2025.03.17
In Shanghai, the waves of the Huangpu River and the clock of the Customs House were witnesses to the glory of Mr. XIAO, Wei, a man who has devoted half of his lifetime to the legal profession.
On March 14, 2025, Chambers and Partners held the Greater China Region Awards (PRC Firms) 2025. Mr. Xiao, JunHe’s founding partner, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes his outstanding legal career of over 41 years.
Senior Statesman
In the 1980s, a young man could be seen riding a bicycle through the alleys of Beijing in the early morning. At that time, Mr. Xiao might not have imagined the profound development of the legal system since China's reform and opening-up. Like a craftsman, Mr. Xiao carefully studied the international legal standards and traditional commercial rules. The contract clauses he deliberated on eventually became the solid foundations for China's market economy.
Mr. Xiao is a recognized industry leader in the legal profession. For over 41 years, he has focused on capital markets and corporate/M&As. With his deep understanding of international regulations and insights into local practices, Mr. Xiao has successfully handled numerous high-profile projects and assisted clients in navigating the complex and ever-changing business market. Clients have marveled at the contract clauses he has drafted, describing them as "mortise and tenon joint structures". Mr. Xiao remarked, "the craftsmanship of a legal professional should indeed be hidden in the shadows of the structure."
Mr. Xiao regularly appears in the rankings of leading domestic and international legal media journals. He has been recognized by Chambers and Partners for many years as a Senior Statesman in capital markets and Corporate/M&A and has been recognized seven times as Managing Partner of the Year at the ALB China Law Awards. These awards highlight his outstanding reputation in the Chinese legal profession.
Pioneer and Navigator
Mr. Xiao is a legal pioneer in China. In the 1980s, the Chinese legal profession was still in its infancy. In the spring of 1989, he gave up his "iron rice bowl" and co-founded JunHe, the third partnership law firm in Beijing. "Life is all about striving," Mr. Xiao commented, which embodies the pioneering spirit of that era.
JunHe’s founding members aimed to build a world-class law firm and Mr. Xiao played a pivotal role in the firm's development. Since 1993, he has been elected eight times as the Director of JunHe’s Management Committee, and is a pioneer in the professional management of Chinese law firms. Under his leadership, JunHe implemented effective reforms and grew into an outstanding large-scale comprehensive law firm in China. JunHe’s culture is also one of the most distinctive landscapes in the legal industry—combining the meticulous structure of international law firms with the warmth and profound spirit of the Chinese literati.
Dream Chaser
Mr. Xiao navigates multiple roles including lawyer, law firm manager, arbitrator, and industry association officer.
At JunHe’s 35th Anniversary Conference, Mr. Xiao said: "Without experiencing wind and rain, how can one see a rainbow? Even after seeing a rainbow, one will still encounter wind and rain. We rejoice in the rainbow and don’t fear the wind and rain." This passion vividly embodies the spirit of the world’s leading legal professionals.
The night ferry on the Huangpu River sounded its whistle, and the sound reverberated through the hall’s crystal chandeliers. The long river of China's rule of law flows forever forward, and the existence of outstanding individuals such as Mr. Xiao provides an eternal beacon.
