Barbara Li

Barbara is a partner based in Beijing. With almost three decades of experience, including her role as a partner at leading international firms in China and the UK, a senior in-house position at Ericsson in China, and a partner at PwC providing business consultancy services, Barbara brings a wealth of knowledge to advising international and Chinese companies and financial institutions on doing business in China and globally. She focuses her practice on complex, cross-border M&As, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and foreign direct investments in a wide range of industries, including high-tech, telecoms, energy, infrastructure, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and high-end manufacturing. Barbara also counsels Chinese companies on their outbound strategies and major transactions.

Experience

Representative matters

Advising a leading U.S.-based NASDAQ-listed online company on achieving data compliance under Chinese data and cybersecurity laws and regulations and also assisting the client with a review of its business model, drafting legal documents for its business operations in China and advising on documentation and legal procedures for cross-border data transfers.

Advising a major U.S.-based IT company on the compliance with Chinese law of its data and cybersecurity project. Our services included a comprehensive data mapping for all subsidiaries in China, compliance gap analysis and reporting, implementation of remedial actions and drafting multiple data protection and cybersecurity policies, agreements and other documents.

Advising a U.S.-based Fortune 500 high-tech company on a wide range of data and cybersecurity-related regulatory issues, including analysing its products and business model for compliance with China’s data and cybersecurity laws and regulations. Also advised the client on its strategic alliance with a major Chinese tech company and addressed a wide range of issues including market entry, options and alternatives for structuring its investments and business operations in China, technology licensing and IP strategy, its cloud offering, employment arrangements and contractual structures.

Counselling an international airline in connection with a major data project for the Chinese market, providing comprehensive regulatory and legal analysis on its data collection and processing activities in China, reviewing its cross-border data transfer mechanism, drafting the data policy, cookie policy, and consent to the collection and use of personal data under various business scenarios, and conducting compliance trainings.

Advising a major U.S.-based pharma company on a wide range of data and cybersecurity issues, including collection and processing of data for pharma R&D, data sharing and data transfers in compliance with China’s data and cybersecurity regulations, drafting and revising relevant data collection and processing agreements and documents, preparing a data breach pack, and advising on the security assessment of cross-border data transfers.

Assisting a major U.S.-based health data processing company with analysing its business model for the Chinese market and addressing a wide range of data and cybersecurity issues, including the collection of both ordinary and sensitive personal data, data sharing arrangements with business partners, cross-border data transfers, security self-assessment, multi-level protection systems, response to data breach risks, and organisational and technical risk management measures.

Advising a global consumer brand on data protection compliance requirements under Chinese data law in connection with its business transfer in China, drafting relevant data notifications and other documents, and providing related legal support.

Advising a major international commercial bank on the establishment of its data compliance mechanism. Provided comprehensive advice on legal requirements under Chinese law for personal data and financial data collection and processing, international data transfers, financial data classification, multi-level protection systems, and comparison and synchronisation with the GDPR requirements.

Counselling a global international banking institution on a wide range of data, cybersecurity and financial regulatory issues in connection with its projected FinTech initiative covering China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Advising a leading global tech company on the establishment and update of its data compliance mechanism, advising on complex international data transfer issues and assisting with the drafting of its privacy policy, the form of consent to personal data processing, data transfer agreements, corporate data policies and related documentation.

Advising MNCs across various industries, including aviation, financial, health care, consumer products and manufacturing, on data breach incidents and providing a wide range of support including data and cyber risk assessment, drafting notifications and other required legal documents sent to affected data subjects and authorities, advising on remedial actions, support on cyber insurance and follow-up compliance support.

Advising a Chinese-based MNC on a large global data compliance project involving its business operations in 51 countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, North America and South America.

Advising an international fashion company on the risk analysis in relation to the collection, processing and transfer of customer data and its notification obligation under the PRC Cybersecurity Law and Personal Information Protection Law.

Advising a leading international property group on the collection and use of customers’ personal data for compliance with the relevant data privacy laws in China, and providing comprehensive advice on issues around marketing usage, data ownership, data transfer and processing, data access and correction rights, data retention and data security measures, and drafting privacy guidance and policies.

Advising an Australian-based international banking group on the digitalisation of its business operations in China, covering a wide range of matters including e-signatures, data protection and outsourcing.

Advising a U.S.-based Fortune 100 telecom/media giant on the Chinese aspects of two major global M&A transactions. Led the team in carrying out legal due diligence, advising on complex regulatory issues, drafting related legal documents to be submitted to the Chinese authorities, and assisting with governmental filings for both transactions.

Advising a Silicon Valley-based high-tech company on a wide range of regulatory and corporate matters including the strategy for entering into the PRC market, options and alternatives for establishing its business presence in China, technology licensing, regulatory requirements for its cloud computing business in China, and contractual arrangements with Chinese partners.

Advising a major U.S.-based biotech company on restructuring its business operations and subsidiaries in China, reviewing and drafting transactional documents required for the business restructuring, providing negotiation support and ‘hand-holding’ assistance with relevant governmental approvals and filings.

Advising a major EU-based FinTech company on restructuring its Chinese business. Our services included providing comprehensive legal due diligence, analysing various restructuring options, drafting agreements and other necessary legal documents to effect the restructuring, assisting with governmental approvals and registrations, and providing support with negotiations.

Advising a leading U.S.-based health care institution on entering into a strategic alliance with a major Chinese health care group to provide remote health care services in China and Southeast Asia. Our services included analysing investment structures, addressing regulatory challenges for e-health, drafting collaboration agreements and providing remote support with negotiations.

Advising a major U.S.-based e-commerce company on the establishment of its e-commerce platform in China and on a wide range of regulatory, contractual and corporate governance issues.

Advising a UK-based climate change fund on its strategic alliance with a major Chinese state-owned oil company to develop climate change-related projects in China. Advised on all regulatory and legal aspects of the alliance, providing strategic advice on investment structuring, drafting and negotiating transactional documents, advising on legal requirements for setting up funds in China, providing consultancy on exit strategy and risk mitigation, and advising on the strategy for working with state-owned giants in China.

Advising a U.S.-based engineering giant on structuring its business operations in China and on various regulatory issues in connection with its industry operating permits. Also advised on the establishment of a foreign-invested construction company in China.

Advising a global telecom company in relation to its acquisition of a Chinese cloud computing business, including leading on the due diligence, analysing complex regulatory issues and uncertainties in connection with its cloud offering in China, drafting transactional documents and providing negotiation support.

Advising a German-based automotive giant on the share acquisition of a Chinese target company based in Beijing and also advising on a wide range of strategic, compliance and risk management matters such as ESG, consumer protection and data compliance.

Representing a major EU-based esports company on the acquisition of a Chinese online gaming company, including advising on the onshore/offshore acquisition structure, analysing the market entry issues and regulatory challenges, drafting transactional documents and leading the negotiations.

Advising a foreign sovereign fund on the acquisition of a China-listed state-owned enterprise which owns and operates over 20 subsidiaries in various provinces in China, engaged in business activities related to toll roads, the underground transport system, gas and water supplies, and real estate.

Advising a U.S.-based smart transportation services company on its acquisition of a state-owned company in China and providing a wide range of legal support including legal due diligence, advice on acquisition structuring, drafting of transactional documents, and negotiation support.

Advising a U.S.-based international automotive company on a wide range of regulatory, corporate and commercial matters, including the strategy for entering into the PRC market, options and alternatives for establishing its business presence in China, drafting and negotiating joint venture contracts, IP and technology licensing agreements, asset transfer agreements, OEM agreements and service agreements entered into with major Chinese counterparties.

Advising a German-based international automotive company on a wide range of commercial arrangements for its business operations in China, including market entry issues, IP strategy, the roll-out of new products/services, the network location of cars and car components, product liability, employment, and other general corporate and commercial matters

Advising an international airline on a risk analysis of its business models in China, including the collection, processing and transfer of data in China and cross-border data transfers under the PRC Cybersecurity Law.

Advising a leading international airline on data compliance including setting up a cross-border data transfer mechanism in compliance with Chinese law.

Advising an international airline on its e-commerce business model and assisting with obtaining relevant operation permits in China.

Advising an international shipping giant on data compliance under emerging Chinese data and cybersecurity regulations.

Counselling an international aviation company on complicated regulatory issues in connection with its R&D activities in China and also advising on cybersecurity issues.

Counselling a major U.S.-based energy company on the development of shale gas resources in China, with advice on a wide range of regulatory and corporate issues including market entry, corporate governance and control, capitalisation and exit, IP strategy and product sharing contracts.

Advising a major international energy company on a wide range of regulatory, joint venture, corporate and commercial matters in connection with its development of upstream oil and gas resources, and acquisition of strategic solar and wind resources, in China.

Advising a major Chinese private energy company on its investment in and construction of a large LNG project in south China, including analysis of various investment structures and options, and advice on governmental approvals, regulatory permits, contractual risk management and investment exit.

Counselling a global energy company on a wide range of Chinese regulatory and legal issues, including corporate, compliance, infrastructure construction, environmental liability and governmental approval procedures.

Counselling one of China’s three largest state-owned oil companies on its investment in and development and construction of three LNG receiving stations in China.

Advising one of China’s major state-owned power companies on its acquisition of power and mining assets in South Asia, Europe and Indonesia, leading on the due diligence, structuring the deals, drafting transactional agreements and providing consultancy on China outbound governmental procedures.

Advising a major international oil company on land expropriation and plant relocation issues, including extensive document review and legal analysis with respect to the land expropriation and the regulatory framework governing compensation, advice on strategy for negotiating with local government, and review of relocation and compensation agreements.

Counselling a major Chinese power group on its investment in and development of large power and mining projects in Southeast Asia, Europe and North America.

Advising a U.S.-based global infrastructure company on multiple projects in China ranging from railways and roads, to energy and industrial parks, and also advising on establishing a strategic business operation in China and addressing regulatory challenges in undertaking infra projects.

Advising a major French infrastructure company on its joint venture with a Chinese company for developing high-speed rail projects in China.

Advising a major Chinese infrastructure company on investment in and development of a PPP-financed highway project in Italy, including country- and project-specific legal risk reports, assistance with transactional and financing documents under the PPP structure, and provision of negotiation support.

Advising an EU-based global infrastructure company on EPC issues arising from the construction of infrastructure projects in China and assisting the company in structuring its businesses in China.

Advising an international consortium consisting of Chinese state-owned contractors and foreign strategic investors on investment in and construction of a major metro line in Beijing and providing legal support on public tendering and procurement issues.

Representing a major Chinese infrastructure company in resolving a dispute in connection with a major construction project in Central Asia.

Representing a major Chinese state-owned infra company in resolving a shareholder dispute in relation to its acquisition of a toll road project in South Asia.

Counselling a global banking institution on its pilot cross-border FinTech project involving China, Hong Kong and Singapore and delivering a comprehensive report on the telecom-related regulatory and permitting issues arising from the project, together with suggested risk mitigation measures.

Advising a major international commercial bank on establishing a strategic joint venture with a major Chinese commercial bank based in Beijing. Services included market entry advice, investment structuring advice, comprehensive analysis of the legal requirements under Chinese law for personal data and financial data collection and processing, international data transfers, financial data classification, multi-level protection systems, and comparison and synchronisation with the GDPR requirements.

Assisting a U.S.-based major financial data processing company with analysing its business model for the Chinese market and addressing a wide range of data and cybersecurity issues including the collection of sensitive personal data, data sharing arrangements with business partners, cross-border data transfers and response to data breach risks.

Advising a major EU-based FinTech company on restructuring its business operations in China. Our services included comprehensive legal due diligence, analysing various restructuring options, drafting agreements and other necessary legal documents to effect the restructuring, assisting with governmental approvals and registrations, and negotiation support.

Advising a major international insurance company on a wide range of regulatory, corporate, data compliance and outsourcing issues in connection with its business operations in China.

Advising an international financial institution on the regulatory challenges and complications associated with blockchain and tokenisation.

Advising an international auto finance company on the legal compliance and risk management aspects of new services to be rolled out in the Chinese market.

Advising the Chinese subsidiary of an international finance leasing company on AML, data compliance and permitting issues in connection with its operations in China.

Recognitions

Ranked in Chambers Greater China Region/Asia-Pacific for China TMT: Data Protection & Privacy (International Firms), 2024-2025
Listed as a Notable Practitioner in IFLR1000 Global for China M&A – Foreign, 2023-2024
Listed as a Leading Partner in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific for China Data Protection: Foreign Firms, 2024-2025