Global China Competition/Antitrust (International Firms)

Allen & Overy is an outstanding firm with an excellent 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 on 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, particularly in relation to monopoly agreements. The team works seamlessly with local affiliate firm Shanghai Lang Yue Law Office to provide PRC law support to multinational clients.

Clifford Chance is exceptionally well regarded for compliance and antitrust work, and is noted for its skill in merger control and investigatory matters. The team handles both inbound and outbound transactions for Chinese and multinational clients, and is particularly adept at advising clients from the pharmaceutical, retail and industrial sectors. It is acknowledged for its strong foothold in the Chinese market and in dealing with the competition aspects of multi-jurisdictional deals, as well as cases brought under the Competition Ordinance at the Hong Kong Competition Tribunal. The team is also well placed to analyse an array of production chains and assess the horizontal and conglomerate elements. Its key clients include CVC, TotalEnergies and Hitachi Rail.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a highly respected practice noted for its depth of 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 the automotive, healthcare, TMT and energy and natural resources industries, such as CK Hutchinson, Volkswagen and ENEOS. The practice is well placed to advise on merger control filings in multiple jurisdictions arising from large-scale 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 devices 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. Microsoft, Intel and Linde are examples of its clients.

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. Its key clients include Archer Daniels Midland, Aztiq and EQT.

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

Jones Day has a strong competition practice advising on multinational merger filings, with support from its first-class offices in the USA and a notable team in Brussels. The law firm assists on a range of competition mandates, including litigation, investigations and compliance. Clients benefit from the insights provided by former MOFCOM and NDRC officials in the team. It attracts clients from a broad variety of industries, particularly those in the aviation, technology and agriculture sectors. The team is also able to assist clients with abuse of alleged dominant market position cases and antitrust investigations before foreign regulators such as the US DOJ. It counts Valmet Oyj, China Eastern Airlines and PTT Global Chemical among its key clients.

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. The firm counts Booking.com, S.F. Holding and JCDecaux among its key clients.

Norton Rose Fulbright is a robust group which 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, energy and agriculture 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. Hutchinson Property Group, Stanmore and BP are examples of the firm's key clients.

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 has an international client roster which includes corporations such as Activision Blizzard, Intel and SK Hynix. The firm is frequently sought out to support clients in complex transactions involving potential horizontal overlaps and vertical relationships.

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 demonstrates particular activity advising clients in the telecommunications, financial services and logistics industries, and is also able to advise on regulatory compliance matters.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher fields a compact team handling competition and 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 mandates involving jurisdictions such as Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines. It counts Uber, KKR and Lone Star among its key clients.