Competition/Antitrust (International Firms) | Greater China Region

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 automotive, aviation, healthcare, TMT and energy and natural resources, such as Hutchison Ports, Volkswagen and Korean Air. 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. Intel, Linde and True are examples of its clients.

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. Its key clients include Abbott, Airbus and China Baowu Steel.

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 has an international client roster which includes corporations such as Activision Blizzard, JX Nippon and Intel. 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. The firm counts INEOS, Richemont and Swire Beverages among its key clients.

A&O Shearman is well placed to advise major international and Chinese clients on merger filings, abuse of dominance investigations 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 firm works with local affiliate Shanghai Lang Yue Law Firm to provide PRC law support to multinational clients. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher fields a compact team handling 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. It counts Uber, VMware and AMCI Group 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 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. Hutchison Property Group, QatarEnergy and BP are examples of the firm's key clients.