Deals in China | Real estate; M&A |
| Colombo Port City Project in Sri Lanka | 2017 | USD800 million | Overseas Deals | Infrastructure; Belt and Road |
| CRRC issues H-share convertible bonds | 2016 | N/A | Overseas Deals | Convertible bonds; high-end manufacturing |
| Nanjing Cenbest acquires Dendreon Pharmaceuticals | 2018 | USD819 million | Overseas Deals | Overseas M&A; Pharmaceuticals |
| Shanghai Disneyland project | 2016 | RMB34 billion | Deals in China | Joint venture; project financing;nrecreation industry |
| Shanghai Electric Group invests in Manz | 2017 | N/A | Overseas Deals | Overseas investment; Technology transaction |
| Top Spring issues convertible bonds | 2016 | N/A | Overseas Deals | Convertible bonds |
Contact us
Beijing
Suite 3401
China World Office 2
China World Trade Center 1
Jianguomen Outer Street
Beijing 100004, China
Tel: +86 10 6535 3800
Fax: +86 10 6505 2309
Contact: Stanley Jia (Chief Representative)
Shanghai
Suite 1601
Jin Mao Tower 88
Century Avenue Pudong New Area
Shanghai 200121, China
Tel: +86 21 6105 8558
Fax: +86 21 5047 0020
Contact: Howard Wu (Chief Representative)
Hong Kong
14/F
One Taikoo Place 979 King’s Road
Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2846 1888
Fax: +852 2845 0476
78 offices in 46 countries worldwide
Website
www.bakermckenzie.com
