Ms.Penny Zhaois a Partner at Zhong Lun W&D Law Firm, Beijing Headquarter, and serves as Secretary-General of the Cross-Border Investment & International Trade Practice Committee. Her main areas of expertise include mergers and acquisitions, cross-border investment, export controls, and general corporate.

She has represented a broad range of clients, including globally renowned multinational corporations — such as Samsung (Korea), Jabil (U.S.), Singapore Power, Wilmar International (Singapore), HWR Group (U.S.), Nippon Steel (Japan), and Pernod Ricard (France) — as well as major state-owned enterprises including CNPC Group, China National Chemical Corporation, Sinochem Group, Chalco, CASC, CITIC Group, China PICC Group, in addition to private enterprises and private equity investors.

Ms. Zhao was selected for the Beijing Foreign-Related Lawyer Talent Pool in 2021 and participated in the Ministry of Justice’s training program for high-end foreign-related legal professionals in 2023. She contributed to theGuide for Overseas Investment by Chinese Investorspublished by Peking University Press and has authored multiple articles on overseas investment and SOE compliance issues.

Professional Experience

Before entering Zhong Lun W&D, Ms. Zhao gained experience with:

• Siemens (China) Co., Ltd.
• Beijing JunHe Law Office
• PwC Legal China

Ms. Zhao’s representative legal matters include:

• Advising a central SOE on the review and negotiation of international sale of goods agreements and export control compliance for the sale of green methanol to an EU country.
• Advising a central SOE on consulting and equipment import contracts and export control compliance for an Italian technical consultancy.
• Providing full-service legal support for the acquisition of a Luxembourg company by a subsidiary of a major aerospace group.
• Advising a state agricultural group from Guangdong on the acquisition of a Thai rubber group and its upstream assets across seven countries (Cambodia, India, Laos, etc.).
• Advising a Shandong-based SOE on the acquisition of a Kenyan project company and related PPP projects.
• Conducting legal environment due diligence for the establishment of a joint-venture power plant in Bangladesh for a Yunnan-based SOE.
• Providing full legal services for a domestic listed company’s acquisition of a controlling stake in a Polish high-tech company.
• Assisting a subsidiary of a major aerospace group in establishing a wholly-owned office in Frankfurt, Germany.
• Conducting legal environment research for a subsidiary of China Chemical Engineering Group in India on EPC project matters.
• Providing end-to-end bidding support for a Zhejiang-based state group’s investment in a Croatian port.
• Advising a domestic listed company on the acquisition of a controlling stake in a Finnish high-tech enterprise.
• Advising a central SOE on the sale of its Indian subsidiary’s equity/assets.
• Providing full legal services for a Zhejiang automotive enterprise’s joint venture establishment with Renault in France.
• Providing comprehensive legal services for a Korean telecom company’s liquidation of its domestic subsidiary.
• Advising on legal matters for the establishment of a solar PV project in Kenya by a central SOE.
• Providing legal consultation on Chinese regulatory approvals for a Japanese energy company’s acquisition of an energy company in Singapore.
• Advising a Singapore power company on joint-venture incorporation in Singapore with a Chinese power company.
• Providing legal advice on the acquisition of Icelandic and Swedish tourism real estate equity for a domestic investor, including outbound real estate investment issues.
• Providing legal consulting and drafting documentation for NWS Group member K11 Group’s mainland art museum investment (including red-chip structure setup).
• Providing red-chip structuring and feasibility analysis for Hong Kong NWS Group’s mainland medical clinic investment.
• Assisting Beijing Manyu Interactive Technology Co., Ltd. in red-chip structuring and full legal services.
• Reviewing and amending red-chip-related overseas transaction documents for a subsidiary of 58 Group and providing associated legal services.

Honors 

•  Selected for the Beijing Foreign-Related Lawyer Talent Pool (2021)

•  Participant in the Ministry of Justice High-End Foreign-Related Legal Talent Training Program (2023)

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Economic Law, Northwest University of Political Science and Law
Master of Laws (LL.M.), International Economic Law, Renmin University of China
Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Law, Temple University (U.S.)

PRC Lawyer’s Practicing Qualification

Chinese and English