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Ellen CHEN
Equity Partner / Shanghai
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Tel +86-21-6061-3666
Email ellenchan@zhonglun.com
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Practices

Cross-border Investment/M&A, Private Equity & Investment Funds, Debt Restructuring & Non-performing Assets
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Industries

Real Estate, Transportation & Logistics, Energy & Power, Insurance
Ellen CHEN
As a partner of Zhong Lun Law Firm Shanghai Office, Ms. Ellen Chen has practiced law for over 20 years. Ms. Chen's practice is mainly focused on real estate, new infrastructure, foreign direct investment, private equity investment, corporate restructuring, and project financing. She is well recognized for her expertise in real estate and new infrastructure, particularly warehousing and logistics, new industrial parks, and internet data centers.
Ms. Chen has extensive hands-on experience in various aspects of law and practice in real estate and new infrastructure in the PRC. Moreover, she has led or participated in many M&A and financing projects in both domestic and cross-border real estate sectors. Not only an expert in transaction models and relevant legal practice in foreign acquisition and equity (or debt) restructuring and other spheres, she also has impressive expertise in spotting issues and delivering solutions accordingly as well as lifting legal barriers. Ms. Chen has been and is currently advising many overseas funds, investment banks, trust companies, and insurance companies in various real estate related projects and providing full and comprehensive legal services throughout the lifecycles of deals. In addition, she has extensive experience in various areas of "new infrastructure", including construction and infrastructure, energy and natural resources, logistics, industrial parks, internet data centers, etc.
Representative Matters
Advised CapitaLand Retail on its sales of 20 shopping malls located in different cities in the PRC to SCPG and Vanke
Advised CITIC Pacific and China Shipbuilding Corporation on the custom sale/pre-sale of many office buildings in Lujiazui Financial Center (Phase II) as headquarters to well-acknowledged international financial institutions, e.g., ICBC Bank, UOB, Industrial Bank, China Life, etc.
Advised D&J Group on the strategic co-investment and Series A and B financing in the industrial platform with Warburg Pincus and the subsequent investments in workshops located in Zhangjiang, Lin'gang, Jin'shan of Shanghai, Nanjing, Changzhou, Kunshan, and Huaqiao, and their daily operation
Advised China Life on the set-up of warehousing and logistics RMB core funds with Cainiao Network and the subsequent acquisitions of the warehousing logistics asset portfolio owned by Cainiao Network
Advised CBRE Global Investors on the acquisition of warehousing and logistics portfolio in many regions in China, including Greater Bay Area, Yangtze River Delta Area, Northern China Area, etc.
Advised Link Reits on the acquisition of the warehousing portfolio held by Dongbai Group located in the Yangtze River Delta Area
Advised a financial investor on the cooperation with Shui On Group and acquisition of Knowledge & Innovation Community (Project KIC) in Yangpu District, Shanghai
Advised China Life's cooperation with China Resources Land and Shanghai Land, in a private equity fund with massive investment, which is targeted towards comprehensive and distinctive properties located at most vibrant and valuable Shanghai World Expo land parcel, including hotels, long-term rental apartments, as well as commercial and office properties
Advised Carlyle Group on the strategic co-investment in the warehousing and logistics platform with Yupei Group and the subsequent investments relating to 17 warehousing & logistics asset portfolio and the related leasing, daily operation, and management
Advised Carlyle Group on the acquisition of Shanghai Central Plaza, Shanghai Changxing Building, Suzhou IFC tower, Shanghai Rich Gate Retail shops, and the Crest
Advised Morgan Stanley on the acquisition of Shanghai Plaza, Zhangjiang Zhanxiang Building, and Shanghai Jinkaili Plaza
Advised Warburg Pincus on the cooperation with MiniCC Group regarding investment in mini-storage portfolio in China
Advised China Resources Land on its cooperation with Huafa Group regarding Shanghai Jin'an Project
Advised China Resources Land regarding its development and sale of several residential, commercial, and hotel projects in locations such as Shanghai and Shandong, notably the cooperation between CR Land and OCT (华侨城, a visionary state-owned tycoon in real estate development) to co-acquire a land plot and co-develop Suhewan Project
Advised Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on the co-investment with Longfor Group, a giant real estate developer in China, in large commercial properties located in Suzhou, Chongqing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Nanjing
Advised Shanghai-Hong Kong United Holdings Limited on the acquisition of Shanghai Longyu International Business Plaza
Advised Kailong Group on the acquisition of a retail property in Laoximeng in Shanghai
Advised Nova Group on the acquisition of Yinyi Mingyue Project (a retail property) in Shanghai
Advised ICBC International regarding its investment on Beijing Lize Financial Business District Project
Advised Starcrest on the acquisition of a data center project in Songjiang District, Shanghai
Advised Ping An Trust on the acquisition of the Chengdu Central Point project and the Shanghai Xuhui Yuhui Yuan project
Advised Ping'an Life on the acquisition of Wuhan Tiandi developed by Shui On Group
Advised Ping'an Real Estate on the strategic investment in warehousing projects in China, including Kunshan, Liuyang, and Changsha
Advised EBA on the acquisition of Minya Hotel in Shanghai
Advised GDS on its acquisitions of several IDC asset portfolio from Pangu Group, including IDC projects in Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, etc.
Advised Actis on its incorporation of a JV platform with Chayora and subsequent investment in the Tianjin IDC project
Advised Gaw Captial on its acquistion of a IDC project in Beijing, Suzhou, etc.
Advised Yovole Network on its acquisition of an IDC project in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, etc.
Honors and Awards
For Individual
Ten Outstanding Young Lawyer, the fifth Shanghai Pudong New District Outstanding Young Lawyer Selection, 2013
Recognized Practitioner in Real Estate, Chambers, 2020-2022
Related
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Deals Related
Zhong Lun Advises Link on Acquisition of 50% Equity Interest in Shanghai Qibao Vanke Plaza
Zhong Lun acted as the PRC legal advisor to Link in this transaction, providing full-range legal services for transaction structuring, due diligence, compliance analysis, documentation and negotiation, issuance of the PRC legal opinions, and closing.
2024-03-21 -
Awards Related
Zhong Lun Garners 153 Honors across 40 Practice Areas in Chambers Greater China Region Guide 2025
Zhong Lun has received 153 accolades across 40 practice areas.
2025-02-17
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Bar Admissions/Professional Qualifications
PRC Bar, 1999
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Education
LL.B., East China University of Political Science and Law
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Professional Experience
Partner, Zhong Lun Law Firm
Legal Director, HuaZhong Real Estate -
Languages
Chinese
English