Career
Mr. Zhu brings over 17 years of expertise in providing legal services to the aviation and financial industries in China. Before joining Han Kun Law Offices, Mr. Zhu was with the Beijing office of King & Wood Mallesons.
Mr. Zhu has represented Chinese and international lessors, banks, and airlines in a wide range of aviation and aviation finance projects. These include the purchase of new aircraft, acquisition and disposal of used aircraft, operating leases, finance leases, sale-leaseback transactions, leveraged leases, lease renewals, joint leases, ECA financing, PDP financing, bonded area leasing, and other types of aircraft financing. His work spans commercial aircraft, freighters, private jets, simulators, engines, and other aviation equipment.
In shipping finance, Mr. Zhu provides legal services to banks, leasing companies, and shipowners for financing and leasing vessels and maritime equipment. This includes drafting and negotiating ship finance leasing agreements, bareboat charters, ship sale and purchase agreements, and ship mortgage financing.
Mr. Zhu has extensive practical experience assisting Chinese and international investors in establishing and investing in licensed financial institutions in China. He has supported the formation or acquisition of equity stakes in a variety of licensed financial and quasi-financial companies, including banks, consumer finance companies, auto finance companies, financial leasing companies, insurance companies, securities firms, non-banking payment institutions, insurance intermediaries, fund distribution agencies, and commercial factoring companies.
Mr. Zhu is well-versed in China’s foreign debt and cross-border security regulations, with significant experience in lending, bond issuances, petrochemical projects, water supply projects, gas infrastructure projects, and acquisition financing. Notable transactions include representing sponsors in the Fujian Refining and Ethylene Integration Project and Ethylene Expansion Project, advising ADB on financing several domestic water supply and gas infrastructure projects, facilitating Li Auto's issuance of RMB 2 billion Panda bonds on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and assisting Geely Auto in registering and issuing RMB 10 billion Panda bonds in the interbank market.
Mr. Zhu also has substantial expertise in financial institution compliance and economic sanctions. He advises on regulatory policy updates, product structure design, financial compliance audits, drafting and updating operational policies, handling regulatory inspections, preparing or revising standardized documents, and addressing matters related to consumer protection, data compliance, anti-money laundering, and sanctions compliance.
Mr. Zhu excels in understanding clients' businesses, commercial models, industries, and strategic objectives from both internal and external perspectives, enabling him to deliver tailored advisory services and effectively manage complex legal matters.
Awards
Leading Lawyer in Aviation: Finance
Chambers Global, 2019-2024
Leading Lawyer in Aviation: Finance
Chambers Greater China Region, 2022-2024
Leading Partner in Fintech
Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020-2025
Asia Future Leaders
IFLR
2021
Leading Lawyer in Aviation: Finance
Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2019-2021
Rising Star in Aviation
Expert Guides, 2016-2020
Rising star partner in Banking and Project finance
IFLR1000, 2017-2024
Recommended Lawyer in Banking and finance
Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2016-2020, 2022-2025
Recommended Lawyer in Fintech
Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2019, 2021, 2023