ALB Legal News Issue No. Han Kun Law Offices: Representing its generation milestones ahead

Han Kun Law Offices is not only stepping up to take leadership of its generation, the firm's rapid growth is a distinct indication of its success since its establishment.

The five-year mark may seem rather tender for a PRC firm but by no means connote a lack in accomplishments for Han Kun. The firm now has three offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen and credits its achievements on its ability to tread carefully in its clients' shoes. Han Kun lawyers place heavy emphasis on anticipating and responding to potential issues for clients before they materialise. 

"We are very proactive in following up on our clients' needs in an ever-changing market. Our lawyers place themselves in our clients' shoes. Incorporating our knowledge of market dynamics, we devise different responses and solutions working around the challenges and barriers for our clients in order to attain their business objectives," said Chao Yijun, a partner at Han Kun. 

Han Kun's success can also be attributed to its corporate culture, vision, dedication to providing solution-oriented quality services and a strong desire to grow and develop with its clients.

An expansion above and beyond
Han Kun has managed to stay the course during the outbreak of the global financial crisis. The firm marked 2008 as yet another milestone by its addition of 14 new lawyers and an expansive list of clientele which includes AsiaInfo, Huawei, Sequoia Capital, TeamSun and General Electric. 

Further emboldened by its continuing success, Han Kun opened two new offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen earlier this year, recruiting three new partners and one counsel from international firms. The bold move in such tough times reflects Han Kun's core principle of incessant recruitment of top legal talents to provide the best legal services to discerning clients within and outside of China. 

"We plan to cautiously hire professionals to support and fill the strategic needs of our new offices in the next 6 to 12 months," Chao added. 

Although rapid expansion is not a new fad in the legal market, what distinguishes Han Kun from other firms in China is its keen attention to being a solution provider. "In addition to being legal advisors to our clients, we want to help our clients achieve their business objectives without breaking the deal" said Joseph Hwang, a partner at Han Kun. 

With a combination of international experience and local expertise, Han Kun labels their strategy to be a ‘China practice with a global vision'. The firm practises a perfect balance in-between a traditional PRC firm and an international firm.

Most of Han Kun's partners have worked for a significant number of years at major international firms before founding or joining the firm. Hence, the rich experience in working on domestic transactions coupled with a technical understanding of international practice standards gives Han Kun an edge over the others. 
"We are a Chinese law firm, and we know the Chinese legal market and issues extremely well. But our practice standard and quality have a heavy international influence," Hwang added. 

Leading practices
In view of its success in tackling the financial crisis, Han Kun is well-prepared to take on what the economic climate serves on their platter. The firm is renowned for its three strongest practice areas – Corporate transactions and M&A, International and domestic capital markets, and IP. 

As one of its leading practices, Han Kun continues to be highly active in the M&A sector, leaving trails of well-reputed representations for both domestic and international clients from various industries in domestic and cross-border equity and asset acquisitions. The firm represented Baring Private Equity Asia in its acquisition of UK's leading education company, Nord Anglia Education, and TeamSun in its acquisition of Automated Systems Holdings.

Sitting on the front line of the capital markets, Han Kun has had vast experiences representing companies and investors in venture capital and private equity transactions. The firm also represents issuers and underwriters in IPOs on the domestic and international stock exchanges. The firm advised Lihua International's IPO and Yongye International, a leading developer and distributor of Shengmingsu brand plant and animal nutrient products in China, on its listing on NASDAQ. Another significant representation includes advising one of the most popular social-networking websites in China, Kaixin001, on its Series B equity financing. 

Han Kun also provides comprehensive legal services to clients ranging from IP portfolio management, establishment of internal IP policy and rules, risk analysis, patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets that arise in commercial transactions. 

While the rest of the legal market begins to pick themselves up at this time, Han Kun is moving forward, and ever so swiftly. Nominated as ‘Rising Law Firm of the Year' in the ALB awards 2009, Han Kun's continuing expansion has earned themselves a rightful recognition for their restless endeavours.

Beijing Han Kun Law Offices
Suite 906, Office Tower C1, Oriental Plaza 
No. 1 East Chang An Ave. 
Beijing 100738 P. R. China
Telephone: (86 10) 8525 5500 
Facsimile: (86 10) 8525 5511 / 5522
Website: http://:www.hankunlaw.com
[October 2009] Issue (http//china.legalbusinessonline.com)