In 2018, Linklaters and Zhao Sheng Law Firm formed a Shanghai Free Trade Zone joint operation.

Linklaters Zhao Sheng brings together Linklaters’ long-standing international experience advising clients on their most significant and complex transactions and Zhao Sheng’s high quality Chinese law capabilities, to deliver seamless client service.

Zhao Sheng has many years of experience advising clients on their most important China matters, providing Chinese law capability across a range of commercial legal practices and sectors. The team are specialists in cross-border transactions and possess a deep understanding of Chinese laws and regulations relating to inbound and outbound M&A, FDI transactions and finance. They have close working relationships with the key commercial regulators in mainland China and have deep insight into the development of the Chinese regulatory regime.

In May 2019, Zhao Sheng received official approval, from the Beijing Bureau of Justice, to establish a branch in Beijing. This new branch enables Zhao Sheng to offer a full range of Chinese law services from Beijing to meet the demands of the firm’s strong client base in China’s capital and further demonstrates their long-term commitment to the China market.

Recent significant transactions of the joint operation include advising:

  • China Merchants Group as sole legal advisor on the Liaoning Port integration project, providing the client with a full range of Chinese and Hong Kong legal advice.
  • UBS to become the 51% shareholder of the first foreign-controlled securities company approved by the China Securities Regulatory Commission.  
  • China COSCO Shipping Corporate Limited on its acquisition of 10% shares in Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank