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Introduction
Zhejiang Province is home to many of China's most dynamic private companies, and T&C Law Firm is the clear leader in this important legal services market. T&C Law Firm was founded in 1986 and has over 110 legal professionals, with offices in Hangzhou and Shanghai. Its core practice areas include general corporate practice, capital markets, real estate and construction, international trade, foreign direct investment, intellectual property and dispute resolution.
Awards and Recognition
Recognized as an Outstanding Law Firm by the Ministry of Justice, T&C was also the winner of the 2008 Asian Legal Business award for Best Law Firm in Zhejiang Province. In addition, T&C was recognized by the All China Lawyers' Association (ACLA) as a National Outstanding Law Firm in 2005.
Representative Clients
Representative clients of T&C include Motorola, Texas Instruments, Otis, Toshiba, Panasonic, Fuji Electric Group, United Biscuit, Shell Group, Kyaerner, Alstom, Sanofi, Siemens, Saint-Gobain, China Mobile, Wahaha Group, Bank of China, Zhejiang Expressway, Zhejiang Telecom, Wanxiang Group, China Longgong, Zhejiang Energy Group, Zhejiang Transportation Investment Group, Sinopec, Qing Chun Bao Group, Greentown Group, Hengyi Group, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, Geely Holding, Zhejiang Materials Industry Group, Zhongda Group, Xizi United Holding, Guangsha Group, Zheshang Bank and Bank of Hangzhou
Founding and Offices
T&C law firm was originally founded in 1986 by the Hangzhou Bureau of Justice as the Hangzhou Foreign Economic Law Firm. In 1994, the firm converted to a partnership-based private law firm and changed its name to Zhejiang T&C Law Firm. In 2004, T&C established its second office in Shanghai, and today T&C is among the leading law firms in Eastern China, advising many major multinational corporations on foreign direct investment (FDI) transactions in Zhejiang.
Qualifications and Background of Lawyers
T&C law firm has an excellent reputation, with many of its lawyers holding high-profile positions in the profession. Wang Qiuchao, a founding partner, was Chairman of the Zhejiang Province Lawyers' Association from 2004 to 2007 and has served as a director of the ACLA since 2005. Zhang Jingzhong, T&C's managing partner, has served as Chairman of the Hangzhou Lawyers' Association since 2004, and has succeeded Wang Qiuchao as Chairman of the Zhejiang Province Lawyer's Association in 2007. Other partners in T&C also play important roles in national and provincial lawyers' associations, as well as in the China Law Society.
T&C's legal advice is based on a broad and deep foundation of knowledge, since many of T&C's lawyers have dual professional educations. Nearly 20 lawyers in T&C have other professional qualifications in addition to their law licenses, including Certified Public Accountants, Patent / Trademark Agents, and Bidding Agents. T&C has 17 lawyers who are accredited arbitrators of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and the Hangzhou Arbitration Commission. Additionally, over one-third of T&C's 110 lawyers have international education backgrounds, and T&C's lawyers can conduct work for clients in English and Japanese.
Government Relations
Many of T&C's partners and associates have experience advising local and regional government entities as legal counsel, gaining a firsthand detailed understanding of regulatory practice. T&C has advised the Zhejiang SASAC, the Zhejiang Land and Resources Bureau, the Zhejiang Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau and the Hangzhou Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, as well as other local and regional authorities.
Foreign Direct Investment and International Trade
T&C has a practice group of fifteen lawyers focusing on issues relating to FDI and international trade and has advised a variety of multinational companies on establishing joint ventures, wholly foreign owned enterprises and representative offices in a variety of industries, as well as advising on issues related to asset acquisition, including due diligence.
Key partners in the FDI Practice Group of T&C include Wang Qiuchao, Wang Lixin, Yu Wenyan, Chen Xuhu and Weng Guomin (see bios of key partners below).
Representative FDI matters include:
- Advised on major FDI projects in Zhejiang by multinational corporations such as Motorola, Texas Instruments, Otis, Toshiba, Panasonic, Fuji Electric Group, United Biscuit, Shell Group, Kyaerner, Alstom, Sanofi, Siemens, and Saint-Gobain, with an aggregate total investment of USD 30 billion.
Securities
T&C has twenty-five lawyers in their Securities Law Practice Group, with extensive experience in advising clients on a variety of financial instruments, including preparing debt and equity securities offerings, convertible bonds and depository receipts. T&C also has a strong practice in share offerings and has assisted clients with filing IPOs on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.
Key partners in the Securities Practice Group of T&C include Lu Chonghua, Liu Bing, Fu Yutao and Xu Chunhui (see bios of key partners below).
Representative securities matters include:
- Advised Zhejiang Expressway Co., Ltd. on an H-share IPO raising 450 million USD
- Acted as Chinese legal counsel for Greentown China Holdings Ltd. on its IPO on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (USD 350 million), issuing high yield bonds in the Singapore Stock Market (USD 400 million) and issuing convertible bonds overseas (USD 150 million)
- Acted as Chinese legal counsel for China Longgong in raising over HKD 3 billion via issuing additional shares and convertible bonds
- Acted as long-term legal counsel for many PRC companies with A share listings.
Real Estate and Construction
T&C's Real Estate and Construction Practice Group consists of 12 lawyers specializing in the area. The firm advises clients on the full range of issues relating to real estate and construction law, including acquisition and transfer of land use rights, land use grant procedures, registration and title issues and issues relating to the regulatory system governing construction. In addition, the firm has advised on a number of large-scale major infrastructure projects in Zhejiang province.
Key partners in the Real Estate and Construction Practice Group include Xu Guoning, Chen Xiaofeng and Jiang Chaobiao (see bios of key partners below).
Some representative matters in real estate and construction handled by T&C include:
- Advised China Greentown Real Estate Group Co., Ltd.
- Provided legal services for a variety of large real-estate group companies and their subsidiaries, including Zhongda Real Estate Group Co., Ltd., Canhigh Group Co., Ltd., Sundy Real Estate Group Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Jiangong Real Estate Group Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Sanjiang Real Estate Group Co., Ltd.
- Advised on major infrastructure projects in Hangzhou, including the Hangzhou Airport, Huanglong Sport Centre, the Hangzhou Subway System, the Qianjiang New City development project and the Qingchun Tunnel.
Corporate
T&C's corporate practice is one of the firm's primary fields of work. The firm has 12 lawyers in the practice group, who work on a wide variety of corporate matters, including advising on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), assisting clients in establishing a practical corporate governance structure for their China entities, and providing general corporate advice on legal and regulatory matters.
Key partners in the Corporate Practice Group of T&C include Zhang Jingzhong, Huang Liangxi, Wang Lixing, Yu Yongxiang and Yu Wenyan (see bios of key partners below).
Representative corporate matters include:
- Advised Xizi UHC on its acquisition of Baida Group
- Advised Modern United Holding Group on its acquisition of Hangzhou Tianmushan Pharmaceutical Enterprise
- Advised Insigma Technology Co., Ltd. on its acquisition of a Hong Kong company
- Acted as chief counsel in restructuring Zhejiang Commerce Bank, the first commercial bank in Zhejiang to issue shares
- Provided consulting services to Xiaoshan (Hangzhou) International Airport in regard to strategic planning, negotiations, communications, drafting agreements, obtaining regulatory approvals, and closing
- Acted as lead counsel in the restructuring of Sinopec in Zhejiang Province, involving more than 100 oil refining enterprises.
Dispute Resolution
There are 20 lawyers in T&C's Seasoned Dispute Resolution Practice Group, which acts on approximately 1000 litigation and arbitration matters each year. The dispute resolution practice group cooperates closely with all groups in the firm to provide comprehensive legal services to clients in defense of their rights under PRC law. In addition to acting on litigation for clients in all of the above practice areas, T&C has experience litigating and arbitrating disputes among shareholders, maritime disputes and disputes involving bankruptcy and insolvency.
Key partners in the litigation and arbitration practice of T&C include Wang Qiuchao, Ci Weisong, Song Ronggen and Ye Zhijian (see bios of key partners below).
Representative dispute resolution matters include:
- Acted as lead counsel for Wahaha Group in its disputes with the Danone Group
- Represented the government in resolving disputes in connection with the land for West Lake International Golf Course.
Biographies of Key Partners
Wang Qiuchao is the founding partner of T&C. Mr. Wang qualified to practice law in 1982 and was honored as first-class lawyer in 1999 for achievements in his practice. Mr. Wang is ex-chairman of the Zhejiang Lawyers' Association, vice-chairman of the Zhejiang Law Society, a director of the ACLA, an arbitrator and expert member of CIETAC's Shanghai Commission and a member of the Commission of Legislative Affairs of the Hangzhou People's Congress.
Zhang Jingzhong is the managing partner of T&C. Mr. Zhang received a B.A. from Zhejiang University Law School in 1984 and qualified to practice law in 1988. Mr. Zhang is chairman of the Zhejiang Lawyers' Association, vice-chairman of the Hangzhou Law Society, a member of the Commission of Legislative Affairs of the Hangzhou People's Congress and a post-graduate student supervisor of Zhejiang University Law School. He has been recognized by the Ministry of Personnel with a Paragon in the Judicial and Administrative System Award for his distinguished service in the legal profession.
Huang Lianxi is a partner in the firm's Corporate Practice Group. Ms. Huang received an L.L.B. from East China University of Politics and Law in 1983 and was qualified in the same year. Ms. Huang went to England for legal training from 1991 to 1992, returning to practice in Hong Kong with a focus on corporate legal matters. Ms. Huang was vice-chairman of the Zhejiang Lawyers' Association and is a member of standing committee of the Zhejiang CPPCC and an accredited CIETAC arbitrator.
Gao Feng is a partner and director of the firm's Shanghai office. Mr. Gao received an L.L.B. from Zhejiang University and qualified to practice law in 1990. He has been recognized as a Zhejiang Outstanding Lawyer and Top 10 Lawyer of Zhejiang Province by the provincial government and is an accredited arbitrator with the Hangzhou Arbitration Commission.
Xu Guoning is a partner of in the firm's Real Estate and Construction Practice Group in T&C's Hangzhou office, and his practice is centred on matters relating to real estate and construction issues arising in corporate practice. Mr. Xu received an L.L.B. from Hangzhou University (now known as Zhejiang University) Law School in 1984 and an L.L.M. from Southern China University of Politics and Law in 1998. Mr. Xu has been qualified to practice law since 1986.
Lu Chonghua is a partner in the firm's Securities Practice Group in T&C's Hangzhou office, and his practice is centred on advising clients on issuing and underwriting domestic and international securities. Mr. Lu received an L.L.B. from East China University of Politics and Law and an M.A. in Finance and Securities from Zhejiang University. He has been practicing law since 1987.
Wang Lixin is a partner in the firm's FDI and International Trade Practice Group in T&C's Hangzhou office and his practice is focused on advising clients on international trade and investment. Mr. Wang received an L.L.B. from East China University of Politics and Law and studied law abroad in the USA and Hong Kong in 1993 and 1999, respectively. Mr. Wang has been qualified to practice law since 1987 and since then has often been recognized as a leading practitioner, receiving a Top Ten Arbitrators award from the Hangzhou Arbitration Committee in 2001, the Zhejiang Lawyers' Association award in 2002 and the Hangzhou Lawyers' Association New Star award in 2003.
Contact T&C Law Firm
Hangzhou Office
11/F, Building A, Dragon Century Plaza
No. 1 Hangda Road
Hangzhou, China 310007
Tel +86 571 8790 1111
Fax +86 571 8790 1500
Shanghai Office
11/F, Huaneng Union Tower,
958 Lujiazui Ring Road
Shanghai, China 200120
Tel +86 21 6882 1088
Fax +86 21 6882 1089