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Jiakai YU
Regional Partner / Shanghai
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Tel +86-21-6061-3306
Email yujiakai@zhonglun.com
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Practices
Litigation & Arbitration, Corporate & Commercial Crime, Investment/M&A & Corporate Governance
Jiakai YU
Mr. Jiakai Yu specializes in entertainment law and commercial criminal law, with over 15 years of professional practice in both fields.
In the entertainment and media industry, he has long represented renowned artists, film and television production companies, leading MCN agencies, and online platforms in handling complex legal matters such as artist contract terminations, investment contract disputes, and intellectual property rights protection. He has successfully safeguarded clients' interests and recovered substantial financial losses through litigation, arbitration, and negotiation, demonstrating a keen grasp of industry-specific business models and legal risks along with considerable practice experience.
In commercial criminal law, leveraging his academic background in this domain, Mr. Yu focuses on defense, compliance, and risk prevention in cases involving occupational crimes and financial crimes. He has provided representation in numerous high-profile, complex cases, involving commercial bribery and fund-raising fraud, among others, and achieved satisfactory outcomes for clients through pinpoint legal analysis and tactical approaches.
Mr. Yu currently serves as an arbitrator for arbitration commissions in several cities, including Jiamusi, Tongling, and is a member of both the Arbitration Committee and the Publicity Committee of the Shanghai Bar Association. His professional expertise is widely recognized within the industry. He has been consistently honored with the Shanghai Lawyers Industry Contribution Award and has earned numerous accolades in national and regional lawyer debate competitions, reflecting his profound professional knowledge and outstanding advocacy skills.
Representative Matters
Represented a top-tier domestic celebrity in a family dispute case
Represented a leading Chinese actress in risk control disputes related to infringement and endorsement contracts
Represented a top MCN company in a contractual dispute with a well-known KOL
Represented the China regional headquarters of the largest U.S. streaming software company in infringement negotiations with a domestic listed company
Represented one of the world's largest chain restaurants in a franchise agreement dispute with a domestic entity and in related equity holding agreement disputes
Represented the Canadian Pavilion in a contract dispute in China related to the World Expo pavilion
Represented a listed domestic home textile company in overseas arbitration proceedings against a foreign supplier
Represented a domestic airline in a dispute over an equity transfer agreement with an investor
Represented an educational institution in arbitration proceedings arising from VIE agreements with a renowned overseas educational institution
Represented a globally renowned apparel company in arbitration proceedings related to a framework agreement with a domestic enterprise
Represented a well-known construction and decoration group in Jiangsu in arbitration proceedings against a Shanghai-based modern American-style restaurant chain
Represented a well-known Indian automotive enterprise in international arbitration proceedings against a Chinese automobile company and acted as long-term legal counsel and exclusive litigation attorney for the Indian enterprise
Provided legal defense for a suspect accused of bid-rigging, ultimately resulting in the avoidance of prosecution
Provided legal defense for a suspect accused of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, ultimately securing the lightest possible legal liability
Provided legal defense for a suspect accused of smuggling ordinary goods and articles, ultimately securing a penalty lower than the statutory minimum
Provided legal defense for a suspect accused of illegally absorbing public deposits, ultimately securing a penalty lower than the statutory minimum
Provided legal defense for a suspect accused of selling goods with counterfeit registered trademarks, ultimately securing a penalty lower than the statutory minimum
Honors and Awards
For Individual
Coach of Shanghai Lawyers Debate Club, Shanghai Lawyers Association, 2025
Shanghai Lawyers Industry Contribution Award, Shanghai Lawyers Association, 2024
Shanghai Lawyers Industry Contribution Award, Shanghai Lawyers Association, 2023
Coach of Winning Team, East China Lawyers Debate Competition, Shanghai Lawyers Association, 2023
Coach of Winning Team, Shanghai Lawyers Debate Competition, Shanghai Lawyers Association, 2023
Champion, First NIO Cup Young Lawyers Debate Competition, Judicial Departments of Six Provinces/Municipalities, 2023
Third Prize (Individual) & Second Prize (Team), Shanghai Prosecutors vs. Lawyers Debate Competition, Shanghai Prosecutors Association & Shanghai Lawyers Association, 2018
Shanghai Lawyers Industry Special Contribution Award, Shanghai Lawyers Association, 2012
First Prize, National Prosecutors vs. Lawyers Debate Competition; Shanghai Advanced Legal Professional; Top Ten Debater, Shanghai Lawyers Debate Competition; Shanghai Judicial Administration Advanced Individual, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China & Shanghai Lawyers Association, 2011
For Deal
Co researcher for "Research on the Criminal Reconciliation System in the Context of a Harmonious Society," awarded Second Prize in Shanghai Key Legal Research Project for Middle aged and Young Scholars
Publications
"Research on the Criminal Reconciliation System in the Context of a Harmonious Society" (co-author)
"Inquiry into Perplexing Criminal Cases" (co-author)
"Criminal Victim Assistance" (co-author)
"Research on the Practical Model of Criminal Law" (co-author)
"Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly" (co-author)
"International Anti-Corruption Research" (co-author)
"Legal Risk Prevention for Private Enterprises" (co-author)
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Bar Admissions/Professional Qualifications
PRC Bar
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Education
LL.M. in Criminal Law, East China University of Political Science and Law, September 2007 - June 2010
LL.B., Law School, Jiangsu University, September 2002 - June 2006 -
Professional Experience
Regional partner, Zhong Lun Law Firm, 2025 to present
Partner, Jincheng Tongda & Neal (Shanghai) Law Firm, 2021–2025
Lawyer, Grandall Law Firm (Shanghai), 2014–2021
Lawyer, Boss & Young Attorneys-at-Law Attorney, 2012–2014
Lawyer, Grandall Law Firm (Shanghai) Attorney, 2010–2012 -
Languages
Chinese
English