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Yangli ZhangShanghaiMember of PRC Bar
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Partner
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Practices:Corporate, International Trade and Compliance, Dispute Resolution
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Tel:+86 21 6859 0516
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Fax:+86 10 8587 0079
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Email:Yangli. Zhang@chancebridge.com
Areas of Practice
Yangli ZHANG, a partner in the corporate division of Chance Bridge, who specializes in terms of corporate business, cross-border investment, real estate & residential property, and dispute resolution. He provides comprehensive legal services to diverse MNCs located in Asia, Europe, and other countries/regions involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, representing clients in many high-profile cases involving disputes over commercial contract, investment disputes, and other conflicts.
Yangli possesses extensive practical experience in corporate legal affairs such as contract review, risk control, foreign exchange controls, and labor employment. He provides long-term services to clients on corporate compliance and ESG-related projects, including consulting on environmental issues such as carbon emissions, energy-use rights trading, corporate pollutant discharge and environmental protection; as well as legal matters pertaining to supply chain management, anti-commercial bribery, and internal corporate governance. In cross-border investment legal matters, he provides both general counsel and specialized legal services, including foreign direct investment, overseas investment and M&A, corporate restructuring and integration, and corporate overseas expansion compliance.
Areas of Business
Cooperate Business, Cross-border Investment, Compliance and ESG project, Dispute Resolution.
Education background
Keio University, Japan (LL.M.)
East China University of Political Science and Law (LL.B.)
Work Experience
2015.03-2016.12, Associate in Beijing Zhonglun Law Firm Shanghai office
2017.02-2019.07, Associate in Beijing JT&N Law Firm Shanghai office
2017.08-2024.02, Partner in V and T Law Firm Shanghai office
From 2024.03 to Present, Partner in Chance Bridge Law Firm Shanghai office
Language
Chinese, English, Japanese
Cross-border Investment
- Provided specialized legal services for approximately 5 years for a Chinese enterprise in its joint venture transaction with a Japanese paper manufacturing company.
- Assisted F company, a Tier 1 supplier for FAW-Volkswagen, in a major asset transaction with American L company, a US-listed automotive seat manufacturer.
- Assisted a multinational medical device and electronics manufacturer in a company merger and patent acquisition transaction with a listed Chinese technology company.
- Represented a Taiwanese-invested enterprise in a case concerning company dividends and shareholder inspection rights, winning the lawsuit and overseeing the enforcement of the judgment.
- Assisted multiple multinational companies in establishing new Sino-foreign joint ventures in China, providing legal services including joint venture negotiations and merger control filings.
- Assisted multiple multinational companies in M&A projects involving major asset transactions, equity transfers, and business restructuring in China.
- Assisted multiple multinational companies in divesting their investments in Chinese joint ventures.
- Provided comprehensive ongoing legal counsel services to multiple multinational companies during their operations in China.
ESG project
- Assisted a large manufacturing enterprise in a transaction for the initial acquisition of energy-use rights.
- Assisted a large manufacturing enterprise in handling an environmental pollution crisis case and provided legal support for subsequent environmental assessment plans.
- Assisted a large manufacturing enterprise in a dispute with an environmental technology company regarding a zero-liquid-discharge wastewater treatment project.
- Assisted a wire spring manufacturing enterprise in Wuxi with technical transformation projects, capacity upgrades, and illegal pollutant discharge issues.
- Represented a multinational food manufacturer in combating counterfeit and similar products in the Chinese market to protect consumers' legitimate rights and interests.
- Assisted a multinational food manufacturer in handling near-expiry and expired products to promote the protection of public food safety.
- Assisted a major Asian steel conglomerate in handling a product data falsification incident, providing ESG compliance legal services regarding administrative penalties, social impact, and damages.
- Assisted a major Asian optical cable manufacturer in handling an incident involving improper conduct in product quality management, providing ESG compliance legal services regarding administrative penalties, social impact, and damages.
- Assisted multiple multinational companies in handling employee strike crises during divestment projects, employee placement plans for state-owned enterprises, and employment contract transitions.
- Assisted numerous multinational and domestic companies in providing legal support for corporate management schemes including employee management systems, equity incentive plans, confidentiality systems, equity control, anti-corruption policies, distributor/supplier management systems, internal hotlines, and board power design.
Compliance and Regulatory Enforcement
- Assisted a multinational enterprise in an internal investigation concerning fraudulent dealer subsidies, pursued damage claims against the infringer, and facilitated the dismissal and accountability of relevant internal personnel.
- Assisted a US automotive parts company in investigating internal employee fraud and improper benefit transfers, resulting in the dismissal and accountability of relevant personnel.
- Assisted multiple multinational companies in conducting internal investigations into suspected embezzlement and fraud by employees, supporting employee dismissals and criminal case reporting.
- Assisted a multinational enterprise in responding to a criminal investigation regarding food production safety, providing pre-interview training for client representatives facing inquiry by investigative authorities, and representing the client in the legal proceedings.
- Assisted a multinational transportation company in a case where it was investigated by market regulatory authorities for commercial bribery.
- Assisted a multinational enterprise in a case investigated by quality supervision and market regulatory authorities due to lack of mandatory product (3C) certification.
- Provided compliance consulting to multinational and domestic companies on import-export controls, government sanctions, and China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law in major jurisdictions worldwide.
- Represented a multinational food manufacturer in communications with the General Administration of Customs China and local port customs regarding goods detained at the border and pandemic-related testing incidents, providing legal support.
- Provided legal support to multiple multinational companies in customs-related enforcement cases, including matters involving customs declaration, commodity classification, customs valuation, country of origin, import food labeling management, and bonded zones.
- Assisted multiple multinational companies in providing legal support for matters involving offshore trade, processing with supplied materials, processing with imported materials, origin tracing, trade tariff agreements, and tariff barriers.
IP Rights Protection
- Assisted a multinational food manufacturer in enforcement actions against similar and counterfeit products sold in China, including cease-and-desist letters, administrative complaints, and civil litigation.
- Assisted a European high-end glass products manufacturer in enforcement actions against similar and counterfeit products sold domestically, including cease-and-desist letters, administrative complaints, and civil litigation.
- Assisted a multinational food manufacturer in reporting counterfeit production sites to the police and pursuing criminal litigation with collateral civil proceedings for rights protection.
Private Equity Investment
- Assisted a multinational food manufacturer in enforcement actions against similar and counterfeit products sold in China, including cease-and-desist letters, administrative complaints, and civil litigation.
- Assisted a European high-end glass products manufacturer in enforcement actions against similar and counterfeit products sold domestically, including cease-and-desist letters, administrative complaints, and civil litigation.
- Assisted a multinational food manufacturer in reporting counterfeit production sites to the police and pursuing criminal litigation with附带民事诉讼 (collateral civil proceedings) for rights protection.
- 2020, Lawyer Professional Level Assessment (Foreign-related Business) by Shanghai Bar Association
- Outstanding Legislative Information Officer (Aug 2024)
- Member of China Law Society
- Grassroots Legislative Information Officer, Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress Standing Committee
- Review Expert, Shanghai Municipal Government Procurement
- Tax and Legal Risk Management for Companies Expanding into China, Japanese, Published by Dai-Ichi Hoki Press, 2018

