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Sophie CHEN
Senior Counsel / Beijing
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Tel +86-10-5975-2050
Email sophiechen@zhonglun.com
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Practices
Cross-border Investment/M&A, Litigation & Arbitration, IP Licensing & Enforcement
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Industries
Mining & Natural Resources
Sophie CHEN
Sophie Chen is one of the world's leading experts on Chinese foreign direct investment, mining and infrastructure projects. She has over 27 years of experience in China and Australia and has been admitted to practice law in the PRC, Hong Kong, and Australia.
Prior to joining Zhong Lun in 2024, Ms. Chen worked for over 10 years as a partner at the top tier law firm Gilbert + Tobin as well as MinterEllison Sydney office. Equipped with a thorough understanding of common law and civil law legal systems and their foreign investment and capital flow regimes, Ms. Chen has helped many China's largest and fastest growing businesses expand and diversify into outbound markets.
Ms. Chen has very broad practice areas including mining, energy resources, financing, infrastructure, real estate, education, airline, electricity, clean energy (renewable energy), medical, healthcare, hotel, agriculture, and telecommunication.
Ms. Chen has extensive experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, financing and REITs, joint ventures, general corporate, corporate governance, capital market, EPC/PPT/BOT projects, dispute resolution and intellectual property and information technology.
Representative Matters
CNGR acquisition of the Lithium project in Argentina from ASX listed company Lithium Energy Limited.
Yancoal Australia on its Hong Kong IPO and associated capital raising.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed Chengtun Mining Group Co. Ltd in relation to its acquisition of Nzuri Copper Limited by way of a scheme of arrangement between Nzuri and its shareholders, and on the provision of a loan to Nzuri.
Yancoal Australia on its US$2.5 billion (A$3.2 billion) equity raising to provide funding for the 100% acquisition of Coal & Allied.
Longluck Investment in relation to its takeover bid to acquire all shares in the ASX-listed company Cuesta Coal Limited.
Ping An Insurance - advised the real estate investment arm of the company in acquiring a 50% interest in a joint venture to develop Sydney's tallest office tower.
Shandong Gold on its $227.5 million share subscription in Focus Minerals.
Fullshare Holdings on the $77 million acquisition of 90% of childcare provider, Sparrow Early Learning.
Beijing Energy on its acquisition of Gullen Range’s solar farm and advised on its operation of Gullen Range wind farm.
European industrial machinery company Metso on its acquisition of mining engineering companies in China
China Nonferrous Mining Corporation Ltd on its due diligence in Kazakhstan
LB Group Co., Ltd on its proposed acquisition of mining project in Sri Lanka
Acted for various Chinese family to set up their family trust in Australia
Honors and Awards
Yancoal acquisition of Coal and Allied from Rio Tinto project, the largest mining deal in Australia 2017
Memberships & Affiliations
Arbitrator, Beijing Arbitration Commission/Beijing International Arbitration Center
Hainan International Arbitration Court
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Bar Admissions/Professional Qualifications
PRC, the Chinese mainland Bar
qualified in New South Wales, Australia
qualified in Hong Kong PRC -
Education
LL.M, University of Sydney, 2019
LL.B, Unversity of New South Wales, Australia 2007
LL.B, China Unversity of Political Science & Law, 1994 -
Professional Experience
Senior Counsel, Zhonglun law, 2024.8
JunHe LLP, 2022.3-2024.7
Partner, Gilbert and Tobin Lawyers, Australia, 2018.3-2022.2
Partner, MinterEllison Lawyers, Australia, 2012.3-2018.2 -
Languages
Chinese
English