ENG

  • Maria HOU

    Equity Partner / Beijing

  • Tel +86-10-5957-2288

    Email houzhanghui@zhonglun.com

  • Practices

    Cross-border Investment/M&A, Antitrust & Competition, Compliance & Investigation

  • Industries

    Energy & Power, Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences

CV

Maria HOU

Maria Hou specializes in corporate and M&A, antitrust, and other compliance matters. In corporate and M&A, she has represented both international and Chinese investors and entrepreneurs in dozens of cross-border deals and investment projects. Maria has a proven track record in navigating national security review requirements, having secured approvals for many foreign investment projects in China. Her antitrust and competition experience includes successfully handling more than 100 merger filings, with some involving globally high-profile deals. Maria also advises on antitrust compliance and represents clients in investigations and litigation.

Drawing on a career built in top international and PRC law firms, Maria offers deep insight into the unique regulatory requirements of both Chinese and international frameworks. She tailors her solutions to address the specific needs of enterprises involved in cross-border transactions, using her understanding of cultural and regulatory differences and her fluency in both Chinese and English to bridge gaps and facilitate successful outcomes.

Representative Matters

M&A/Corporate

  • Advised an A-share listed company on the establishment of an aluminum alloy production enterprise in Mexico

  • Advised Livzon Pharmaceutical Group and the Indonesian listed company Kalbe on the establishment of a joint venture for the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients in Indonesia

  • Advised a Shandong-based medical device company and its Indonesian partner on the establishment of a joint venture for the production of medical consumables in Indonesia

  • Provided legal due diligence services for a state-owned investment fund’s proposed participation in an Indonesian nickel-cobalt project

  • Advised a private aluminum products company on the investment in and construction of alumina and aluminum projects in Indonesia

  • Advised an A-share listed company on the acquisition of a semiconductor manufacturing equipment company located in Brazil from a US-listed company

  • Provided legal services to a Chinese private equity fund in the sale of shares in a US-based portfolio company

  • Advised an A-share listed company on the establishment of an aluminum alloy production enterprise in Vietnam

  • Advised a leading PRC machinery equipment producer on the establishment of a subsidiary in Vietnam

  • Provided legal services related to financing to Chinese investors in the construction of alumina, aluminum electrolysis, and aluminum products processing projects in Saudi Arabia

  • Advised Beijing Foton Cummins Engine Co., Ltd. on the establishment of a subsidiary in Thailand

  • Advised Ting Hsin International Group and FamilyMart on the restructuring of the FamilyMart convenience store business in China

  • Advised HOYA CORPORATION on its photomask joint venture project with BOE

  • Advised Industrial Growth Partners on its acquisition of AEM Components (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.

  • Advised Centurium on its investment in Luckin Coffee

  • Advised Cummins (China) Investment Co. Ltd and E-quality Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd on their joint venture for the development and production of automotive electronic control systems

  • Advised Cummins on its hydrogen generator joint venture with Enze Fund (affiliated with Sinopec)

  • Advised Cummins on its after-treatment joint venture project with Foton

  • Advised Liaoning Bora Enterprise Group Co., Ltd. on its polyolefin joint venture project with LyondellBasell

  • Advised CMA CGM on its terminal service joint venture with Shanghai Tongsheng Logistics Park Investment and Development Co., Ltd.

  • Advised Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd. on its joint venture project with Comcast to develop and operate Beijing Universal Theme Park

  • Advised Synopsys on its EDA joint venture project with several Chinese investors

  • Advised Air Products on its acquisition of GE's global gasification business and its joint venture with China Shenhua Group

  • Advised Air Products on its acquisition of several Chinese subsidiaries of Air Liquide

  • Advised Air Products on its investment in several hydrogen filling stations in China

  • Advised Rio Tinto on its mining joint venture project with Minmetals

  • Advised Vossloh on its joint venture project with a Chinese rail supplier

  • Advised FLSmith on its joint venture project with a Chinese manufacturer of mining equipment

  • Advised Cummins on its acquisition of 50% equity interests in JAC Navistar Diesel Engine Co., Ltd. and its joint venture with JAC Motors

  • Advised ThyssenKrupp on the sale of its tailored blanks business to a Chinese state-owned enterprise

  • Advised Volkswagen Financial Services on its proposed investment in a Chinese property insurer

  • Advised Warburg Pincus on several investment projects in China

  • Advised B. Braun on its proposed acquisition of a Chinese medical device producer

  • Advised Sorin on its joint venture project with Microport

  • Advised Schmitz Cargobull on its trailer manufacturing joint venture project with Dongfeng Group

  • Advised Mercedes-Benz on its establishment of a financial leasing company in China


Foreign Investment Security Review

  • Advised LyondellBasell on its acquisition of 50% equity interests in Liaoning Bora Petrochemical Co., Ltd.

  • Advised on the privatization of a listed company active in the semiconductor industry by overseas investors led by a Taiwan-based fund manager

  • Advised on the acquisition of an electronics manufacturer based in Suzhou by a US-based fund

  • Advised on the acquisition of two Chinese fintech companies by a listed Indian company

  • Advised on the establishment of a joint venture focusing on the new clean energy sector between a US-based company and a subsidiary of Sinopec

  • Advised on the acquisition of a domestic fine enamelled wire company by a German wire company

  • Advised a leading Japanese trade company on its proposed equity investment in a Chinese grain logistics company


Antitrust – Merger Control

  • Advised on Luxottica Group's merger with Essilor International (conditionally approved), and China commitments implementation

  • Advised on Samsung Electronics' acquisition of Harman International Industries

  • Advised on Air Products' acquisition of GE Shenhua Gasification Technology Company Ltd. 

  • Advised on Cummins's after-treatment joint venture with Foton 

  • Advised on CIMC's terminal service joint venture with CMA CGM

  • Advised on SABIC's petrochemical joint venture with FJPEC

  • Advised on HOYA Corporation's joint venture with BOE

  • Advised on PTTGC's acquisition of equity interests in Allnex

  • Advised on Faurecia's acquisition of equity interests in Beijing BAIC Dashi Automotive System Co., Ltd.

  • Advised on Liaoning Port Group Co., Ltd.'s acquisition of equity interests in Dandong Port Group Co., Ltd.

  • Advised on China Forestry Group Co., Ltd.’s acquisition of equity interests in Fujian Yong'an Forestry (Group) Co., Ltd.

  • Advised on LyondellBasell's acquisition of equity interests in Liaoning Bora Chemical Co., Ltd.

  • Advised on Zhuhai Aviation City Development Group Co., Ltd.’s acquisition of equity interests in Shenzhen Baoying Construction Holding Group Co., Ltd.

  • Advised on Air Products' hydrogen filling joint venture with Chengzhi Co., Ltd.

  • Advised on Air Products' hydrogen filling joint venture with Shanxi Lu'an Chemical Co., Ltd.

  • Advised on Vossloh's joint venture with a Chinese rail supplier

  • Advised on Great Wall Motor Company Limited’s joint venture with BMW

  • Advised on the acquisition of Robert Bosch’s starters and generators business by Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery and China Renaissance Capital Investment

  • Advised on Faurecia's acquisition of equity interests in Coagent Electronics

  • Advised on Faurecia's car seat joint venture with BYD

  • Advised on ThyssenKrupp's joint venture with Ansteel 

  • Advised on Keppel Offshore and Marine's acquisition of LeTourneau® rig design and kits business from Cameron

  • Advised on Barrick's joint venture with SD-Gold

  • Advised on the proposed acquisition of equity interests in KLA Tencor by Lam Research

  • Advised on Ke.com's acquisition of equity interests in Shengdu Decoration

  • Advised on the acquisition of joint control over ARA Asset Management by Warburg Pincus and AVIC Trust

  • Advised on the establishment of a manufacturing joint venture between FLSmith and Northern Heavy Industries Group

  • Advised on a number of new investments/sales-out by Apax Partners

  • Advised on the establishment of a joint venture between TechnipFMC, Linde, and Nipigas

  • Advised on Tencent's several investment projects


Antitrust - Compliance and Investigation

  • Advised a leading producer of infant formula on its establishment of an antitrust compliance system

  • Advised several business units of Mars on antitrust compliance

  • Advised Dongfeng Infinit on antitrust issues of its local commercial policies

  • Advised Zippo on antitrust issues of its business operation in China

  • Advised a well-known Chinese real estate technology company on antitrust compliance of its business model

  • Provided antitrust compliance consultation for Nestle's business operations in China

  • Provided comprehensive compliance risk diagnosis services to VIP.com

  • Assisted Ke.com to respond to governmental authorities’ request of self-inspection and rectification of compliance issues

  • Assisted a search engine company to respond to governmental authorities’ request of self-inspection and rectification of compliance issues

  • Assisted two online booking platforms to respond to governmental authorities’ request of self-inspection and rectification of compliance issues

  • Assisted a serialized web fiction company to respond to governmental authorities’ request of self-inspection and rectification of compliance issues

  • Advised Ke.com on its establishment of an antitrust compliance system

  • Advised a Hong Kong based pharmaceutical R&D company on antitrust issues of its contract manufacturing arrangement with a Chinese pharmaceutical producer

  • Advised ThyssenKrupp on antitrust issues of its business operation in China

  • Represented an online database company in dealing with SAMR’s antitrust investigation on abuse of dominance 

  • Represented a pharmaceutical company in dealing with Sichuan AMR’s antitrust investigation on a vertical monopoly agreement

  • Represented an industrial explosive materials producer in dealing with Guangxi AMR’s antitrust investigation on a horizontal monopoly agreement

  • Advised SAIC GM on responding to an antitrust investigation by Shanghai Price Bureau on a vertical monopoly agreement

  • Advised a technology company on responding to an antitrust investigation by the SAMR and Beijing AMR

  • Represented Zhenhua Logistics in responding to an antitrust investigation by Tianjin Development and Reform Commission on a price cartel

  • Advised a globally leading optical company on responding to an antitrust investigation by Shanghai AIC

  • Advised New Hope on responding to an antitrust investigation by Hainan Development and Reform Commission on a vertical monopoly agreement

Honors and Awards

For Individual

Top 100 of Foreign-related Legal Talents, sponsored by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice and the University of International Business and Economics

Up and Coming Lawyer, Chambers Greater China Region Guide 2024 - Competition/Antitrust (PRC Firms)

Rising Stars 2023, China Business Law Journal

Recommended Lawyer in China Mainland, The Legal 500

For Deal

Joint venture between Liaoning Bora Group and LyondellBasell, Outstanding Case of Foreign-related Legal Services, Beijing Bar Association

Merger filing for Essilor/Luxottica, Outstanding Case of Foreign-related Legal Services, Beijing Bar Association

Memberships & Affiliations

Part-time Tutor of Master of Laws, Renmin University of China

Part-time Tutor of Master of Laws, University of International Business and Economics

Related

  • Bar Admissions/Professional Qualifications

    PRC Bar, 2011

  • Education

    LL.M., University of International Business and Economics, 2007-2009
    B.A., University of International Business and Economics, 2003-2007

  • Professional Experience

    Equity partner, non-equity partner, and associate, Zhong Lun Law Firm
    Associate, K&L Gates
    Associate, Taylor Wessing Beijing Office
    Associate, Sinobridge Law Firm

  • Languages

    Chinese
    English