CHEN YANG’s practice focuses on regulatory, corporate and commercial law for the life sciences industry.
Since joining private practice in 1994, Chen has been representing international companies on their investment projects and acquisition efforts in various Chinese industries, and also assisted the P.R.C. government agencies with respect to U.S. litigations. Chen started the Firm’s China Life Sciences Practice in 2007 and since then has dedicated her practice to corporate, transactional and regulatory matters for multinational life sciences companies.
Chen routinely advises international pharmaceutical, medical device, food, cosmetics and animal health companies in connection with market entrance, product localization, marketing and promotional activities, product recalls, clinical trials, FCPA/anti-bribery and other industry-specific regulatory, compliance and enforcement issues. She has also represented world-renowned multinational pharmaceutical, medical device and animal health companies in China-related joint ventures, merger and acquisitions, and licensing transactions.
Chen has been well-recognized for her knowledge in the China life sciences sector. She was given the Life Sciences “All-Star” award by The Asian Lawyer, and the highest ranking in the “China/Hong Kong: Corporate/Commercial” category in PLC’s Which Lawyer survey of leading Life Science lawyers worldwide. She has also been named a leading lawyer for Competition as well as Mergers and Acquisitions work in China by IFLR1000. As quoted in IFLR1000, “her work is impeccable in terms of quality and on target with what we want.” She has also been listed by Who’s Who Legal as a leading business lawyer for life sciences. In the Chambers Asia-Pacific/Greater China Region rankings from 2013 to 2016 and 2018 to 2024, Chen is ranked Band 1 for China Life Sciences (International Firms). Chambers notes that Chen is described as the “most recognised lawyer in China in pharmaceutical regulatory law.”, and “she is very knowledgeable about the pharmaceutical industry and her advice is pragmatic.” Another commented that she “gives very actionable advice for complex regulatory questions and has extensive life sciences industry knowledge”.
Prior to entering private practice, Chen worked as a legislative official in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs of the State Council, one of China's main legislation drafting bodies, as well as in the anti-corruption bureau of a local procuratorate in Beijing.
Chen received her LL.B. degree in 1991 from Peking University, a top Chinese university, with the honor of “Best Graduate of the Year.” She received an LL.M. from the University of Georgia in 1997 and is admitted to the New York Bar. Chen frequently speaks at national and international industry conferences and seminars.