Managing Partner

Philip’s and his team’s extensive work with new economy clients provides essential practical knowledge on business practices and constraints, allowing rapid and practical benchmarking, and the implementation of realistic approaches to the complex issues. The team further leverages its exposure to both global and local clients and the broader legal community, including ongoing collaborations with peer teams at leading regional and global firms, to ensure a comprehensive and globally-informed view of best practices and the likely future evolution of these sector in China and the world.

Philip’s leading position has been recognized by numerous respected rankings for the past two decades. For the most recent 2022/2023 period, Philip has been recognized as a leading Lawyer in numerous specialties including TMT, data security, privacy, education, M&A, education and other by Who’s Who Legal; an Eminent Practitioner by Chambers; Hall of Fame by Legal500; a Distinguished Practitioner by AsiaLaw Profiles; a Versatile Practitioner by LegalBand; one of China’s Elite 100 Lawyers by China Business Law Journal Award; an IP Expert by Asia IP; and as having a Highly Regarded M&A practice by IFLR1000. TransAsia remains the go-to firm in these fields in China and as a result has continuously topped all major rankings for decades, including as a top firm for TMT, Media, entertainment & sports, E-commerce, Private Equity & Venture Capital, Corporate M&A and Data Protection & Privacy by Chambers, Legal500, China Business Law Journal, LegalBand, AsiaLaw Profiles and AsiaIP.

Philip is the founding and managing partner of TransAsia Lawyers and widely recognized as one of China’s top lawyers, with a preeminent reputation as a full-service specialist across technology, internet, telecoms, media and entertainment. With extensive experience advising on investments, market entry, regulatory and compliance, M&A, financing, IPOs, partnerships, licensing and IP, he is go-to counsel for many TMT market and thought leaders, both globally and locally, and across the complete spectrum of data, Internet, AI, metaverse, consumer products and services, communication, digital media, gaming, cloud, mobility, blockchain, crypto, semiconductors, and software. As a result, Philip has become an indispensable advisor on some of the most groundbreaking China initiatives for the world’s most dynamic global companies, whether for market entry modeling, complex partnerships and financing, or commercial deployments and compliance management. As an integral part of his practice, Philip advises on the full suite of privacy, data protection and cybersecurity compliance issues and best practices in China, and has done so since before China had any modern privacy laws. Philip also works actively across the cultural and creative industries, with clients including globally active filmmakers, producers and directors, performers, artists, art institutions and other leaders.

More broadly, under Philip’s leadership, TransAsia’s TMT, data, and IP practices have continued to grow, propelled by the same factors that drive the breakneck development of this ever changing industry: globalization, convergence, crossovers, consolidation, and entrepreneurship. The firm’s balanced cross-border expertise, underpinned by Philip’s long experience, gives the firm a substantial competitive edge in comparison to its peers, and the ability to serve the diverse needs of major Chinese and international companies as well as early stage start-ups presenting innovative technologies and business models. The diversity in his client base helps ensure that the firm has the necessary exposure to continue its leadership on all emerging strategic and transactional trends. The firm works with creators, publishers, distributors and organizers across the digital media industry, including game platforms, mobile and console games, streaming platforms and publishers, e-sports promoters and teams, live broadcasting and short-video platforms ranging from market entry, partnerships, distribution, localization, and litigation.  TransAsia also operates in the rapidly growing sports and e-sports sectors, representing global sports federations including IOC and FIBA, as well as TV channels, OTT, streaming platforms, global leagues, sports agencies, game and e-sports companies. And the team routinely advise on both traditional and new media advertising, marketing and promotion issues across a wide range of industries, including media, IT, telecoms, and consumer products. As sole China member of the Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance, TransAsia is called upon by a global network of experienced advertising lawyers to collaborate on these issues and guide clients.