Lawyer Profile
Steven Yu, Managing partner of Sunwell Law Firm, one of prestigious legal firms in China. Prior to private practice, Dr. Steven Yu served at Shanghai WTO Affairs Consultation Centre, the first Chinese World Trade Organization (WTO) service body, where he advised government agencies, enterprises and industry associations on trade compliance upon China’s WTO access.
Dr. Yu started his private practice in 2003, focusing on trade law, foreign investment law (including Chinese enterprises’ foreign investments and foreign investments in China), corporate and commercial. He leads the Firm’s team advising foreign chambers and many international companies on a day-to-day operation basis, and for their interest in front of Chinese authorities as well as courts.
Yu worked in Washington-based law firms for several years. Between December 2008 and June 2011, he worked in a Washington D.C. law firm as of counsel while he was a visiting researcher at Georgetown University Law School. Due to his expertise in international trade practice, Dr. Yu is regularly interviewed by primary media at home and abroad.
Dr. Yu was once a visiting fellow at Georgetown University, and worked in Washington-based law firms for several years. In 2013, he was listed in the “Chinese Leading Lawyers of International Practice” by All China Lawyers’ Association. He was named “Client Choice Top 20” by Asia Law Business 3 times (2015, 2016 and 2019), and “A List – China’s Top 100 Lawyers” by China Business Law Journal in the years from 2016 to 2021. Dr. Yu is regularly recommended by Chambers and Partners.
Yu is a senior law and policy adviser for Jiangsu MOFCOM and Shanghai MOFCOM. He is an arbitrator for Shanghai Arbitration Commission. Yu is adjunct professor for the outstanding law schools in China, including Shanghai Jiao Tong University, East China University of Political Science and Law and Shanghai University of International Business and Economics. He is a writer or contributor to many publications on WTO and trade law and practices.
Dr. Yu works daily in English and Chinese.
Social Responsibilities:
A Policy and Law Adviser for Shanghai MOFCOM and Jiangsu MOFCOM;
Arbitrator at Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission and Shanghai Arbitration Commission;
An Adjunct Professor and Master Tutor at East China University of Political Science and Law;
An Adjunct Professor at Shanghai University of International Business and Economics and Shanghai Jiao Tong University;
Fellow of WTO Law Research Society of China Law Society, and An Expert Mediator for the Mediation Centre of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.