November 26, 2025 – China Business Law Journal (CBLJ) has released its prestigious "The A-List: Visionary Leaders for China Business 2025-2026" rankings. Recognized for their outstanding professional capabilities and high market recognition, Mr. Christophe Han, Llinks founding partner and chairman of the Management Committee, and Mr. Wayne Chen, Llinks partner and member of the Management Committee, have both been selected for this year's list.
Christophe Han
Mr. Han was one of the founding partners when Llinks was established in 1998, and he currently serves as the executive partner and chairman of the Management Committee.
Mr. Han has held several distinguished roles, including Member of the 7th and 8th Issuance Examination Committees of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), Member of the 1st and 2nd Review Committees for Enterprise Annuity Fund Management Institutions of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and Member of the 1st Listing Advisory Committee of the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Mr. Han has provided legal services for a vast number of investment and M&A transactions involving multinational corporations, foreign-invested enterprises, and major domestic companies, as well as for restructuring and corporate governance projects involving large state-owned enterprises and listed companies.
As legal counsel for issuing companies or international and domestic underwriters, Mr. Han has provided legal services for the domestic and overseas listings of stocks and bonds for over 100 companies. He has also provided comprehensive legal services for numerous listed company acquisitions and asset restructuring projects, covering the entire process from structure design and legal document drafting to negotiation, legal opinion issuance, and closing.
Mr. Han has represented various domestic and foreign financial institutions in the establishment of more than ten Sino-foreign joint venture fund management companies. He has provided legal services for the public offering of over 100 securities investment funds, including China's first open-end fund, the first index fund, and the first quasi-money market fund. He also provides legal services for investment projects in China by various domestic and foreign venture capital and industry investment funds.
Mr. Han is frequently recommended as a leading lawyer in Capital Markets and M&A by renowned legal rating agencies, including Chambers Global, Chambers Asia/Greater China, IFLR1000, asialaw Profiles, and Legalband. Mr. Han was nominated four times by Asian Legal Business (ALB) as one of China's Best Managing Partners (in 2009, 2013, 2014, and 2022). In 2025, he was honored with the GRCD " Managing Partner of the Year" award.
Wayne Chen
Mr. Wayne Chen joined Llinks in 2000 and is currently a member of the firm's Management Committee.
Mr. Chen previously served as a full-time member of the 17th Issuance Examination Committee of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and as a member of the inaugural Science and Technology Innovation Board Listing Committee of the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
In the securities sector, Mr. Chen has successfully provided legal services for a large number of industry-leading enterprises, innovative companies, and financial institutions in projects such as initial public offerings, bond/debt financing instrument issuances, warrant issuances, private placements of stocks, rights issues/secondary offerings, acquisitions of listed companies/major asset restructurings, and overall listings of enterprise groups.
In the fields of private equity investment/venture capital, mergers and acquisitions and restructurings, and transformation of scientific and technological achievements, Mr. Chen is highly active in providing professional advice to domestic and foreign industry leaders, innovative enterprises, renowned investment institutions, and leading scientific research teams. He has also provided legal services for numerous well-known investment, M&A, restructuring, and scientific and technological achievement transformation projects in the market.
Due to his extensive years of focused practice in the legal business of the aforementioned areas, Mr. Chen is adept at providing valuable advice in complex transactions that integrate the above business contents and has handled numerous projects that were industry firsts.
Mr. Chen was recognized as an Advanced Individual in Shanghai Judicial Administration work for 2018-2019. He is frequently recommended as a leading lawyer in capital markets and other fields by renowned legal rating agencies such as Chambers Global, Chambers Asia-Pacific/Greater China Region, and IFLR1000. He was named an "Dealmakers of Asia 2024" by Asian Legal Business (ALB).
This year's 'Visionary Leaders' selection focuses on seasoned legal elites who have set an example in both management achievements and social contributions. Holding key management positions, most are firm founders, managing partners, or strategic leaders in their practice areas, serving as the core strategists within their firms, charting direction, and creating exceptional value. They not only lead the way in their professional fields but also possess profound industry insights, actively engaging in social platforms such as industry associations and public institutions, playing a vital role in legislative consultation, industry standard setting, academic education, and philanthropic initiatives. It is this comprehensive quality—integrating professional ability, strategic vision, and social responsibility—that solidifies their position as industry leaders and perfectly embodies the value and mission of contemporary legal elites. To select the most market-respected legal elites for this year, China Business Law Journal broadly invited in-house counsel and executives from Chinese and international companies involved in China business, partners from domestic and international law firms, and legal experts from various sectors to provide nominations.
