Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

Jun He Law Offices is known for its top capital markets and banking practice, and is seen as a leader among domestic firms. As one partner at a rival firm put it: “Jun He has to be included in any list of top mainland capital markets firms.”

Jun He is often the domestic firm of choice for Chinese companies looking to list in Hong Kong, Singapore or on the major US exchanges, and the firm often partners with top international counterparts in making foreign issuances a reality. The firm is also well known in the project finance sector because of its close relationships with top PRC banks that are looking to invest in domestic or Asia-wide projects.

One of Jun He’s most high profile capital markets deals this year was advising Hutchison Port Holdings Trust as PRC counsel on its Singapore Stock Exchange IPO. The multijurisdictional deal required partners to work across Jun He’s Beijing, Dalian, Shanghai and Shenzhen offices, and was Singapore’s largest ever IPO when it closed in March 2011. Jun He represented 12 underwriters on the deal led by DBS, Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs.

Wei Xiao, Adam Li, Chunyang Shao and Jianxiang Ding are all well regarded by clients and peers.

Jun He Law Offices has a strong reputation for advising large international corporations and private equity houses on headline M&A deals. One peer at a rival firm says: “Jun He is undoubtedly a first-tier firm”.

Over the last year, Jun He’s M&A team has represented Silver Lake as acquirer of 62% of the shares of Allyes Online Media that were held by Nasdaq-listed Focus Media. Cayman Islands-incorporated Allyes Online Media is a top online advertisement company in China with 17 subsidiaries. The Silver Lake Deal could indicate an increased tendency for private equity investors to acquire Chinese companies with solid red-chip structures. Partner Wei Yingling led Jun He’s team on the US$180 million deal, which was also one of China’s largest inbound private equity investments in 2010.

Jun He Law Offices’ strong relationships with top banks means that the firm is often involved in financing for major construction and development projects in mainland China.

The firm also acts as adviser in specialised real estate sector negotiations and bids. It recently advised a consortium comprised of Poyry Energy GmbH and Beijing General Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute in their successful bid to provide consultancy services for the Project & Construction Agency of the Beijing Municipal Commission of City Administration and Environment (BMCCAE). Partners Yuan Jianan and Wang Jiangang represented the client consortium through the bidding process, drafted and amended key documents, and managed the negotiation and signing of contracts. The Rmb775 million (US$121.2 million) deal was particularly complex because it involved multiple parties vying for the consultancy contract and policy changes and shifting contract requirements during the bidding process.

Jun He’s dispute resolution team is experienced on both litigation and arbitration. On the former, the partners have a wealth of experience developing successful strategies for clients in PRC courts at all levels.

Jun He also routinely advises clients in the world’s international arbitration centres, serving as counsel or in the role of legal experts. The firm’s dispute resolution team includes former judges and qualified arbitration practitioners. Jun He has also developed particular experience handling complex commercial disputes.

Leading dispute resolution lawyers at Jun He include Yuexin Pan, Jun Gong and Weining Zou, as well as real estate practitioner Honghuan Liu and capital markets expert Chuangyu Fu.

Jun He regularly advises on project financings for major infrastructure deals. Jun He’s leading M&A and capital markets practices allow the firm to develop key relationships with top development corporations and domestic and international financial entities that are interested in project. “Jun He is known as a top law firm in China,” says one partner at a rival firm. “It is a full service law firm that does well in every area.”

The team has experience advising on an array of energy projects within China, including wind, solar, hydropower as well as more traditional energy sources. Jun He also has a long history of advising on mining and oil and gas projects. Banking and finance partner David Liu is well known for his work on energy deals.

Jun He represents clients on a variety of tax related matters, from investment tax structuring to domestic Chinese law matters. The firm’s tax team supports the firm’s multinational clients with their inbound mergers, joint ventures and acquisitions.

Jun He’s team helps companies build tax structures for their investments in China, and restructures current operations to ensure better efficiency with tax matters. The firm also advises on the Chinese law element of bilateral tax treaties in relation to cross border work. And it has the capacity to represent clients in Customs and other state investigations.