The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) has completed its first panel review, two years after first instituting a formal roster. 

The panel consists of four main sub-panels: trade remedies, trade barrier investigations and response, world trade organisation (WTO) and regional trade agreements (RTA) dispute resolution, and international investment.

Each sub-panel includes a list of foreign law firms and a list of Chinese law firms. In total, 25 Chinese firms and 35 foreign firms have won spots on the panel. The panel is slightly enlarged compared to 23 Chinese firms and 31 foreign firms two years ago.

While majority of the firms on the inaugural panel have been reappointed, Dechert, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), Mayer Brown, Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) and Squire Sanders (now Squire Patton Boggs) are the five international firms to have dropped out.

Previously, Mayer Brown was listed on three of the sub-panels, but was not reappointed in the latest round of public tenders. Squire Sanders held two spots, while Dechert, HSF and MoFo had one each.

A number of local firms were also not reappointed following the review, including Beijing DHH, Huizhong, Jurisino and Zhonglun W&D.

New entrants to the panel include Chinese firms East & Concord Partners, FenXun, Fangda, Han Kun, Grandall and international firms Covington & Burling, Goodwin Procter, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Shearman & Sterling, and Vinson & Elkins.

Magic circle firms have also made their debut on the panel with Allen & Overy and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer each winning a spot on the sub-panel for international investment.

Among existing panel firms, Alston & Bird and Baker & McKenzie performed strongly, both appointed to two more sub-panels.

Another notable change is the extension of the trade remedies sub-panel from four foreign regions to seven. Apart from firms in the US, Europe, Canada and Australia, Mofcom added advisors for matters in Asian and African countries, Latin America and the European Economic Area.

The panel was formed via a public competitive bidding procedures conducted by procurement agent CMC International Tendering Company on behalf of Mofcom.

Mofcom established its inaugural panel in October 2013. The panel is reviewed and re-appointed every two years through public tender.

THE PANEL IN FULL

1. Trade remedies

Domestic

Zhong Lun
JT & N
Jia Run
AllBright
Huanzhong
Hylands
JunZeJun
Gaopeng
Ray Yin
Zhong Yin
Dazheng Guodu
East & Concord

US

Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle
Grunfeld Desiderio Lebowitz Silverman & Klestadt
Perkins Coie
Morris Manning & Martin
Steptoe & Johnson
Baker & McKenzie
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Alston & Bird

European Union

VVGB Advocaten
Van Bael & Bellis
Holman Fenwick Willan
Dentons

EEC

Dentons

Australia

MoulisLegal

Asia and Africa

Lakshmikumanran & Sridharan
Dua Associates
Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners

Latin America

Noronha Advogados
UNO Trade-Estrategistas de Comercio International

2.Trade barrier investigation and response

US 337 investigation

Domestic

DeHeng
Jun He
Jia Run
Lan Tai
Anjie
Zhong Lun
Co-Effort
JT & N

US

Covington & Burling
Adduci Mastriani & Schaumberg
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe
Alston & Bird
Steptoe & Johnson
Perkins Coie
Sidley Austin
Goodwin Proctor
Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Hogan Lovells

 

Trade barrier

Domestic

Jun He
Co-Effort
AllBright
Gaopeng
Huanzhong

Foreign

Perkins Coie
Sidley Austin
Lakshmikumanran & Sridharan
Baker & McKenzie
Alston & Bird

 

3. WTO and RTA dispute resolution

Foreign

Sidley Austin
Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle
Lakshmikumanran & Sridharan
Steptoe & Johnson
Holman Fenwick Willan
Jones Day
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr
Morris Manning & Martin
Van Bael & Bellis
Dentons
Hogan Lovells
VVGB Advocaten
Perkins Coie
Bennett Jones

Domestic

King & Wood Mallesons
JT & N
Zhong Lun
Gaopeng
JunZeJun
Huanzhong
Jun He
AllBright
Ray Yin
Co-Effort

 

4. International investment

Foreign

Shearman & Sterling
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Allen & Overy
Steptoe & Johnson
Sidley Austin
Hogan Lovells
Dentons
Baker & McKenzie
King & Wood Mallesons
Vinson & Elkins
Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle
Bennett Jones
Jones Day
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
Mannheimer Swartling

Domestic

Zhong Lun
King & Wood Mallesons
FenXun
JT & N
Jun He
Huanzhong
Global Law Office
AllBright
Fangda
DeHeng
Dacheng
Grandall
Han Kun
Lan Tai
Zhuo Wei