Competition/Antitrust (International Firms) | Greater China Region

Freshfields has a highly respected practice noted for the depth of its experience in international competition and antitrust work. The firm offers considerable capabilities in both Hong Kong and Mainland China, and is recognised for its ability in compliance and enforcement advice and active in investigations, where it regularly interacts with Chinese regulators. Its client roster includes multinational companies from various sectors including automotive, aviation, healthcare, TMT, and energy and natural resources. The practice is well placed to advise on merger control filings in multiple jurisdictions arising from large acquisitions.

Linklaters houses an exceptional team headed by strong practitioners based in Beijing and Hong Kong. The team demonstrates a high level of expertise across the full range of competition issues, including merger control, behavioural issues and enforcement. It is frequently sought after for advice by international companies from the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. The firm is an excellent choice for multi-jurisdictional merger filings, able to leverage the strength of its offices in key European markets, and also acts as adviser to the SAMR and assists the regulator with drafting new legislation. The practice is well placed to represent clients in a wide range of antitrust litigation in relation to cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, and its offering is bolstered by the capabilities of its PRC-qualified partner firm Zhao Sheng Law Firm.

Baker McKenzie possesses a robust competition practice demonstrating skill in compliance and audits, as well as experience in merger control, investigations and disputes concerning anti-monopoly, bid rigging and FRAND licensing. The firm fields a talented team of lawyers with international and local experience based across Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The group's operation is boosted by its joint operation with FenXun (FTZ), and also benefits from the firm's exceptional global reach and notable offices in London and Brussels. The team regularly receives mandates to provide risk assessment reports for large companies from a variety of sectors.

Clifford Chance is well regarded for the breadth of its antitrust work, including merger control, investigations and compliance matters. The team handles both inbound and outbound transactions for Chinese and multinational clients, and is adept at advising clients from the pharmaceutical, retail and steel manufacturing sectors. It is acknowledged for its strong foothold in the Chinese market, with offices in Beijing and Hong Kong, and in dealing with the competition aspects of multi-jurisdictional deals. The team is also well placed to analyse an array of production chains and assess the horizontal and conglomerate elements.

Hogan Lovells' antitrust team, with experts based in Beijing and Hong Kong, handles merger control mandates and investigations. It works closely with the firm's extensive global network, with notable strength across Europe and Asia. The team is particularly well versed in merger matters relating to the chemicals, consumer goods and automotive sectors, attracting an impressive range of local and international clients from these industries.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom fields a compact competition team providing support to the firm's highly successful global M&A practice from Beijing and Hong Kong. The team advises a wide range of US and multinational corporations on merger control issues, drawing on impressive support from its heavyweight teams in New York, Washington and Brussels. The firm is frequently sought out to support clients in complex transactions involving potential horizontal overlaps and vertical relationships.

Slaughter and May fields a talented international team with on-the-ground specialists in Hong Kong as well as Mainland China. The team is highly active advising on the Chinese merger clearance aspects of global transactions, and also frequently advises on compliance with Hong Kong competition regulation, as well as on investigations in Greater China. It also assists corporations with complaints made to the SAMR, and demonstrates particular expertise advising on parity clauses and non-compete agreements. 

A&O Shearman combines the multi-jurisdictional expertise of two major firms with a solid reputation for advising major international and Chinese clients on the full range of competition matters, including merger filings, investigations, abuse of dominance and compliance work. The firm advises on Mainland China and Hong Kong competition matters as well as international work, including representing Chinese companies in outbound antitrust issues. It is well equipped to handle the multi-jurisdictional merger control aspects of cross-border transactions, as well as global antitrust enforcement precedents.. The team works seamlessly with local affiliate firm Shanghai Lang Yue Law Office to provide PRC law support to multinational clients.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher fields a compact team that handles antitrust investigations, litigation and compliance mandates. The firm has particular strength in the TMT and automotive sectors, in which it advises numerous major multinational clients. The team is well equipped to handle multi-jurisdictional merger appeals, particularly pan-Asian competition law mandates involving jurisdictions such as Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Herbert Smith Freehills is recognised for its broad expertise, advising on the full range of competition law issues and fielding a pan-Asia practice. The team advises major international and local clients on merger compliance, abuse of dominant position investigations and related litigation from its bases in Hong Kong and the PRC. Clients that require its counselling are frequently associated with the TMT, energy and natural resources, and financial sectors. The team is well equipped to assist clients with implementing their antitrust compliance training programmes and conducting internal restructuring in ensuring compliance with local competition regulations in a multitude of jurisdictions.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a robust group that is recognised for its pan-Asian capabilities. The team is active on merger clearance aspects of M&A transactions and offers additional expertise in compliance matters, cartel investigations and litigation. It serves clients in the aviation, automotive and energy industries, and is also able to assist Asian clients with EU competition law matters. The practice has notable experience advising external market players on entry into the China renewable energy market.

Eversheds Sutherland has a notable competition law offering, with significant experience advising regulatory authorities in Hong Kong, as well as representing private enterprises in complex litigation and merger controls. The team is notably active advising clients in the telecommunications, financial services and aviation industries, and is also able to advise on regulatory compliance matters.