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2022年4月20日,汤森路透旗下的《亚洲法律杂志》(Asian Legal Business,ALB)发布“2022 ALB China十五佳TMT律师”评选榜单。竞天公诚合伙人陈泽佳律师凭借精湛的法律技能和优秀的市场口碑从众多顶尖TMT律师中脱颖而出,荣登该榜单。竞天公诚全体同仁诚挚祝贺陈泽佳律师获此荣誉,并对所有客户的支持和信任表示由衷感谢。
作为代表着未来科技主要发展方向的科技(Technology)、媒体(Media)和电信(Telecom)行业,由于其内在的创新属性和变革属性,使得TMT行业的公司面临着诸多前沿性的商业问题和法律问题,服务于TMT领域的律师凭借长期专注于该领域所形成的商业敏感度和法律前瞻性,为客户多样性的商事活动提供优质法律服务,快速响应TMT行业层出不穷的法律监管要求,他们展现出对TMT领域商业逻辑的深刻理解和精湛出众的法律技能,高效提出创造性的解决方案,推动行业的发展。此排名旨在呈现过去12个月内中国TMT领域的顶尖律师。
竞天公诚律师事务所合伙人胡铮铮、叶玉盛、陈进进律师曾分别入选2019年、2020年、2021年“ALB China十五佳TMT律师”榜单。
榜单公布后,陈泽佳律师接受了ALB的专访。经授权,以下为全文转发。
执业近20年来,陈泽佳律师参与过多个TMT行业的重量级项目,包括百度收购91无线、药明生物5.1亿美元赴港上市、拼多多美国纳斯达克上市、炬芯科技科创板上市、叮咚买菜D轮融资及赴美上市等。他的客户91无线前CEO、Mfund魔量资本创始合伙人胡泽民先生曾这样评价道:“(陈律师)在交易中充分展现了其平衡风险控制和促成交易的非凡业务能力。中国顶尖商业律师,可遇不可求。”此次专访中,这位“可遇不可求”的TMT专家向ALB分享了他的行业观察与执业感悟。
Q
ALB:近年来,监管和市场变化对TMT企业境内外上巿有何影响?您积累了怎样的执业心得?
陈泽佳律师:
最近两三年,就境内资本市场而言,强化股东穿透核查,修订科创板科创属性评价指引和加强IPO现场检查工作等措施显示总体监管趋严。
就境外资本市场而言,去年出台的网络安全审查监管要求和中国证监会关于境内企业境外上市备案的相关征求意见稿则对TMT企业具有深远影响,直接导致最近中国TMT企业赴美IPO几乎陷于停顿,并为有VIE架构的TMT企业境外上市带来更多不确定性。
执业近20载,我最核心的执业心得是:以专业立足服务客户,解决客户关键法律问题。IPO律师是协助企业家完成交易的商业律师,需要在严守基本执业规则的前提下,凭借丰富的专业经验,协助客户解决上市过程中各种疑难杂症,高效助其成功上市融资。
Q
ALB:您认为TMT企业应该如何选择适合自己的上巿地?请分享几个成功案例?
陈泽佳律师:
境内外各资本市场及不同上市板块的市场流通环境、监管要求、市盈率倍数及投资人偏好等不尽相同,且每个拟上市企业的具体业务、财务指标、成长速度、合规情况及融资需求也各有千秋,需要通过与熟悉不同市场情况的的保荐人、律师等中介机构充分沟通、认真分析后,结合市场特点和自身情况来确定适合自己的上市地点。以芯片行业的企业为例,在国家加大支持硬科技的背景下,目前寻求在科创板上市可能是比较理想的选择;对于未盈利的、快速发展的、面对消费者的互联网企业,可能在境外资本市场上市更容易受到欢迎;而对于生物医药项目,香港市场是目前最受欢迎的选择。
以我们主办项目为例,药明生物(02269.HK)2016年面临A股和香港上市都大受欢迎的两难选择,最终采纳了我们提出的应尽快赴港上市的建议,于2017年成功上市,为其在CDMO领域的世界龙头地位奠定了关键基础。2018年拼多多(NASDAQ:PDD)需要在完全保密的前提下用极短的几个月时间成功上市,美国市场则是其不二之选。而艾为电子(688798.SH)则瞄准境内A股市场,自2015年新三板成功挂牌后,潜心发展业务,终在2021年成功在科创板融资30多亿人民币,位列当时科创板融资额前七。
Q
ALB:在团队发展方面,您有何经验?您对当今青年TMT律师有何执业建议?
陈泽佳律师:
稳定的团队是我执业过程中最可贵的瑰宝。自2008年始,团队有多位自实习生晋升的合伙人和高年级律师。由此,团队的执业经验得以传承,成员之间彼此信任、互相成就、齐心协力,共同为客户提供优质专业服务。
在此,我想和年轻同仁们分享的是我自己作为过来人的感悟:选择一个优秀的平台,挑选适合的执业方向,不纠结于眼前的收益,以五年乃至十年时间维度进行职业规划,专业服务客户,一定会在事业上有所成就。
In nearly 20 years of practice, Chen Zejia has participated in many important projects in the TMT industry, including Baidu’s acquisition of 91 Wireless, WuXi Biologics’ $510 million IPO in Hong Kong (HK), Pinduoduo’s debut on NASDAQ, Actions Technology’s IPO on SSE STAR Market, and Dingdong Maicai’s Series D financing and IPO in the U.S. His client Hu Zemin, the ex-CEO of 91 Wireless and the founding partner of Mfund, says: “(Chen) has demonstrated his extraordinary professional competence to balance risks control and deal closing. He is one of China’s top commercial lawyers.” In this interview, this excellent TMT lawyer shares with ALB his industry insights and inspirations.
Q
ALB: How have regulatory and market changes in recent years affected TMT companies’ domestic and overseas listings? What professional insights do you have?
Chen Zejia:
In the past two or three years, in terms of the domestic capital market, measures such as strengthening shareholder penetration verification, revising the guidelines for evaluating Science and Technology Innovation attributes, and strengthening on-site IPO inspection show that the overall regulation is tightening up.
As for the overseas capital markets, the regulatory requirements for cybersecurity review released last year and the draft by the China Securities Regulatory Commission for comments on the filing of overseas listings of domestic enterprises have far-reaching effects on TMT companies. The recent Chinese TMT IPOs in the U.S. have almost come to a halt, with more uncertainties for the overseas listing of TMT companies with VIE structure.
Having practiced for nearly 20 years, the most essential thing I’ve learned is to serve clients and solve their key legal issues with professionalism. IPO lawyers who help entrepreneurs complete transactions should rely on their extensive professional experience to assist clients in solving various complex problems in the listing process, while strictly adhering to the rules of professional conduct, so as to efficiently help them raise capital through the listing.
Q
ALB: How do you think TMT companies should choose the right listing place? Can you share a couple of successful cases?
Chen Zejia:
The market liquidity environment, regulatory requirements, P/E multiples and investor preferences vary among capital markets and different listing sectors, and companies to be listed also vary in their businesses, financial indicators, growth rates, compliance and financing needs. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the suitable listing place based on market characteristics and real conditions after thorough communication and careful analysis with sponsors, lawyers and other intermediaries familiar with different market conditions. For companies in the chip industry, for example, seeking a listing on the STAR Market may be the ideal choice as our country is giving greater support to hard technology; for unprofitable, fast-growing, and consumer-oriented Internet companies, a listing on an overseas capital market may be more acceptable; and in terms of biopharmaceutical projects, the HK market is currently the most preferred choice for most companies.
Let’s take our projects as an example. With great popularity in both A-share market and HK market, WuXi Biologics (02269.HK) faced a difficult choice on where to list in 2016 and adopted our suggestion of seeking a HK listing as soon as possible. Finally WuXi Biologics successfully went public in 2017, which laid a key fundation for its global leadership in the CDMO field. In 2018, Pinduoduo (NASDAQ: PDD) had to complete a successful debut in just a few months in complete confidentiality, and the U.S. market was a perfect choice. Targeting the domestic A-share market, Shanghai Awinic Technology (688798.SH) has been developing its business since it was listed in NEEQ in 2015, and successfully raised more than 3 billion yuan in 2021 on the STAR Market, ranking among the top seven in terms of financing volume on the board at that time.
Q
ALB: Can you share some experience in team development? What advice do you have for young TMT lawyers today?
Chen Zejia:
A stable team is the most valuable treasure in my practice. Since 2008, we have had many partners and senior associates who have been promoted from interns. While passing on their experience, members trust each other for mutual success and better cooperation in providing quality professional services to our clients.
Here I would like to share with young fellows some experience: find an excellent platform, choose a suitable practice direction, serve clients professionally, and plan your career for the next five or ten years, rather than focusing on immediate gains. In this way, you will definitely make achievements in your career.
《亚洲法律杂志》(Asian Legal Business,简称“ALB”)是汤森路透旗下的尖端法律杂志,是全球最具影响力的法律媒体之一。本次评选基于律师申报及市场调查,参考律师执业生涯突出表现、过去12个月的重大成就、主要客户、所获奖项、口碑等相关信息,评选出中国TMT领域的优秀律师。