On November 13, 2025, International Financial Law Review (IFLR1000) unveiled the IFLR1000 China Awards 2025. Zhong Lun claimed eight major accolades, including the “Firm of the Year” distinction for Guangdong.

Awards

Firm of the Year

Firm of the Year - Guangdong

Team of the Year

Team of the Year - Project Development

Regional Impact Deals

Regional Impact Deals - Beijing

Dandong Port Group Bankruptcy Reorganization Project (Legal Services for the Largest Creditor)

Regional Impact Deals - Sichuan

Shudao's Tender Offer for Hongda Stocks

Lawyer of the Year

Lawyer of the Year - Shanghai - Banking and finance

Shirley Lu

Shirley Lu has been committed to the banking and finance sector for many years, consistently providing legal services covering cross-border financing, M&A financing, debt restructuring and many other matters to leading domestic and foreign financial institutions, investment funds, multinational corporations, and listed companies. With extensive practice experience and exceptional professional competence, she enjoys an outstanding reputation in the industry.

Ms. Lu has been repeatedly recognized in annual rankings by Chambers Global Guide, IFLR1000, and asialaw. She was honored as one of China’s Top 15 Female Lawyers by Asian Legal Business (ALB) and has been listed in IFLR1000’s Women Leaders Guide for consecutive years. Numerous financing projects led by her have won annual deal awards from authoritative legal media, including Tianqi Lithium’s equity acquisition of SQM (M&A financing project); Blackstone’s acquisition of Interplex (financing project); CNOOC Shell’s Phase III Ethylene and Polycarbonate Project (financing); Invista Project (financing); Qicheng and Harvest Investment’s joint acquisition of Dinghao Building in Zhongguancun, Beijing (financing project); Focus Media’s privatization and delisting (financing project); Carlyle’s acquisition of Atotech (project); Shanghai Disneyland (financing project); Gansu Guazhou Wind Power Project (financing).

Lawyer of the Year - Chongqing - Finance and corporate

Li Xiong

Li Xiong has over 20 years of legal practice experience in domestic and international capital markets, investment and M&A, corporate governance, private equity, and investment funds. His clients span multiple industries, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, steel and metal manufacturing, consumer goods and retail, and defense and technology, covering state-owned enterprises and listed companies. Prominent clients include Chongqing Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., Jinke Property Group Co., Ltd., and Chongqing Beer Co., Ltd., among others. Mr. Xiong’s solid expertise and substantial credentials in mandates have enabled him to effectively manage numerous domestic and overseas listing, M&A restructuring, and debt restructuring projects for large and ultra-large enterprises. He has also provided full-process legal services for investment and financing projects of renowned professional investment institutions such as SoftBank China, Liangjiang Investment Group, and Ping An Asset Management Co., Ltd. His sharp commercial acumen and robust grasp of legal principles have earned him consistent recognition and recommendations from international legal rating agencies including Chambers, The Legal 500, and Benchmark Litigation. In addition, he has held prominent roles such as Director of the Chongqing Western Financial Chamber of Commerce and Standing Director of the China Industrial Energy Conservation and Cleaner Production Association.

Rising Star

Rising Star of the Year - Chongqing - Finance and corporate

Lintao Wu

Lintao Wu has long been engaged in legal services related to domestic and international capital markets, private equity and investment funds, industrial M&A and corporate governance, and financial products and trusts in China. Over his more than a decade of legal practice, he has led numerous A-share/red chip/H-share/Singaporean IPO projects, listed companies’ refinancing and major asset restructuring projects, as well as large-scale industrial M&A projects, boasting wide-ranging, comprehensive frontline experience and outstanding capabilities in handling complex capital market projects. In recent years, Mr. Wu has led multiple innovative capital markets mandates, some of which are the first of its kind of the industry/market. These pioneering projects cover sectors such as intelligent connected vehicles, AI large models, data centers, new energy and new materials, e-commerce retail, and new consumption. Recognized for his keen market acumen and exceptional professional capabilities, he has consistently earned rankings from internationally renowned legal media and rating agencies for years. Mr. Wu currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Capital Markets and Securities Professional Committee of the Chongqing Lawyers Association by dint of his specialist expertise in the mainland capital markets.

Rising Star of the Year - Shandong - Finance and corporate

Tao Jiang

Tao Jiang has dedicated himself to legal services related to corporate debt restructuring, bankruptcy reorganization, and corporate turnaround management. Having previously served as a senior executive of a large group company, he excels at integrating legal expertise seamlessly into the fibers of corporate operations, industry dynamics, investment strategies, and day-to-day management. His practice experience is profound in debt bankruptcy reorganization, bankruptcy settlement, out-of-court restructuring of large enterprise groups, as well as the investment and disposal of non-performing assets, as shown by the numerous representative cases that he has led involving multiple affiliated companies, large debt scales, and significant industry influence. Some of these cases have been honored among the "Top 10 Bankruptcy Trial Guiding Cases" by Shandong High People's Court, and articles thereabout featured in the Supreme People's Court’s People's Court News as exemplary efforts in optimizing the business environment. He has also won awards such as the IFLR1000 China Awards for Deals of the year and China Business Law Journal's Outstanding Deals of the Year on multiple occasions.

Mr. Jiang actively promotes principles and approaches suitable for the rescue of distressed enterprises, such as factorized bankruptcy, out-of-court restructuring, and turnaround management. By integrating debt restructuring, reorganization and settlement, investment and M&A with non-performing asset disposal, he has fostered and keeps reinforcing supportive services for restructuring and bankruptcy practice. Such holistic approach helps drive the formation of a "restructuring business ecosystem".

The IFLR1000 China Awards result from a comprehensive evaluation based on application materials, client feedback, and peer reviews. They aim to recognize law firms and teams with outstanding performance in professional domains, innovative legal service transactions, and distinguished lawyers in various regions within China's legal service market over each surveyed year.