On March 23, 2026, Asian Legal Business ("ALB"), a world-leading legal directory owned by Thomson Reuters, unveiled its 2026 ALB China Top 15 Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyers. Han Kun lawyer Yao Zhang was named to the list, owing to his exceptional performance in the field.
Mr. Zhang is one of the earliest professionals to engage in corporate bankruptcy reorganization practices in China following the introduction of the bankruptcy reorganization system in 2007; he possesses extensive theoretical knowledge and practice experience in the field. As a member or consultant of bankruptcy administrators, he has participated in restructuring cases for dozens of large enterprises and listed companies, including: the Baoshuo Co., Ltd. (600155) reorganization case—one of China's earliest listed company reorganization cases; the Sunshiny Mining (600381) reorganization case—China's first reorganization case employing share consolidation to adjust investor rights; the Topoint Photovoltaic reorganization case—the first Chinese reorganization plan recognized by a U.S. bankruptcy court; the Xinjiang Chalkis (000972) reorganization case—Xinjiang's first listed company reorganization case; and the Junhua Group and its affiliated companies reorganization cases—the largest and most complex debt reorganization cases in Henan.
Mr. Zhang excels in leveraging professional theories and practical skills to accurately identify the demands and concerns of all parties involved in debt restructuring projects. Through plan design, innovative tools, negotiation, and communication, he achieves balanced arrangements that protect the rights and interests of all stakeholders. Many of the restructuring and reorganization cases he has successfully handled have received high recognition and praise from local governments, courts and stakeholders.
In the past year, the number of bankruptcy cases in China has ushered in a slight decline for the first time in nearly five years, and "resolving debt risks and revitalizing existing assets" is still the keyword that the industry continues to discuss. Against this backdrop, ALB's third annual Top 15 list highlights seasoned experts who demonstrate exceptional legal professionalism, business acumen, and humanistic concern in this complex field. The ALB ranking is a result of comprehensive consideration of various factors, including the lawyers' main achievements, engagement in significant transactions or cases, major assignments during the past 12 months, major clients, previous awards as well as remarks from clients and colleagues.
