Ester (Ke) Chen Attorney at Law

Professional Qualifications

PRC Legal Practice License (Attorney’s License)

Profile

Ester Chen advises on cross-border investment and M&A, corporate governance, compliance, and employment matters. She has extensive experience advising Chinese companies on outbound investment into Japan, as well as Japanese companies on their investments and operations in China.

Ester holds an LL.B. from Central South University and a Master’s degree in Commercial Law from Kyoto University, Japan. She works in Chinese, Japanese, and English.

Ester regularly counsels Japanese and multinational companies on greenfield investments, cross-border M&A, joint ventures, corporate governance, compliance, employment, and disputes. With her understanding of both the Chinese and Japanese legal and business environments, she helps clients navigate the legal and compliance issues that arise in cross-border investment and operations, delivering practical solutions that balance legal risk with business objectives.

Education

2016–2018  Kyoto University — Master’s degree in Commercial Law

2012–2015  Central South University — Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)

Professional Experience

Jul. 2026 – Present   GLINKS Law Firm, Shanghai — Attorney at Law

Dec. 2024 – Jun. 2026   Trinasolar  — Legal Manager

Jul. 2020 – Nov. 2024    Dacheng Law Offices (Shanghai) — Associate Attorney

Jun. 2018 – Jun. 2020   Zhong Lun Law Firm (Shanghai) — Associate Attorney

Representative Matters

Investment, M&A & Corporate

• Helped a leading Chinese gaming company establish a subsidiary in Japan, advising on incorporation, corporate governance, charter documents, and HR systems.
• Advised a major Japanese logistics company on its investment in and acquisition of a Chinese logistics business, including deal structuring, legal due diligence, and transaction documents.
• Advised a Japanese automotive company on its investment in a Chinese company, handling legal due diligence and drafting and negotiating the capital increase agreement.
• Advised several Japanese companies on setting up joint ventures in China, including investment structuring and the drafting and negotiation of articles of association and cooperation agreements.
• Advised a leading Japanese trading company on an equity cooperation project with a state-owned enterprise, including a joint venture termination agreement, equity transaction documents, and listing procedures on a property rights exchange.

Corporate Compliance

• Advised a Japanese company under investigation by market regulators for suspected violations of China’s anti-commercial bribery rules, and helped strengthen its compliance program.
• Helped a leading Japanese company respond to an advertising-law investigation and build out its advertising compliance framework.
• Provided cybersecurity and data privacy advice to several Japanese companies, including data compliance reviews, policy updates, and staff training.
• Serves as ongoing counsel to Japanese companies in the manufacturing, trading, and services sectors on PRC corporate law, contract management, and compliance matters.

Employment & Labor

• Advised foreign-invested companies on employee terminations, internal investigations into employee misconduct, and labor disputes.
• Helped internet, insurance, and manufacturing companies build out employee handbooks, workplace policies, and employment management systems.
• Managed employee placement and labor relations for 70+ employees in a manufacturing client’s factory relocation.
• Advised a Japanese trading company on workforce reductions and negotiations for 50+ employees in connection with a plant closure.
• Advised a manufacturing company on restructuring and workforce optimization following an equity transfer.

Dispute Resolution

• Won an arbitration award for a Japanese consulting company in a technology services contract dispute with an automotive manufacturer, recovering over RMB 2 million.
• Secured a favorable award for a Japanese company in a technology services contract arbitration against a Chinese chemical company, recovering over RMB 1 million through clear, well-organized evidence of project performance and deliverables.

Selected Articles

• Common Issues in Cross-Border Security: Onshore Guarantee for Offshore Loans — Q&A
• ESG Compliance: Proactive and Defensive Strategies for Addressing Corporate “Forced Labor” Risks