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  • Shaun GAO

    Equity Partner / Shanghai

  • Tel +86-21-6061-3666

    Email shaungao@zhonglun.com

  • Practices

    Private Equity & Investment Funds, Hong Kong & Overseas Capital Markets, Cross-border Investment/M&A

  • Industries

    Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences, Telecom & Information, Intelligence Technology & Application

CV

Shaun GAO

Shaun Gao focuses his practice on private equity, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and overseas capital markets. Renowned for his nuanced approach and strategic insights, Shaun is distinguished by his ability to navigate complex, high-stakes M&A, restructuring, and private equity and venture capital transactions. Shaun's strategic acumen and sound judgment make him a trusted advisor to leading investors, as well as innovative startups seeking sophisticated legal guidance.

Shaun was recognized as a leading lawyer for private equity and healthcare by Chambers and a “Highly Regarded” lawyer for private equity and M&A by IFLR1000. His recent transactions “TJ Bio strategic restructuring and Series C1 financing” and “LaNova’s $951 million sale to SinoPharma” was respectively named by China Business Law Journal as “Deals of the Year 2024” and “Deals of the Year 2025”. According to Chambers Great China Guide, a client commented: “Shaun thinks outside the box. He is very sharp at quickly grasping the commercial point and proactively resolving legal issues with creativity”.

Representative Matters

  • Advised on LaNova Medicines’ several rounds of equity financings, product collaboration transactions, and its USD 951 million 100% equity sale to Sino Biopharma, with the equity sale to Sino Biopharma transaction named by China Business Law Journal as one of the “Deals of the Year 2025”

  • Advised Syneron Bio on its USD 150 million Series C equity financing

  • Advised TJ Bio on its strategic restructuring and Series C1 financing, a transaction named one of China Business Law Journal ‘s “Deals of the Year 2024”

  • Advised Minwei, a subsidiary of Lepu, on its out-licensing of MWN105 to and equity investment in Denmark’s Sidera Bio, a transaction named one of China Business Law Journal’s “Deals of the Year 2025”

  • Advised Ronovo Surgical on its Series D equity financing and strategic collaboration with J&J

  • Advised Everest Medicines on its incubation and inception, each round of equity financing, merger and restructuring, initial public offering on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, and top up placement

  • Advised Ocumension on its incubation and inception, each round of equity financing, restructuring, and initial public offering on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

  • Advised Cutia Group on its incubation and inception, each round of equity financing, restructuring, and initial public offering on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

  • Advised GraCell on its incubation and inception, multiple rounds of equity financing, red-chip restructuring, and initial public offering on Nasdaq

  • Advised C-Mab on its incubation and inception, each round of equity financing, and trade sale

  • Advised Lianlian Pay on its restructuring and multiple rounds of equity financing

Honors and Awards

For Individual

Ranked in Private Equity, Chambers, 2024-2025

Ranked in Healthcare, Chambers, 2025

Highly Regarded in Private Equity and M&A, IFLR1000, 2023-2025

Publications

Chambers Global Practice Guide – Venture Capital (China), 2025, 2026

Chambers Global Practice Guide – Healthcare M&A (China), 2025

"When the only certainty is uncertainty - An analysis on VC investment structure and terms design on pharmaceuticals sector", Zhong Lun Research Center, 2018

Related

  • Bar Admissions/Professional Qualifications

    PRC Bar, 2006

  • Education

    LL.M., University of Sheffield
    LL.B., East China University of Political Science and Law

  • Professional Experience

    Equity partner, Zhong Lun Law Firm
    Senior Counsel, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
    Legal Consultant, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP

  • Languages

    Chinese
    English