Li Chen is a partner in the Mergers and Acquisitions practice. Her practice spans a broad range of M&A, corporate and private equity matters, particularly in Greater China and China-related investments around the world. 

Li has represented numerous major Chinese and international corporations, financial institutions and investment funds on their cross-border transactions including foreign direct and outbound investments, public and private M&A transactions, private equity and venture capital investments, joint ventures, strategic alliances, buyouts and take privates, asset disposals and reorganizations.  

Her experience covers a wide range of industries including energy, financial services, healthcare, industrials, infrastructure, mining and metals, private capital, retail and consumer and technology, media and telecommunications.

Li is also actively involved in advising clients on regulatory and compliance issues encountered on M&A transactions such as export control, anti-corruption compliance, CFIUS national security reviews, IP licensing, antitrust and sanctions matters.

• China Telecommunications Corporation on its joint venture with Udenna Corporation with respect to the joint venture’s telecommunications project in the Philippines. This deal—a nationwide greenfield telecom project in a country with a population of more than 100 million—is a very rare opportunity around globe
• TPG Asia Capital in its acquisition of Abengoa S.A.’s transmission assets in Brazil
• China-LAC Cooperation Fund in its investment in São Simão operating hydro power assets in Brazil
• Restaurant Brands International Inc. on its franchise agreements with Popeyes Shanghai Restaurant Management Co. Ltd., and relevant regulatory approvals in China
• Jiangxi Copper in its acquisition of a 50% equity in Nesko Metal, a copper mining company with assets in Turkey and Albania
• CDB-RW PE Fund in its acquisition of a German-headquartered multinational medical device company
• Lukoil in its sale to Sinopec of a 50% equity interest in Caspian Investment Resources, which owns and operates oil assets in Kazakhstan
• Haichang Group, one of China’s largest theme park operators, in its business restructuring and sale of a minority interest to Hony Capital. Also represented the same company in its subsequent Hong Kong IPO as lead international counsel and U.S. counsel
• A sovereign wealth fund in its acquisition of industrial property assets in Japan
• China Mobile in its joint bid with Vodafone for a telecom operation license in Burma
• State Grid International Development in its proposed acquisition of certain operating wind power assets in the U.S. from AES
• State Grid International Development in its refinancing for certain power transmission assets in Brazil
• One of China’s largest power companies in its proposed acquisition of a significant stake in Indonesian coal mine assets
• A Chinese State-owned company in its investment in one of the largest iron ore producers in Africa
• Huadian Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in an IP license transaction with a U.S. company
• China Sincere Group in various financing transactions
• The Special Committee of a NASDAQ listed company in the proposed sale of this company to a Hong Kong listed company
• Sichuan Tengzhong in its attempted acquisition of Hummer business from GM
• Huawei in its bid of certain assets of Nortel in bankruptcy proceedings
• Abengoa Solar in its establishment of Sino-foreign joint ventures with PRC State-owned companies and project companies
• Nokia in its divestment of networks related business in China
• Nokia Siemens Networks in the merger of Nokia and Siemens’s networks businesses in China and establishment of a holding company in China
• China Aviation Industry Corporation in its acquisition of FACC, a European airplane components manufacturing company
• China Mobile Communications Corporation in its establishment of a joint R&D center with Vodafone, SoftBank and Verizon
• Hong Kong listed United Energy Group Limited in connection with its US$215 million investment in Houston-based Transmeridian Exploration Inc.
• China Mobile Communications Corporation in its acquisition of Paktel Limited, a telecommunication company in Pakistan
• Huawei Technologies in connection with its joint venture with Symantec
• Huawei Technologies in the sale of its interest in H3C, a joint venture formed by Huawei Technologies and 3Com Corporation, to 3Com Corporation
• Hunan Valin Steel Tube & Wire Co., Ltd. in its joint venture with Lone Star Technologies, Inc.
• Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. in its joint venture with 3Com Corporation to form Huawei-3Com Co., Ltd.

Awards & Accolades

• Recognized as a Leading Individual for Private Equity in China by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024)
• Recognized as a Recommended Lawyer for Corporate and M&A in China/Hong Kong and Private Equity in Hong Kong by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024)
• Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer - Highly Regarded" in Private Equity and M&A by IFLR1000 (2024)
• Recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Corporate/M&A: Mainland China-based (International Firms) in China by Chambers Greater China Region (2024)
• Recognized as a Recommended Lawyer for Philippines: Foreign Firms by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2023)
• Recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Corporate/M&A: International in China/ Hong Kong by Chambers Asia-Pacific (2021)
• Recognized in the “Women Leaders” list by IFLR1000 (2021-2023)
• Named “Best in M&A” by Euromoney Legal Media Group’s Asia Women In Business Law Awards (2020)
• Shortlisted for “TMT Lawyer of the Year” by Asia Legal Awards (2020) 
• Recognized in “The A-List China’s Elite 100 Lawyers (Foreign Firm)” by China Business Law Journal (2019)
• Clients comment in Chambers Greater China Region that Li “provides thoughtful, business-savvy advice while also being highly knowledgeable about the PRC issues.” (2022)
• Clients comment in IFLR1000 that Li "has proven to be the most sophisticated and experienced transaction lawyer we have ever seen in the Chinese market." (2021)
• According to Legal 500, Li and her team “are very dedicated, with rich industry experience and profound legal knowledge, and can always give clients comprehensive support.” (2021)