Runqing Dong

Shanghai Baohua Law Firm is a specialist practice devoted exclusively to labour and employment law, serving domestic and international employers from offices in Shanghai and Suzhou. Under the leadership of partner Runqing (John) Dong, the firm has become one of the most highly regarded employment practices in the region. It has been named Labour & Employment Law Firm of the Year in China at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025, recognising the depth of focus that sets it apart in a crowded legal market.

The firm's exclusive concentration on labour and human resources law allows it to offer employers a level of specialisation that broader commercial practices struggle to match. Its services span day-to-day employment consulting and training, the resolution of labour disputes, human resources compliance, equity incentive schemes, compensation and tax planning, major personnel restructuring, the protection of trade secrets, and cross-border talent and immigration matters. This coverage enables the firm to support clients across the entire employment lifecycle, from routine policy questions to the most sensitive restructurings and disputes. Labour and employment law in China is distinctive and closely regulated, with mandatory protections, local variations and an active dispute-resolution system that can expose employers to significant liability if compliance is mishandled, which makes dedicated specialist counsel particularly valuable to the multinational and state-owned enterprises that must reconcile global human-resources policies with domestic legal requirements.

Runqing Dong brings a distinctive international dimension to this work. Qualified in both China and the State of New York, he holds a bachelor's degree in law from the East China University of Political Science and Law and a master of laws from Vanderbilt Law School in the United States. He has long been engaged with both the practical and theoretical aspects of labour and employment law, and has advised hundreds of multinational and leading corporations, as well as large state-owned enterprises, on employment issues ranging from commercial disputes with an employment dimension to the establishment of corporate policies.

His standing has been recognised repeatedly by the leading legal directories. He has been ranked as a leading lawyer in employment law in the Asia-Pacific and China region by Chambers & Partners on multiple occasions, and has featured among China's elite lawyers and most preferred labour compliance advisers in independent rankings. This consistent external endorsement mirrors the firm's own record, which has seen it recognised year after year as a top employment practice in the region.

For employers operating in China, particularly foreign-invested enterprises grappling with the country's distinctive labour regime, Baohua offers the reassurance of a dedicated team that does nothing else. Its combination of specialist knowledge, cross-border experience and a leader fluent in both Chinese and American legal practice makes it a natural choice for complex, high-stakes employment matters. Recognition as Labour & Employment Law Firm of the Year in China at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025, under the leadership of Runqing Dong, confirms its position at the forefront of the field.