Yan Zhang

YAN ZHANG is a co-head of the Litigation group in Hong Kong. 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 on the Finance and Administrative Committee of Hong Kong International Arbitration Center.

Yan’s experience and results have earned her extensive recognition. She has been listed in the inaugural Hong Kong edition of the Legal 500 Private Practice Powerlist: Arbitration Hong Kong (2023). She is ranked in Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms) by Chambers Greater China Region and Chambers Global (2019–2026), and is recommended by Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Regional International Arbitration (2022–2026). In the 2026 edition of Chambers Greater China Region, clients commented that “Zhang Yan is one of the most outstanding dispute resolution lawyers I’ve ever encountered, responding to our enquiries with remarkable efficiency and proposing actionable solutions.” In the 2025 edition of Legal 500 Asia Pacific, a client praised 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.”

Yan has been named by China Business Law Journal to its list of “The A-List 2024–2025: Growth Drivers.” She has also been featured as a “Litigation Star” in the International Arbitration category (2025-2026) and has been recognized among Asia’s “Top 100 Women in Litigation” (2026) by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific, as well as a “Future Leader” in Arbitration by Who’s Who Legal (2022–2024). She has been shortlisted as a “Commercial Arbitration Lawyer of the Year” for IFLR’s Women in Business Law APAC Awards (2022–2023), and a finalist as an “Arbitration Lawyer of the Year” and “Woman Lawyer of the Year” for ALB Women in Law Awards (2023).

Before focusing on 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 and skill set provide a strategic advantage that benefit her clients at all stages of the corporate lifecycle.

Yan is fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese.

Representative Adversarial Experience

• 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.
• 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.
• A well-known pharmaceutical company in a US$60 million ICC arbitration in relation to disputes over an exclusive commercialization agreement.
• A California headquartered multi-national company in a JAMS arbitration in connection disputes over a separation and consulting agreement.
• 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.
• A leading game developer in disputes relating to performance of various publishing agreements with its publishers.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• A real estate group and its affiliates in a RMB 600 million HKIAC arbitration in relation to disputes over an equity acquisition.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• A leading global investment bank in a CIETAC arbitration in relation to disputes arising from its divesture of an investment in China.
• 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.
• A U.S. research and technology company in a CIETAC arbitration in relation to a contractual dispute with a Hong Kong technology company.
• A P.R.C.-based conglomerate in connection with disputes with one of its U.S. customers arising from alleged defective products.
• 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

• 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).
• A major Chinese investment firm affiliated to Shanghai municipal government in the US$400 million Series F financing for Mobileye N.V.
• China Development Bank International in connection with its equity investment, together with a consortium of other investors, in Alibaba Group Holding Limited.
• Temasek Holdings in connection with its investment in Vancl Corporation, an online-only apparel brand and retailer in China.
• A New York-based private equity investment firm in its US$1 billion acquisition of a cruise line.
• 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.
• Primavera Software, Inc. in its acquisition by Oracle Corporation.
• A leading nutritional supplements group in its mergers and acquisitions in China, U.S., Canada and Europe.
• 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.
• Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd., a leading operator of online games in China, in its US$152 million IPO on NASDAQ.

*Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

• HKIAC, Finance & Administration Committee, Member (2024–2026)
• HKIAC, List of Arbitrators
• SIAC, List of Arbitrators
• SCIA, List of Arbitrators
• SCIA, (HK)’s List of Arbitrators
• List of Arbitrators, Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC)
• Hong Kong Law Society
• American Bar Association