On 13 September 2018, the gala dinner of China Law & Practice Awards 2018 was successfully held in Beijing. Guantao won the Shipping & Aviation Firm of the Year. Ms. Xu Ling and Mr. Li Hongjiang attended the award ceremony.

In addition, Guantao has been nominated for the other 6 categories:

- Most Innovative Firm of the Year

- Banking & Finance Firm of the Year

- Projects & Energy Firm of the Year

- Shipping & Aviation Firm of the Year

- TMT Firm of the Year

- Best New Office: Ashurst Guantao Shanghai FTZ Joint Operation Office

- Energy lawyer of the Year: Jiang Wei

Guantao shipping and maritime team, led by Mr. An Shouzhi of Xiamen office in connection with Shanghai, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dalian, Tianjin and Wuhan offices, has vast experience in rendering legal service in the areas of dry/wet shipping and ship finance, advising clients in major insurance underwriters, insurance agents, import & export companies, international freight forwarders, shipowners, disponent owners, charterers, shipping agencies, port companies and port investment companies, on a wide variety of shipping law matters, including: maritime disputes (in dry or wet shipping), harbor and multimodal transport enterprises, establishment and M&A of shipping enterprise, maritime insurance disputes, vessels / ship financing, construction and sale, etc.

Guantao possesses extensive experience in providing legal services for aviation area and obtained the license of military secret-related business consulting service. Recently, Guantao advised Beijing Andawell Science & Technology Co., Ltd. on its IPO. Andawell has become a comprehensive provider which is able to provide clients aerospace technology resolutions including Airborne Equipment Development, Airborne Equipment Maintenance, Testing Equipment Development, Aircraft Retrofit and Aviation Material Trade. Guantao also advised Tempus Global Business Service Group Holding Ltd. on its USD 550 million acquisition of the world’s largest seaplane operator TMA and strategic cooperation with Russian I-FLY Airlines.

Guantao awarded by Asialaw Profiles 2019 in 13 areas

Recently, Asialaw Profiles released its 2019 guide to Asia-Pacific’s leading regional and domestic law firms and lawyers. In PRC law firm ranking, Guantao was highly recommended or recommended in 13 industry and practice areas, including Energy, Infrastructure, Investment funds, Restructuring and insolvency, Banking and financial services, Materials, Mining, Oil and gas, Capital markets, Construction, Corporate and M&A, Dispute resolution and Technology and telecommunications.

Furthermore, a number of Guantao partners were recognized as Leading Lawyers respectively:

Yang Guang, Market-leading lawyer: Restructuring and insolvency

Cui Liguo, Leading lawyer: Capital markets, Corporate and M&A

Su Bo, Leading lawyer: Capital markets, Corporate and M&A

Sun Dongfeng, Leading lawyer: Capital markets, Corporate and M&A

Sun Dongying, Leading lawyer: Banking and finance, Capital markets

Xu Ling, Leading lawyer: Corporate and M&A, Private equity

Wang Yang, Leading lawyer: Corporate and M&A

Yang Weiguo, Leading lawyer: Dispute resolution

Asialaw Profiles is a legal media group focusing on legal practice in the Asia-Pacific region. Based on extensive and impartial research, Asialaw Profiles provides an authoritative guide to the legal services market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Guantao ranked by IFLR1000 2019 in all 7 practice areas

Recently, IFLR 1000 published its financial and corporate rankings for 2019. Guantao was recommended in all 7 practice areas, including Banking and finance, Capital markets, Competition, Investment funds, M&A, Private equity and Project development.

Furthermore, the following 11 Guantao partners were recognized as Highly regarded respectively:

Cui Liguo: Capital markets, M&A

Su Bo: Capital markets, Restructuring

Jiang Wei: Energy and infrastructure, Project development

Li Yan: M&A

Lv Liqiu: Banking

Sun Shaosong: Competition

Sun Dongying: Investment funds, Private equity, M&A

Wang Yang: Capital markets, Investment funds, Energy and infrastructure, M&A

Xiao Hongming: Private equity

Yan Pengpeng: Capital markets, M&A

Chen Zhongye: Capital markets, M&A

Since 2008, Guantao has been ranked by IFLR1000 in capital markets, M&A, banking and financing. This is the fifth consecutive year that Guantao has been ranked in all practice areas as leading law firm.

The IFLR1000, an international business-to-business media group focused primarily on the international finance industry, publishes an annual guide to the world's leading financial and corporate law firms and lawyers.

Guantao recommended by Chambers Asia Pacific 2019 in 12 practice areas

Chambers and Partners, one of the most famous legal ranking agencies in the world, lately released its Asia-Pacific Guide 2019. Guantao Law Firm was highly ranked in the following 12 practice areas:

- Corporate/Commercial: East Coast: Beijing, Band 1

- Projects & Infrastructure, Band 2

- Capital Markets: Hong Kong and Overseas Issuances, Band 3

- Energy & Natural Resources, Band 3

- Real Estate, Band 3

- Corporate/M&A, Band 4

- Dispute Resolution, Band 5

- Restructuring/Insolvency, Recognised Practitioner

- Banking & Finance, Recognised Practitioner

- Capital Markets: Domestic Issuances, Recognised Practitioner

- Corporate/Commercial: East Coast: Shanghai, Recognised Practitioner

- Corporate/Commercial: East Coast: Zhejiang, Recognised Practitioner

In addition, 10 Guantao lawyers were recognized as leading lawyers, in which Mr. Yang Guang and Mr. Sheng Leiming were honored as Eminent Practitioner respectively:

- Sheng Leiming, Dispute Resolution

- Yang Guang, Restructuring/Insolvency

- Jiang Wei, Projects & Infrastructure

- Chen Guoqiang, Environment

- Gan Weimin, Corporate/Commercial: East Coast: Zhejiang

- Zou Jun, Corporate/Commercial: East Coast: Zhejiang

- Su Bo, Corporate/M&A,

- Cui Liguo, Capital Markets: Debt & Equity

- Hong Yuhao, Corporate/M&A

Chambers and Partners is a world-renowned ranking agency of legal service, which has been analyzing the capabilities of law firms in 175 jurisdictions and providing an authoritative guide to high-end legal service, with a comprehensive and impartial research program revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the competitive global legal market.

Guantao partner Su Bo awarded as Best M&A Lawyer 2018 by CMAA

On 9 December 2018, the 15th China M&A Annual Conference was held by CMAA in Shenzhen. Guantao advised BBMG on its RMB5.225B equity acquisition of JIDD. Based on the excellent performance of the deal, Su Bo, member of Guantao Management Committee, was awarded as “Best M&A Lawyer 2018”.

The award, co-sponsored by CMAA and The Museum of Mergers and Acquisitions, has been successfully held for ten years continuously.

Guantao awarded as Special Contribution Institution of CATS

On 2 December 2018, CATS published the first CATS Industry Appraisal. Guantao partner Liu Wei, head of tourism research team, represented Guantao and received the award.

Guantao's Tourism & Hotels department has long been practicing law in tourism and hotel, and serves as permanent legal counsel for China Tourist Hotels Association and China Association of Travel Services. Our services include, but are not limited to: Corporate law: set-up, share transfer, capital increase, financing and public listing of tourist enterprise; Permanent legal counsel for tourist enterprise; Legal service on construction for setting up hotel; Delegation management of hotel; IP protection of star certification; Labor law (set-up of human resource management system and resolution of labor dispute); Dispute of travel contract and Travel insurance, etc.