Z. Alex Zhang

Partner, Shanghai, Beijing

Biography

“Alex Zhang really knows the business, is practical and an excellent lawyer.” (2025)

“Alex is an excellent lawyer, very business-oriented and proactive, everything you can ask for from a lawyer.” (2024)

“Alex Zhang brings extensive transactional experience to bear on M&A transactions involving jurisdictions across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the US. His recent work includes acting on sales and acquisitions on behalf of clients operating in the education, manufacturing, metals and consumer goods industries.” (2023)
Legal 500 Greater China, Chambers Greater China, Chambers Greater China

Overview

Alex Zhang serves as the head of White & Case's China corporate and M&A practice.

Alex is widely recognized as a leading lawyer for China-related investments, M&A transactions, and corporate matters. Alex has been named a member of "Hall of Fame" for both Corporate and M&A and Private Equity in China by Legal 500 Greater China for 2025, and remained on the "Hall of Fame" member list for Corporate and M&A from 2021 to 2025. He was recognized as one of the "Dealmakers of Asia" for 2022 and 2023 by ALB. Alex has also been ranked as the "Leading Individual for Corporate/M&A in China" by Chambers Greater China, Chambers Asia Pacific and Chambers Global, "Leading Individual: China – Private Equity (Foreign Firms)" by Legal 500 Greater China from 2022 to 2024, and "Leading Individual: China – Corporate and M&A (Foreign Firms)" by Legal 500 Greater China from 2014 to 2024.

Alex has over 35 years of experience representing and advising global institutions and investors, MNCs and other corporate clients in their cross-border investment, financings, regulatory matters, and corporate and commercial transactions, in particular with respect to China, as well as Chinese private and state-owned companies in their investments, acquisitions, regulatory matters, disputes and other business activities globally.

Alex's specific areas of practice include mergers and acquisitions, venture capital/private equity transactions, corporate restructuring, joint ventures, regulatory and compliance, technology transactions and licensing, and other types of cross-border investment and commercial transactions. His practice has covered a range of industries and sectors including financial institutions, energy and natural resources, chemicals, life sciences, industrial, technology, media and entertainment, automotive, food and beverage, logistics, and consumer goods and retail business.

Alex is particularly known for bringing "extensive transactional experience to bear on M&A transactions involving jurisdictions across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the US." (Chambers Greater China 2023).

Bars and Courts
District of Columbia
Minnesota
Education
JD
University of Minnesota
LLM
China University of Political Science and Law
Beijing
BA
The Institute of International Relations
Beijing
Languages
English
Mandarin

Experience

CVC Capital Partners
CVC Capital Partners on its acquisition with co-investor Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ, the second largest pension fund in Canada), of a majority stake in the international agencies of BlueFocus Intelligent Communications Group Co., Ltd., a leading publicly traded Chinese marketing services conglomerate; and this transaction won Mid-Market Deal of the Year: Excellence Award by Canadian Law Awards 2022.

Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric, a global player in energy management and automation, in connection with its minority investment in Star Charge, a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging pole manufacturer and operator in China.

Magna International Inc.
Magna International Inc., a leading automotive manufacturer and supplier, on its acquisition of a majority stake in HLZX Group, a leading automotive seats supplier in China.

Magna Steyr
Magna Steyr, a global automotive supplier and the world's leading brand-independent vehicle contract manufacturer, in its joint venture with Beijing Electric Vehicle Co. Ltd (BJEV), a subsidiary of the BAIC Group, for developing and manufacturing of electric cars in China.

Bright Scholar 
Bright Scholar, the largest operator of international and bilingual K-12 schools in China in its GBP150 million acquisition of the entire equity interest in CATS Colleges Holdings Limited, an international school network with a platform of campuses located across the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and China.

HT-SAAE
HT-SAAE in its acquisition of the majority stake in Erae Automotive System ("erae AMS") from erae CS Ltd and erae NS Ltd.

Grupo Bimbo
Grupo Bimbo, the largest baking Company in the world and producer and distributor of baked goods in 22 countries throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, in the acquisition of the Mankattan Group, a key player in the baking industry in China. 

Haier Group
Haier Group, the Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer, in the US$5.4 billion acquisition of GE Appliances unit from GE through an auction process. This is one of the largest acquisitions of a US company by a Chinese entity todate and is named as the "Cross-Border Deal of the Year" and "M&A Deal of the Year" by M&A Advisor Awards in 2016, and "M&A Deal of the Year" by ALB China Law Awards 2017.

Huhtamaki Oyj
Huhtamaki Oyj, a global specialist in packaging for food and drink with a network of 77 manufacturing units and 24 sales offices in altogether 34 countries, in its acquisition of American pulp and paper company, International Paper's paper cup business in China.

Wanxiang Resources
Wanxiang Resources Co., Ltd., a leading commodities trading house in China with a focus on natural resources, in establishing a joint venture in China with Hartree Partners. 

Johnson Matthey 
Johnson Matthey, a UK based multinational specialty chemicals and sustainable technologies company, in the acquisition of minority shares in Shanghai Bi Ke Clean Energy Technology Co., Ltd.

Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Co.
Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., which is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and its US subsidiary, Hepalink USA Inc., in its US$338 million acquisition of 100 percent of the equity interest of Scientific Protein Laboratories, LLC, one of the leading global, independent manufacturers and suppliers of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

TecDAX and NASDAQ listed Aixtron SE
TecDAX and NASDAQ listed Aixtron SE in the intended takeover by the Chinese financial investor Fujian Grand Chip Investment. Germany-headquartered Aixtron is a leading provider of deposition equipment for the semiconductor industry.

Speaking Engagements

"M&A Developments in China": IFLR Asia M&A Forum, Hong Kong, (speaker)

Publications

M&A Set to Rise, If China Can Manage Policy Challenges, in Bloomberg Big Law Business.

New Routes and Strategies as International Joint Ventures Continue to Flourish, Business Law Magazine.

Awards and Recognition

"Hall of Fame: Private Equity: Foreign Firms (China)"
Legal 500 Greater China, 2025

"Hall of Fame: Corporate and M&A: Foreign Firms (China)"
Legal 500 Greater China, 2021 - 2025

"Dealmaker of the Year – International"
Asia Legal Business (ALB) China Law Awards, 2023

2022 Dealmakers of Asia
Asia Legal Business (ALB), 2022

"Leading Individual: China – Private Equity (Foreign Firms)"
Legal 500 Greater China 2022 - 2024

"Ranked individual: Corporate/M&A: China-based (International Firms)"
Chambers Greater China / Asia-Pacific / Global, since 2014