Bi Chen
Partner & Chief Representative, Beijing office, Beijing
As the chief representative at MinterEllison's Beijing office, I help Chinese state-owned enterprises and private companies with their outbound investments and market entry strategies. Through MinterEllison's integrated office and membership networks, my clients trust that I am able to help navigate and support their investments and operations in Australia, North Asia, Europe, South East Asia and beyond.

I specialise in corporate and commercial law, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, foreign direct investments and foreign market entry. I have worked with clients from a wide range of sectors including energy and natural resources, oil and gas, infrastructure, consumer services, health and telecommunications and my experience extends to project financing and project development and construction.

I have been recognised as a leading China M&A and foreign direct investment lawyer with a significant track record in Chinese overseas direct investment into countries including Australia. I was elected by the China Business Law Journal for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018) as one of their A-List – China's Top 100 Lawyers and Top 50 Elite Lawyers (Foreign Firms) respectively.

I am admitted to practice law in Australia and have a master's degree in finance from the University of New South Wales. I am fluent in English and Mandarin.

Career highlights

  • DiDi Chuxing– advised on its entry into the Australian transportation booking service market. Australia Didi Chuxing's first Western market and a significant milestone of its globalisation strategy   
  • Baosteel – worked on the acquisition of a 15 per cent interest in Aquila Resources Pty Ltd       
  • Chalco Hong Kong – advised on the development of a refinery plant, power station and ancillary port in Indonesia, and the proposed acquisition of majority stakes in two bauxite mining operations in Indonesia
  • State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC) – supported SDIC’s investment in a nickel mining operation in Indonesia, as well as a cement plant project in Indonesia and the related acquisition of a limestone mine
  • China Metallurgical Group Corporation – acted in relation to its $400 million acquisition of Cape Lambert Iron Ore Limited’s key iron ore project in Western Australia, and its US$1.75 billion construction and installation of an iron ore mine (including engineering equipment purchase) at the Sino Iron Project in Cape Preston, Western Australia – the largest mine construction contract ever awarded to a Chinese company in Australia
  • China Mobile – advised on its joint venture with Deutsche Telecom, a transaction witnessed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang