YAN ZHANG is a partner of Sidley Austin’s Hong Kong office, and a member of the Firm’s Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy practice group. She is experienced in the resolution of Chinese-foreign business disputes and has advised clients in proceedings conducted under a number of institutional arbitration rules including those of the ICC, HKIAC and CIETAC. She also sits as arbitrator in commercial arbitration cases conducted in English and/or Mandarin Chinese.
Yan has been ranked in the 2022 edition of Chambers Global: China Dispute Resolution/Arbitration and Chambers Greater China Region (Dispute Resolution/Arbitration), and was praised by clients 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." In previous editions, clients described Yan as “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); “very commercial”, "very responsive”, and “suggests sensible ways of solving disputes" (2019). Yan is recognized as a “Next Generation Lawyer” in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018 – International Arbitration. Yan has been shortlisted as an “Commercial Arbitration Lawyer of the Year” for IFLR’s Women in Business Law APAC Awards 2022.
Before joining Sidley’s dispute practice in Hong Kong, 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.