David Yu
- Direct +86 21 3135 8686
- Email david.yu@llinkslaw.com
Profiles
Mr. David Yu is the co-founder of Llinks Law Offices, he received his LL.B. degree from Fudan University Law School and MBA degree from China Europe International Business School, respectively. He has also completed the SELP program at Harvard Business School and has been granted the qualification of a Harvard alumnus.
Mr. Yu currently is the president of Shanghai Arbitration Association, the director of Foreign Affairs Committee and the director of Foreign-related Legal Services Committee (All China Lawyers Association), He also holds concurrent positions such as the External Legal Advisor to the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, a member of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government Administrative Review Committee, and a member of the Shanghai Arbitration Committee. He is an arbitrator for six domestic and international arbitration institutions and a mediator for JAMS in the United States and the Shanghai Economic and Trade Commercial Mediation Center. Mr. Yu previously served as the President of the Shanghai Lawyers Association from 2015 to 2019.
Mr. Yu has over 20 years of professional experience. He is renowned for his extensive experience and innovative high-quality services in the fields of Corporate and Commercial Law, M&A, PE/VC, Capital Markets, Restructuring/Insolvency/Bankruptcy, Real Estate and Dispute Resolution. He has rich theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the automotive, energy, chemical, equipment manufacturing, fast-moving consumer goods, communication technology, media and entertainment, pharmaceutical health, and infrastructure and real estate sectors. He has represented clients in numerous pioneering projects that have set industry precedents.
Mr. Yu is regularly recommended as a leading lawyer by well-known international legal publications such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, International Financial Law Review (IFLR) and Asian Legal Business (ALB). Mr. Yu was also selected to the 'Thousands Foreign Lawyers Talent Pool' by the Ministry of Justice. Mr. Yu has been awarded 'National Outstanding Lawyer', 'Shanghai Leading Talents', 'Oriental Barrister', 'Shanghai Outstanding Lawyer' and other honorary titles.
Achievements
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Llinks and Llinks Lawyers Achieved Recognition in the 2026 IFLR1000 Asia-Pacific Rankings
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Llinks Recommended by LEGALBAND ‘China Top Ranked Law Firms' and ‘China Top Ranked Lawyers' 2026
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Llinks was recognised in 7 practice areas with 16 individual lawyer rankings in the Chambers Global 2026 Guide
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Llinks Recognized in 11 Practice Areas with 25 Individual Mentions in Chambers Greater China Region Guide 2026
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Llinks Lawyers Selected for Lexology Index 2025-2026 Global, Chinese Mainland & Hong Kong/Macao Legal Expert Directories
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64 Individual Recommendations from Llinks Law Offices were recognized across 17 Practice Areas in the 2026 The Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Greater China Rankings
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Llinks 20 Practice Areas/Industry Sectors and 8 Partners Ranked in asialaw Profiles
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Llinks and Llinks Partners Recognised in IFLR1000 2025 China Ranking
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Llinks and Llinks Lawyers Achieved Recognition in the 2024 IFLR1000 Rankings
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Llinks Recommended by LEGALBAND ‘China Top Ranked Law Firms' and ‘China Top Ranked Lawyers' 2025
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Llinks Lawyers Named in ‘Best Lawyers Recommended by GCs 2025' Compiled by Legal Guru Club (Fa Lao Hui) and Legal Hall of Fame (Ming Lu Tang)
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Llinks Recognised in 4 Practice Areas with 11 Individual Lawyer Rankings in the Chambers Global 2025 Guide
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Llinks Lawyers Selected for the Lexology Index 2024-2025 Global and Mainland China & Hong Kong & Macau Legal Expert Directory
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Llinks Recognized in 10 Practice Areas with 22 Individual Mentions in Chambers Greater China Region Guide 2025
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Llinks Receives Multiple Recommendations in The Legal 500 Greater China Guide 2025
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Llinks 20 Practice Areas/Industry Sectors and Eight Partners Ranked in asialaw Profiles and Leading Lawyers 2024
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Llinks and Llinks Lawyers Shine in 2024 IFLR1000 Rankings
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Llinks Recognised in IFLR1000 2024/2025 China Ranking
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Llinks Recommended by LEGALBAND ‘China Top Ranked Law Firms' and ‘China Top Ranked Lawyers' 2024
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Llinks and Llinks Lawyers Named in ‘Best Lawyers and Law Firms Recommended by GCs 2024' Compiled by Legal Guru Club (Fa Lao Hui) and Legal Hall of Fame (Ming Lu Tang)
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Llinks and Llinks Lawyers Awarded the ‘2024 Influential Law Firms in Dispute Resolution' and ‘Top Dispute Resolution Lawyers' by Legal Vision
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Llinks Recommended in Chambers Global Guide 2024
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Llinks Recommended in Chambers and Partners Greater China Region Guide 2024
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Llinks Lawyers David Yu, David Wu, Selena She and Colin Shi Named as Leading Practitioners in the Latest Who's Who Legal Global Expert Guides
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Llinks and Llinks Lawyers Named in ‘Best Lawyers and Law Firms Recommended by GCs' Compiled by Legal Guru Club (Fa Lao Hui) and Legal Hall of Fame (Ming Lu Tang)
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Llinks 16 Practice Areas and 29 Lawyers Recommended in The Legal 500 China Guide 2024
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Llinks 20 Practice Areas/Industry Sectors and Eight Partners Ranked in asialaw Profiles and Leading Lawyers 2023/24
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Llinks Recommended by IFLR1000 China 2023/2024 Edition
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Llinks Sweeps Recommendations by IFLR1000 in All Nine Practice Areas for Eight Consecutive Years
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Llinks Recommended by LEGALBAND ‘China Top Ranked Law Firms' and ‘China Top Ranked Lawyers' 2023
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global Guide 2023
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Greater China Region Guide 2023
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Llinks 20 Practice Areas/Industry Sectors and Six Partners Ranked in asialaw Profiles and Leading Lawyers 2023
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Llinks Recommended by IFLR1000 China Regional Awards 2023
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Llinks Sweeps Recommendations by IFLR1000 in All Nine Practice Areas for Seven Consecutive Years
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Llinks Listed in 2022 China ‘Top Ranked Law Firms' and ‘Top Ranked Lawyers'
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global Guide 2022
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Llinks Listed in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific Guide 2022
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Greater China Region Guide 2022
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Llinks Awarded the National Outstanding Law Firm Again
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Llinks Recommended by IFLR1000 China Regional Awards 2022
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Llinks 18 Practice/Industry Areas and 6 Partners recommended by Asialaw Profiles 2022
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Llinks Recommended by IFLR1000 and Full Listed in Nine Practice Areas for Six Consecutive Years
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Llinks Listed in 2021 China
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global Guide 2021
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Llinks Listed in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific Guide 2021
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Llinks Listed in
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Llinks Partners David Yu, David Wu And David Pan Have Been Named as Leading Practitioners in The Who's Who Legal 2020 Experts List
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Llinks Six Lawyers Recommended as Leading Lawyers by Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2021
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Nine Practice Areas Ranked by IFLR1000 Firm Rating 2021
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Llinks Recommended by IFLR1000 CHINA
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Llinks Shortlisted at ALB China Law Awards 2020
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Llinks Lawyers Recommended by LEGALBAND 2020
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global Guide 2020
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Llinks Listed in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific Guide 2020
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2020
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Seven Practice Areas Ranked by IFLR1000 Firm Rating 2020
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Llinks Six Lawyers Recommended as Leading Lawyers by Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2020
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Llinks Lawyers Recommended by 2019 LEGALBAND
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Llinks Lawyers Listed in China's One Thousand Foreign-Related Lawyers
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Llinks Shortlisted in ALB China Law Awards 2019
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global Guide 2019
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Llinks listed in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific Guide 2019
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Llinks Listed by IFLR1000 2019 in All Practice Areas
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Llinks lawyers Listed in China Business Law Journal ” The A-List 2018: China's Elite Lawyers”
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2019
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Llinks Seven Lawyers Recommended as Leading Lawyers by Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2019
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Llinks Shortlisted at China Law & Practice Awards 2018
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Llinks and Llinks Lawyers Recommended by LEGALBAND 2018
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Llinks Nominated in Nine Categories at Asian Legal Business China Law Awards 2018
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global 2018
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Llinks Recommended by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018
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Llinks Lawyers Listed in "The A-List” Published by China Business Law Journal
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2018
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Llinks Recommended by Asialaw Profiles 2018
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Llinks Highlighted in the 2018 Edition of IFLR1000's Financial and Corporate Guide
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Llinks Shortlisted at China Law & Practice Awards 2017
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Llinks Seven Lawyers Recommended as Leading Lawyers by Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2017
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Llinks and Llinks Lawyers recommended by LEGALBAND
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Llinks Nominated in Nine Categories at Asian Legal Business China Law Awards 2017
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global 2017
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Llinks Recommended by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2017
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Llinks Lawyers Listed in "The A-List” Published by China Business Law Journal
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Llinks Highlighted in the 2017 Edition of IFLR1000's Financial and Corporate Guide
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Llinks Six Lawyers Recommended as Leading Lawyers by Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2016
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Llinks Shortlisted at China Law & Practice Awards 2016
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Llinks Recommended by LEGALBAND China Guide 2016
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Llinks Lawyer Awarded In-House Commended External Counsel of the Year
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Llinks Awarded "Investment Funds Law Firm of the Year" by LEGALBAND
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global 2016
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Llinks Nominated in Nine Categories at Asian Legal Business China Law Awards 2016
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Llinks and Llinks Lawyer Ranked on ALB China's Power List 2016
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2016
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Llinks Recommended by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2016
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Llinks Highlighted in the 2016 Edition of IFLR1000's Financial and Corporate Guide
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Llinks Ten Lawyers Recommended as Leading Lawyers by Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2015
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global 2015
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2015
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Llinks was awarded as the "Shanghai Law Firm of the Year"
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Llinks Listed in
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Llinks Partner Elected as President of Shanghai Bar Association
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Llinks Recommended by LEGALBAND China Guide 2015
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Llinks Recommended as a Top-tier Firm by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2015
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Llinks Highlighted in the 2015 Edition of IFLR1000's Financial and Corporate Guide
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Llinks Shortlisted at China Law & Practice Awards 2014
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Llinks Lawyers Recommended as Leading Lawyers by Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2014
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global 2014
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2014
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Llinks Recommended as a Top-tier Firm by The Asia Pacific Legal 500 2014
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Llinks Lawyer Elected as one of ALB China 2013 Client Choice Top 20 Lawyers
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Llinks Highlighted in the 2014 Edition of International Financial Law Review 1000
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Llinks Partner Appointed as a Listed Arbitrator by Shanghai Arbitration Commission
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Llinks Lawyers Recommended by Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2013 as Leading Lawyers
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global 2013
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2013
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Llinks Lawyer Elected as one of ALB North Asia Edition 2012 Asia Client Choice Hot 75 Lawyers
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Llinks Highlighted in the 2013 Edition of International Financial Law Review 1000
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Llinks Recommended as a Top-tier Firm by The Asia Pacific Legal 500 2013
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global 2012
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Llinks Partner Named as one of External Counsel of the Year by ASIAN-MENA COUNSEL
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2012
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Llinks Lawyer Honored as a "2008-2010 National Outstanding Lawyer"
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Llinks Highlighted in the 2012 Edition of International Financial Law Review 1000
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Llinks Awarded as China Tax Firm of the Year at China Law & Practice Awards 2011
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Global 2011
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2011
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Llinks Partner Honored as "Leading Shanghai Lawyer"
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Llinks Highlighted in the 2011 Edition of International Financial Law Review 1000
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia
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Llinks Listed in
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia
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Llinks Partner Listed in ALB China's Hot 25
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Llinks Nominated in Three Categories at Asian Legal Business China Law Awards 2008
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Llinks Partner Featured in Hong Kong Wen Wei News
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Llinks Recommended by Chambers Asia
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Top Tier PRC Law Firm in Banking and Corporate/M&A
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Llinks Partner Listed in China's Hot 30
Experience
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Represented Morgan Stanley in its acquisition of the World Trade Center.
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Represented Red Star Macalline in its IPO and public offering on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
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Represented Shunfeng Photovoltaic in its IPO and public offering on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
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Represented SAIC Motor in its acquisition of SsangYong Motor Company in South Korea.
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Represented SAIC Motor in its acquisition of Nanjing Yuejin Auto Group.
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Represented COSCO Pacific in its investments in multiple container terminals in China (including Yangshan Deep Water Port Phase II, Qingdao Qianwan, Shenzhen Shekou, Guangzhou Nansha, Nanjing Longtan, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Tianjin, and Dalian terminals).
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Represented Fujian Sedrin in the global tender process for the transfer of state-owned shares.
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Represented ZIM in its investment in China Railway United International Container.
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Represented multiple ports, logistics, and maritime companies in their regular legal and compliance matters.
Intelligence
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Publications
Investment Companies Law Amended 2015-01
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Publications
New Rules on Sale of Automobile Brands 2015-01
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Publications
China Focuses on Domestic Venture Capital 2015-01
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Publications
China Ready to Make Real Estate Trusts Official 2015-01
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Publications
New Automotive Industry Policy Promises Rosy Prospects 2015-01
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Publications
Certain Issues Concerning Verification of Registered Capital 2015-01
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Publications
Current Antitrust Controls of Foreign Investors' Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
What Should Businesses Watch Out for In Light of New PRC Anti-Trust Law? 2015-01
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Publications
Legal Restrictions on Foreign Investments in Mineral Exploration 2015-01
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Publications
Modes of RMB PE Fund in China 2015-01
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Publications
Influence of New Foreign Exchange Policies on Cross-Border M&A 2015-01
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Publications
M&A Loans and Financing for M&A Deals 2015-01
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Publications
The Guiding Opinion on the National Absorption of Foreign Investment 2008 Issues by the Ministry of Commerce 2015-01
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Publications
Relevant Issues on Establishing Equity Investment Enterprises in Shanghai 2015-01
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Publications
Analysis of China's Latest Policy Guidance for Overseas Investment 2015-01
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Publications
Outbound Investment Planning: Be Cautious about Tax Evaluation 2015-01
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Publications
Transfer of Restricted Stocks of Listed Companies by Individual under a Limited Liability Partnership Structure 2015-01
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Publications
Elaboration of Procedures for Compulsory Liquidation by the Supreme People's Court 2015-01
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Publications
After the VAT Reform General VAT Payers can Claim Input VAT Credit against Output VAT on Purchased Equipment 2015-01
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Publications
Double Taxation Treaties: "New Challenge" on Tax Risk Management 2015-01
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Publications
Latest News: Pilot of QFLP System in Pudong New Area, Shanghai? 2015-01
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Publications
A Study on the Application of Preemptive Right 2015-01
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Publications
Corporate Income Tax Considerations for Foreign-Invested Partnership Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
The State Council's Issuance of the "Several Opinions of the State Council on Further Improving the Use of Foreign Capital" 2015-01
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Publications
Royalty or Business Profit? 2015-01
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Publications
New Administration and Tax Filing Rules for Representative Offices of Foreign Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
Implementation of Select Investment Terms in China 2015-01
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Publications
Equipment Tax Break for R&D Centres 2015-01
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Publications
Breaking the Ice of Post - VAT Reform 2015-01
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Publications
China and Barbados Sign DTT Protocol Amendment 2015-01
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Publications
The State Council Promulgated the New Regulations on the Administration of Foreign Enterprises' Representative Offices in China 2015-01
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Publications
Preliminary Analysis of Local Preferential Policies for RMB Private Equity Investment Funds 2015-01
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Publications
New Policy of "Financial Sale-and-Lease-back": An Icebreaker for Financial Leasing Business? 2015-01
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Publications
Shanghai Issued Measures for Pilot Projects of Foreign-invested Equity Investment Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
New Security Review System for Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors 2015-01
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Publications
Cross-Border Payments under Non-trading Items Relaxed in Shanghai 2015-01
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Publications
MOFCOM Issues Tentative Implementation Provisions on the Security Review System for Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors 2015-01
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Publications
National Development and Reform Commission Further Issues Guidance Regarding Documentary Requirements for Filing by Equity Investment Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
PE in China: A Growth Spurt 2015-01
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Publications
Reinvestment by Foreign Investors in the Post "Income Tax Law Unification" Era 2015-01
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Publications
Recent Development of the Supervision and Practice Regarding the Filing of Equity Investment Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
MOFCOM Issues the Official Implementation Provisions on the Security Review Regarding Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors 2015-01
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Publications
PRC Tax Considerations on Capital Contributions in the Form of Shares and Debt-Equity Swaps: New Possibilities 2015-01
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Publications
Legal Issues Regarding the Development and Utilization of Rural Wasteland 2015-01
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Publications
The Ministry of Commerce and the Peoples Bank of China Promulgate New Rules for Foreign Direct Investment with RMB 2015-01
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Publications
New Tax Regulations on Sales of Fixed Property Attached to the Land or Real Property 2015-01
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Publications
Tianjin Issued Pilot Measures for Foreign-invested Equity Investment Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
NDRC Issues the First Nationwide Administrative Rules on Equity Investment Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
New Means for Foreign Investors to Invest in RMB Equity Investment Funds An Alternative Application of RFDI 2015-01
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Publications
Expecting Clarification on the Legal Nature of Foreign-invested RMB Funds 2015-01
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Publications
New Foreign Exchange Administration System for Trade in Goods: From Onsite Examination to Subsequent Supervision 2015-01
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Publications
A New Vehicle for Investments 2015-01
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Publications
Beijing Strengthens Individual Income Tax Collection on Proceeds from Equity Transfers 2015-01
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Publications
Legalization of Equity Contributions by Foreign-invested Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
The Newly Issued Regulations on Foreign Exchange Administration of Direct Investment Simplifying Several Approval and Registration Processes of Foreign Exchange Administration 2015-01
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Publications
SAFE Regulates Foreign Exchange Issues for Foreign-Invested Partnership Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
NDRC Enhances Administration over Equity Investment Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
Brief Analysis of the Revision of the Catalogue of Priority Industries for Foreign Investment in Central and Western China (2013) 2015-01
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Publications
Interpretations on the Notice Regarding Certain Policies Related to the Pre-tax Super Deduction of Research and Development Expenses for Corporate Income Tax Purposes 2015-01
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Publications
Shanghai FTZ and Equity Investment Enterprises 2015-01
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Publications
Shanghai FTZ and Liberalization of China's Gaming Console Industry 2015-01
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Publications
Further Open Value-added Telecommunication Services to Foreign Investors in the Shanghai FTZ 2015-01
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Publications
New Measures in respect of the Cross-Border Inflow of Renminbi 2015-01
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Publications
Explanation of Shanghai FTZ Outbound Investment Policy under New Rules 2015-01
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Publications
New Regulations on the Provision of Value Added-Telecommunication Services by Foreign Investors 2015-01
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Publications
Caution Needed on Amended Version of FTZ Negative List 2015-01
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Publications
New Model to Cut Time and Cost for Customs Clearance in FTZ 2015-01
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Publications
Comparing FTZ's Offshore Investment Policy and MOFCOM's New Rules 2015-01
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Publications
Administrative Measures For Establishment of Partnership Enterprise in PRC by Foreign Enterprises or individuals Issues by State Council 2015-01
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Publications
Automatic Import Licences for FIEs 2015-01
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Publications
New Legislation on Foreign-funded Financial Institutions in China 2015-01
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Publications
New Telecommunications Regulation in China 2015-01
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Publications
Conducting M&A Labor Due Diligence in China 2015-01
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Publications
Positive Tax Implications of China's New Corporate Income Tax Law on Future Foreign Investment 2015-01