Yan Zhang

YAN ZHANG is a co-head of the Litigation group in Hong Kong, and a member of the firm’s Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy practice. She is experienced in the resolution of Chinese-foreign business disputes across a wide-range of industries including technology, private equity, life sciences, energy and infrastructure, real estate, and financial services. Yan has advised clients in proceedings conducted under various institutional arbitration rules. She also sits as arbitrator in commercial arbitration cases conducted in English and/or Mandarin Chinese. Yan also serves as APAC Chair of the Firm’s Committee on Promotion and Retention of Women; and Committee on Associate Evaluation and Compensation.

Yan’s experience and results have earned her extensive recognition. She has recently been listed in the inaugural Hong Kong edition of the Legal 500 Private Practice Powerlist List – Arbitration. She is also ranked as a Leading Individual in international arbitration by Chambers Greater China and recommended by Legal 500 Asia Pacific. In the 2025 edition of Chambers Greater China Region, clients commented that “Yan is really on top of matters going into the arbitration and very quick in coming up with solutions,” and “she is a very popular choice for cross-border disputes.” In the 2024 edition of Chambers Greater China Region and Chambers Global, a client noted that “Yan is a sophisticated, well-rounded individual who provides relevant, meaningful and objective advice,” and that “she performs her role exceptionally well”. Another client noted that “Yan is a most industrious practitioner with a sharp commercial sense and awareness. Her knowledge and experience in PRC law no doubt gives her the edge in dealing with cross-border and international disputes that involve detailed analysis and cross-examination on expert evidence.” In the 2025 edition of Legal 500 Asia Pacific, client praise for Yan included that “she combines a charming manner with deep arbitration expertise” and “she has extensive experience in dispute resolution and her service attitude and quality are excellent.” In the 2023 edition of Chambers Greater China Region and Chambers Global, Yan is described as being “extraordinarily hard-working and clever and also an astute strategist” and “very well informed and knowledgeable in the field of arbitration, as well as being very personable." Yan is also described as “the driver of our case” who understands “the business initiatives and objectives in launching the arbitration.” In previous editions, clients described Yan as “a detailed person who leaves no stone unturned and is very strong in execution” and “one of Sidley Austin's most effective lawyers in its Hong Kong arbitration practice. Her knowledge of Chinese arbitration law and procedure is especially helpful.” (2022); “carefully studying the details of our case, digging up important evidence and seizing on key points and striving to give the client the best advantage.” (2021); and “very confident, logical and well organized in her oral advocacy” with “good ability to think and respond on her feet” and “one of few truly bilingual counsel at partner level who can conduct advocacy fluently in the Chinese language” (2020). Legal 500 Asia Pacific recommended Yan for being “extremely helpful and responsive”; someone who “understands both the international and domestic PRC market” and “is able to conduct advocacy in either English or Mandarin Chinese” (2023). 

Yan has been named by China Business Law Journal to its list of “The A-List 2024-2025: Growth Drivers”, and recognized as a “Litigation Star” in the International Arbitration category by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2025, as well as a future leader by Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2022-2024. She has been shortlisted as an “Commercial Arbitration Lawyer of the Year” for IFLR’s Women in Business Law APAC Awards for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023), and a finalist as an “Arbitration Lawyer of the Year” and “Woman Lawyer of the Year” for ALB Women in Law Awards 2023.

Before specializing in dispute resolution, Yan practiced for about 10 years in New York, Shanghai, and Hong Kong as a transactional lawyer, advising private equity funds and multinational companies in mergers and acquisitions, fund formation, and other corporate matters. Yan’s diverse practice gives her a unique blend of skills that benefit her clients at all stages of the corporate lifecycle.

Yan is fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese.

Representative Adversarial Experience

• Representing a private equity fund in an HKIAC arbitration against a major Hong Kong-listed transport infrastructure company in relation to the repudiation of a share subscription agreement. The value of dispute is over US$500 million.
• Representing a Hong Kong company in a Delaware litigation against the general partner of a California based private equity fund. in relation to disputes regarding performance under the partnership agreement in relation to purported investment in a leading technology company.
• Defending a well-known pharmaceutical company in a US$60 million ICC arbitration in relation to disputes over an exclusive commercialization agreement.
• Defending a California headquartered multi-national company in a JAMS arbitration in connection disputes over a separation and consulting agreement.
• Representing a Canadian retailer in a CIETAC Hong Kong arbitration against a Chinese company and its Hong Kong subsidiary in relation to the performance of a distribution contract.
• Advising a leading game developer in disputes relating to performance of various publishing agreements with its publishers.
• Defending a Taiwanese conglomerate in a RMB300 million CIETAC Beijing arbitration brought by a Japanese conglomerate in connection with dispute arising from a procurement and collaboration agreement.
• Representing a Chinese real estate developer and its affiliates in a US$160 million HKIAC arbitration brought by a U.S. based investment management firm in connection with the investment management firm’s intended exit from a joint venture. In addition to the HKIAC arbitration, the parties also submitted related disputes under onshore joint venture contracts to CIETAC arbitration in Beijing in parallel.
• Representing an Israeli company in an arbitration administered by CIETAC Hong Kong asserting claims arising out of a distribution agreement against a Hong Kong subsidiary of a P.R.C. state-owned listed company.
• Defending a real estate group and its affiliates in a RMB 600 million HKIAC arbitration in relation to disputes over an equity acquisition.
• Defending a BVI corporation and its current P.R.C. individual shareholders in a US$80 million HKIAC arbitration concerning the implementation of a complex stock repurchase agreement to buy out the equity stake of the BVI corporation’s former shareholders.
• Representing a P.R.C. real estate developer and its related Singapore SPV in an approximately US$100 million HKIAC arbitration concerning a Sino-foreign joint venture dispute with its U.S. private equity fund partner.
• Defending a P.R.C.-based real estate group in a US$35 million HKIAC arbitration in relation to disputes arising from alleged breaches of a Master Investment and Shareholder’s Agreement.
• Representing a global investment fund in a US$40 million HKIAC arbitration in relation to disputes arising from its investment in China and the breaches of a Shareholder’s Agreement by the Chinese founder.
• Defending a leading global investment bank in a CIETAC arbitration in relation to disputes arising from its divesture of an investment in China.
• Representing a global beauty products company in connection with an M&A dispute in a US$50 million HKIAC arbitration arising from the purchase of a Chinese skin care products company.
• Representing a U.S. research and technology company in a CIETAC arbitration in relation to a contractual dispute with a Hong Kong technology company.
• Advising a P.R.C.-based conglomerate in connection with disputes with one of its U.S. customers arising from alleged defective products.
• Advising a Hong Kong-listed company in relation to an investigation by the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong regarding alleged provision of false or misleading information.

Representative Transactional Experience

• Representing BGI-Shenzhen, a leader in the genomics industry, in its US$117 million acquisition of Complete Genomics, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNOM) through a tender offer (first tender offer acquisition of a U.S.-based public company by a Chinese company).
• Representing a major Chinese investment firm affiliated to Shanghai municipal government in the US$400 million Series F financing for Mobileye N.V.
• Representing China Development Bank International in connection with its equity investment, together with a consortium of other investors, in Alibaba Group Holding Limited.
• Representing Temasek Holdings in connection with its investment in Vancl Corporation, an online-only apparel brand and retailer in China.
• Representing a New York-based private equity investment firm in its US$1 billion acquisition of a cruise line.
• Representing a New York -based private equity firm in the establishment of its latest US$1.2 billion fund and counseling on internal carry, compensation and governance arrangements among fund sponsors and investment professionals.
• Representing Primavera Software, Inc. in its acquisition by Oracle Corporation.
• Representing a leading nutritional supplements group in its mergers and acquisitions in China, U.S., Canada and Europe.
• Representing The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and Credit Suisse Group AG as lead underwriters in the US$172 million IPO on the NASDAQ for Focus Media Holding, a leading new media advertising company in China.
• Representing Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd., a leading operator of online games in China, in its US$152 million IPO on NASDAQ.

*Includes matters worked on prior to joining Sidley.