Zhong Lun lawyers Maria Hou, Raphael Liu, Joey Zhou, Lulu Jiang, and Chloe Leung made to the list of China Business Law Journal’s 2023 edition Rising Stars unveiled on March 14, 2023.

Ms. Maria Hou has over thirteen years of experience at well-known Chinese and international law firms, focusing on legal services in cross-border investment/M&A, antitrust, and national security review of foreign investment. In cross-border investment/M&A, Ms. Hou has advised domestic and foreign businesses on dozens of foreign investment, overseas investment, and M&A deals, including the joint venture project – Universal Studios theme park in Beijing and other major landmark transactions that have a significant impact in China and on industries. Ms. Hou has also counselled on national security review and helped obtain official approval for numerous foreign investment projects. In the antitrust and competition area, Ms. Hou has worked on over a hundred merger filings, including multiple internationally impressive projects such as the merger between Essilor Group and Luxottica Group. She has also assisted a great many companies in handling antitrust investigations, which involved industries such as pharmaceuticals, internet, automobiles, and agricultural products.

Mr. Raphael Liu, qualified to practice law in China and New York State, specializes in private equity and investment funds, cross-border investment, mergers and acquisitions, and overseas capital markets. He has provided services to many well-known domestic and foreign funds and unicorn companies. Mr. Liu’s practice focuses on internet, telecommunications and media, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence, e-commerce retail and new consumption, etc. He is exceptionally adept at handling cross-border matters that feature a complex and innovative transaction structure, many of which have been awarded deal of the year. Clients speak highly of him, saying, for example, “Mr. Liu is particularly strong in understanding the client’s core business needs, assisting the client to design practically achievable structure and ultimately facilitating the deal in a complex and variable business and regulatory environment.". In addition, Mr. Liu has years of considerable experience in overseas capital markets. High-profile deals he has advised on include the listing of Tongcheng-Elong in Hong Kong, JD.com in the United States, Xunlei in the United States, Secoo in the United States, and Ozner in Hong Kong, privatization of Zhaopin, and overseas bond issuance of JD.com, among others. He was recommended by The Legal 500 in 2020 and was named one of the 2022 ALB China Top 15 Rising Lawyers.

Ms. Joey Zhou has over ten years of legal experience, specializing in private equity, M&A, and capital markets. She has served over 30 private equity management institutions and investors, providing legal services for various stages such as fundraising, investment, management, and exit. She has represented investors in hundreds of RMB/USD equity investment projects and has rich hands-on experience in high-tech, medical, consumer, and military industries, among others. In addition, Ms. Zhou also provides retainer-based legal services to a slew of listed companies, state-owned enterprises, and start-ups for their daily operations. In terms of counseling start-ups, Ms. Zhou excels in providing legal support for equity structure design, various rounds of equity financing, establishment of joint ventures, employee incentives, development and dismantling of red-chip architecture, and M&A, just to name a few. Ms. Zhou has also led multiple domestic and foreign listings and restructurings.

Ms. Lulu Jiang focuses on M&A, private equity, equity incentive, and high net worth family wealth planning, offering legal advice to foreign investment banks, multinational corporations, domestic and overseas listed companies, as well as large private enterprises, biopharmaceuticals, and high-tech startups. In private wealth planning, Ms. Jiang is proficient at providing high-net-worth clients with full process legal services, including optimization and restructuring of family business structures and related tax planning, family trust, overseas investment compliance, risk isolation, and inheritance planning. Ms. Jiang was recommended by The Legal 500 in 2019 and invited to contribute to the China chapter of the International Comparative Legal Guides: PE and M&A for three consecutive years. Clients have praised Ms. Jiang as “professional, adept at understanding clients’ needs, and capable of developing innovative and pragmatic solutions."

Ms. Chloe Leung is committed to providing legal advice to high-net-worth clients and family offices on trust, inheritance planning, tax planning, asset protection, estate management, charity, and corporate restructuring. She is legal advisor to many top domestic and foreign high-net-worth individuals and has been recommended by Chambers High Net Worth Guide and The Legal 500 for many consecutive years. Ms. Leung is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

China Business Law Journal’s Rising Stars List conducts extensive research among business managers, legal counsels, and fellow lawyers before finalizing its annual list of rising stars from nominated lawyers.