Han Kun Law Offices Explained

Firm Name:Han Kun Law Offices
漢坤律師事務所
汉坤律师事务所
Firm Logo:Han_Kun_Logo.png -->
Headquarters:Beijing, China
Num Offices:8
Num Attorneys:700+
Num Employees:1000+
Practice Areas:General practice
Date Founded:2004 (Beijing)
Company Type:Law firm
Motto:We Defend Reason, Full of Passion -->

Han Kun Law Offices (traditional Chinese: 漢坤律師事務所; simplified Chinese: 汉坤律师事务所) is an international law firm headquartered in Beijing, China with offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Haikou, Wuhan, Hong Kong, Singapore and New York.[1] The firm has a strong focus on financing and investment-related areas, counting multinational companies, funds, and a number of top-notch companies from new economic sectors as clients. The firm is widely considered to be among China’s most prestigious law practices.[2]

In recognition of Han Kun's exceptional capabilities and leading position in the legal market, the firm was awarded "China Firm of the Year" at the China Law & Practice Awards 2021.[3]

On May 8, 2021, China Business Law Journal announced its China Business Law Awards 2021, and Han Kun was awarded the "Golden League" award. The “Golden League” comprises eight elite full-service Chinese law firms.[4]

The firm's working languages include Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean and German.

Han Kun is also exclusive China law firm member of WSG[5] and Pacific Rim Advisory Council.[6]

History

Han Kun was founded in Beijing in 2004.

In 2009, Han Kun opened its Shenzhen office, making it the firm's third office after Beijing and Shanghai.

In 2014, Han Kun entered the Hong Kong market through an association with a Hong Kong law firm.

In 2015, Han Kun entered into an alliance with Italian law firm Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners, allowing the two firms to work together on advising clients in China and Hong Kong, as well as Chinese investors with investments in Europe.[7]

In 2022, Han Kun reached a merger agreement with Shanghai-based Young-Ben. Young-Ben is a boutique law firm established in 2007 with a focus on finance and commercial dispute resolutions. According to the agreement, all Young-Ben partners, business departments, and administrative teams will join Han Kun's Shanghai office.

On April 18, 2022, with the approval of Hainan Provincial Department of Justice, the Haikou office of Han Kun was officially opened.

In order to satisfy the growing demand for high quality legal services of clients from central China, the Wuhan office of Han Kun was officially opened on July 27, 2022.

On November 28, 2022, Han Kun announced that Han Kun’s Hong Kong office and its Hong Kong associated law firm have officially merged, following approval by The Law Society of Hong Kong. Upon the merger, a local Hong Kong law firm operated by Han Kun under the name “Han Kun Law Offices LLP” was duly established. The merger will allow Han Kun to provide more effective, seamless legal services across Hong Kong SAR and the Chinese mainland.

On June 15, 2023, Han Kun announced the official opening and commencement of operations of its Singapore office, Han Kun LLP.Han Kun LLP is the first international office established by Han Kun outside of China, representing a significant milestone in the firm's global strategy.

On December 18, 2023 - Han Kun announced the official opening and operation in New York City of Han Kun LLP ("Han Kun NY"). Han Kun NY is located on the 2nd Floor of the Rockefeller Center, 620 Fifth Avenue, New York City, the United States of America.

Main practice areas

Han Kun's main practice areas include:

Clients

Han Kun's key clients include J.P. Morgan, UBS, Goldman Sachs, BofA Merrill Lynch, Tencent, Baidu, Bytedance, JD.com, Zhihu, Meituan, Vipshop, Nio, Air China, Vale S.A., Lenovo, Ericsson, Toyota, Samsung, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Heineken, Schindler, Marriott, Audi, HP Inc[8]

Corporate Social Responsibility

Han Kun has had an active pro bono practice since its founding. The Firm have supported education, provided pro bono legal services and donated to disaster-stricken communities. Most notably, the Firm launched the Han Kun Youth Legal Scholarship to award exceptional young graduates with outstanding academic records. The Han Kun Youth Legal Scholarship aims to enhance the professional skills of Chinese legal practitioners, encourage outstanding legal talent to pursue advanced legal studies and promote the sustainable progress and prosperity of China's legal industry. Han Kun is also a member of TrustLaw Connect, a global pro bono service platform that connects NGOs and social enterprises with the best law firms around the world.

Rankings and awards

Chambers and partners

!Year!Region!Rankings and awards
2018-2019GlobalBand I Aviation: Finance (PRC Firms) [9]
2018Asia-PacificPRC firm of the Year: Corporate & Finance
2017-2019Asia-PacificBand I TMT (PRC Firms)
2017-2019Asia-PacificBand I Private Equity (PRC Firms)
2017-2019Asia-PacificBand I Aviation: Finance (PRC Firms)
2016-2019Asia-PacificBand I Investment Funds (PRC Firms)
2013-2014Asia-PacificBand 1 Healthcare PRC Firms[10]

The Legal 500

!Year!Ranking
2019Tier 1 Fintech China Firm
2019Tier 1 Investment Funds China Firm
2018-2019Tier 1 Private Equity/Venture Capital China Firm
2016-2019Tier 1 TMT China Firm
2015Tier 1 Corporate and M&A China Firm[11]

IFLR 1000

!Year!Ranking
2019Tier 1 Capital Markets – Local Firms
2014, 2017-2019Tier 1 Investment Funds - Local Firms
2013-2019Tier 1 Private Equity - Local Firms[12]

Law.asia (China Business Law Awards)

!Year!Award Categories
2024Asset Management, Automotive, Industrials & Manufacturing, Aviation, Capital Markets (Hong Kong & Overseas), Consumer & Retail, Data Protection & Privacy, Fintech & Blockchain, Golden League, Healthcare, Pharma & Life Sciences, Internet & E-commerce, M&A (Outbound), Private Equity and Venture Capital, Structured Finance & Securitisation.[13]
2023Golden League, Capital Markets (Overseas), Data Protection & Privacy, IP (Copyright), M&A (Outbound), Private Equity and Venture Capital, Automotive, Industrials & Manufacturing, Aviation, Education, Energy & Natural Resources, Healthcare, Pharma & Life Sciences, Internet & E-commerce, Real Estate & REIT.[14]
2022Golden League, Anti-bribery and Anti-corruption, Capital Markets (Overseas), Data Protection and Privacy, M&A (Outbound), Private Equity and Venture Capital, Consumer and Retail.[15]
2021Golden League, Anti-bribery and Anti-corruption, Data Protection and Privacy, M&A (Outbound), Private Equity and Venture Capital, Aviation, Consumer and Retail, Fintech and Blockchain, Healthcare, Pharma and Life Sciences, Industrials and Manufacturing, Internet and E-commerce, Technology and Telecoms.[16]
2020Best Overall Law Firm (Beijing), Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption, Capital Markets (Overseas), Private Equity and Venture Capital, Aviation, Internet and E-commerce, Technology and Telecoms.[17]
2019Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity & Venture Capital, Aviation, Fintech & Blockchain, IT, Telecoms & E-commerce.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Han Kun Law Offices. www.hankunlaw.com. 2019-07-23.
  2. Web site: China 40: profit per equity partner at 12 of China's top law firms . 2022-03-14 . Law.com International . en-gb.
  3. Web site: 2021 Winners: China Law & Practice Awards (CLPA) 2021 . 2022-03-12 . www.event.law.com . en-AG.
  4. Web site: Editor . Vantage Asia . 2021-05-17 . China Business Law Awards 2021 . 2022-03-12 . Law.asia . en-US.
  5. Web site: Han Kun Law Offices Law Beijing WSG. www.worldservicesgroup.com. 2019-07-23.
  6. Web site: International Law, Pacific Rim Advisory Council, Law Firm International Law, Law Firm China. www.prac.org. 2019-07-23.
  7. Web site: Han Kun forms alliance with Italian law firm Asian Legal Business . 2022-03-15 . www.legalbusinessonline.com . en.
  8. Web site: Han Kun Law Offices > Beijing > China The Legal 500 law firm profiles . 2022-03-13 . www.legal500.com.
  9. Web site: Han Kun Law Offices, Global Chambers Rankings. chambers.com. Chambers and Partners. 2019-07-23.
  10. Web site: Han Kun Law Offices, Asia-Pacific Chambers Rankings. chambers.com. 2019-07-23.
  11. Web site: The Legal 500 rankings of HAN KUN LAW OFFICES. The Legal 500. 2019-07-23.
  12. Web site: Han Kun Law Offices IFLR1000. www.iflr1000.com. 2019-07-23.
  13. Web site: 24 July 2024 . China Business Law Awards 2024 . Law.asia.
  14. Web site: 25 June 2023 . China Business Law Awards 2023 . Law.asia.
  15. Web site: 15 June 2022 . China Business Law Awards 2022 . Law.asia.
  16. Web site: 17 May 2021 . China Business Law Awards 2021 . Law.asia.
  17. Web site: 8 April 2020 . https://law.asia/china-business-law-awards-2020/ . Law.asia.
  18. Web site: 11 March 2019 . China Business Law Awards 2019 .