From its Beijing roots, Han Kun Law Offices has emerged as a dynamic force in China’s legal landscape, strategically expanding its lawyer headcount and geographic reach while cementing its reputation across sectors such as telecommunications, healthcare and retail. Renowned for its high-calibre work, the firm is a go-to adviser for complex commercial disputes, particularly in private equity and venture capital, where its innovative strategies and cross-industry insights set it apart.
The Beijing office is anchored by commercial litigation stalwarts Yaxing Zhang and Dong Liu, Yang You, Xianglin Chen and IP authority Yan Wang.
In one publishable flagship matter, the team represented the original shareholders of a subsidiary of a listed Chinese defence conglomerate in a high-stakes equity transfer dispute against a state-linked buyer, which weaponised criminal allegations and financial coercion to suppress the client’s rights. The case highlighted systemic risks faced by private entrepreneurs in regulated industries, where the buyer exploited its privileged position in a state-owned sector to threaten the client with personal liability and asset forfeiture.
On the IP front, Han Kun defends giants such as OPPO, Umicore and Baidu in infringement disputes, combining technical acumen with aggressive enforcement tactics.
Han Kun bolstered its national and international footprint in January 2022 by merging with Shanghai Young-Ben Law Firm, integrating its partners, departments and administrative teams. This was followed by setting up new offices in Haikou, Wuhan, Hong Kong and Singapore, enhancing its capacity to serve clients across Asia.
The Shanghai branch, an extension of Han Kun’s dispute resolution prowess, excels in commercial and IP litigation. One of the key partners, Wei Sun, represented a major state-owned airline in a high-stakes aircraft engine sales contract dispute exceeding Rmb10 million ($1.37 million). The client had listed three aircraft engines for transfer via the Beijing Equity Exchange, where a materials supplier (the plaintiff) submitted a bid and paid a security deposit. After disputes arose over transaction terms, the supplier sued the airline for alleged breaches.
The case centred on two pivotal issues: the binding force of equity exchange transaction rules and the legal nature of the security deposit under Chinese contract law. Han Kun’s team defended the airline by rigorously demonstrating compliance with the exchange’s publicly disclosed transfer procedures and reframing the deposit as a non-punitive performance guarantee. After contested first and second-instance proceedings, the court dismissed all claims against the client, affirming the validity of the exchange’s rules and rejecting the plaintiff’s interpretation of deposit forfeiture clauses.
Han Kun’s client roster spans industries and borders, including Guizhou Moutai Winery Group, Samsung, Estée Lauder, Sandvik and Sohu, alongside financial and tech leaders like Kraft Heinz and Baidu.
In 2024, the firm hired Yang Han from King & Wood Mallesons to strengthen the firm’s criminal law capacity.
Client feedback
“Highly professional, with exceptional experience in international arbitration. Their legal and practical expertise is first-rate, complemented by top-tier responsiveness and service attitude. The partners and team members demonstrate outstanding educational backgrounds, legal acumen and practical skills. The partners not only excel in legal and arbitration capabilities but also possess the strategic vision to align solutions with broader corporate objectives.” – International arbitration
“Han Kun provides reliable expertise in investment, financing, securities and financial matters, offering reasonable fees and high cost-effectiveness.” – Commercial arbitration
“Their profound understanding of cases and legal application led to an ideal arbitration outcome.” – Commercial arbitration
Xianglin Chen
“Chen Xianglin boasts extensive experience in international arbitration and dispute resolution, backed by elite legal knowledge and arbitration practice. His exceptional resources in cross-border arbitration (e.g. Singapore), coordination with arbitrators and institutions, and local office networks set him apart. He combines legal rigour with deep corporate insight, delivering solutions that address both legal and business priorities. Fully committed to client service, he ensures rapid responsiveness, manages teams with precision, and achieves high efficiency. His work – spanning legal research, evidence collection, procedural control, expert arbitrator coordination, and documentation – is impeccably executed. He successfully facilitated a favourable settlement for our company, significantly reducing costs and exceeding expectations.”
Xiaoming Deng
“Deng Xiaoming is widely recognised in the industry for his representation of commercial entities in securities-related disputes, earning high repute and influence. He stays ahead of judicial and industry trends, assisting clients with emerging, cutting-edge, and complex issues. Deng has led teams in resolving numerous groundbreaking securities and financial disputes, many of which lacked precedents and have drawn significant industry attention. His rare blend of practical expertise and theoretical depth, honed through participation in major research projects, allows him to engage directly with regulatory authorities, influencing the formulation and evolution of adjudication rules.”
Yaxing Zhang
“Zhang Yaxing represented our company in a commercial dispute with strong professional capabilities, securing an optimal resolution aligned with our objectives.”
