On October 17, 2023, renowned legal directory LEGALBAND announced its "2023 Under 40: Top 20 New Economy Lawyers" to showcase the 20 most favored new economy lawyers in mainland China under 40 years of age. Han Kun lawyer Sheldon Chen and Daniel Xu were named to the list.
Sheldon Chen
Reasons for selection: Mr. Chen has been active in the areas of private equity/venture capital, M&A, and restructuring in a wide range of industries, including hard technology, artificial intelligence, consumption, internet, healthcare, new energy, and logistics. Mr. Chen has long-term attention to and research on legal affairs and cutting-edge development in the new economy. He also has extensive experience in serving these companies. Recent years have seen him represent a number of leading new technology companies and well-known new consumer brands in their respective sectors in comprehensive financial and equity incentive matters. His professional, flexible, and creative legal solutions have earned him the trust of his clients. "Mr. Chen is an earnest, responsible, and professional lawyer with good sense of humor and good sense for business. He can provide professional and practical suggestions to the questions his clients raise in a timely manner. With his flexible thinking, Mr. Chen can come out of the traditional framework to find new ways to solve 'difficult and complicated problems' for clients. "
Lawyer's profile: Mr. Chen focuses on private equity/venture capital investments, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate and commercial-related legal services, specializing in complex onshore/offshore investments, M&A transactions, and restructuring transactions. Mr. Chen has substantively participated in and been in charge of a significant number of investment, restructuring, and M&A projects in a variety of industries, including hard and core technologies, artificial intelligence, retail and consumer industry, healthcare, alternative energy, logistics, and the Internet. Mr. Chen has also advised a number of startups regarding their employee share option plans. The clients Mr. Chen has served include famous RMB funds, USD funds, and strategic investors as well as fast-growing startups, emerging companies, and listed companies. Before joining Han Kun, Mr. Chen practiced with two other prestigious law firms in China.
Mr. Chen graduated from Fudan University Law School and obtained his LL.B. degree in 2010. After that, he graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and obtained his LL.M. degree in 2011.
Daniel Xu
Reasons for selection: Mr. Xu has extensive experience in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, and outbound investment, and is particularly adept at handling all kinds of large and complex cross-border transactions. Recently, Mr. Xu has been responsible for the restructuring of a new energy company in Singapore and representing an education technology company on a joint venture project in Singapore. With both legal skills and business acumen, Mr. Xu is able to provide professional and innovative legal services for leading enterprises in new economy, internet, high-tech, automobile, and healthcare industries. He is trusted by his clients. "In my opinion, Mr. Xu has outstanding professional skills. Not only does he know the legal provisions, but he also has an in-depth understanding of the core issues and grasp the key information, so as to provide comprehensive and tailored legal advice for his clients. He will consider the current situation of the company and the characteristics of the industry in which he works to build a customized solution for us and demonstrates strong professional and communication skills in all aspects of his legal services. In addition, Mr. Xu not only pays attention to legal details, but also actively promotes the development of his practice. His business thinking is rarely seen. "
Lawyer's profile: Daniel Xu advises investment funds and corporate clients on cross-border M&A and investment transactions, with particular focus on cross-border and multi-jurisdictional transactions, private equity investments in China-based businesses, outbound M&A by Chinese buyers, joint ventures, and other corporate matters. Mr. Xu has conducted nearly 20 overseas M&A projects across multiple jurisdictions, including representing U.S. and European MNCs to sell assets located in China, as well as Chinese companies to acquire underlying assets from Germany, the U.S., the U.K., Israel, Japan, and other countries. He has extensive experience in assisting Chinese and U.S. life sciences companies in structuring and negotiating cross-border commercial, corporate, and partnering transactions involving China, including strategic collaborations, joint ventures, licensing, acquisitions, co-promotions, and distribution arrangements. Mr. Xu has advised clients from a wide range of industries such as health care, internet and high-tech, media, automotive, education, real estate, energy, and natural resources. He also has experience with acquiring and servicing portfolios of nonperforming loans (NPLs). Prior to joining Han Kun, Mr. Xu worked with Jones Day for 10 years.
Mr. Xu obtained his LL.B. degree from East China Normal University in 2006 and LL.M. degree from East China University of Political Science and Law in 2009. Mr. Xu obtained his LL.M. degree from Columbia University in 2014.
