Practices

Labor and Employment

Basic Overview

As a cornerstone of corporate stability and sustainable development, labor compliance has become an indispensable element in modern enterprise management. With the deepening rule of law and rapid economic growth, the labor legal system has grown increasingly complex, diversity and dynamic. A proliferation of foundational laws, regulations, judicial interpretations, and local policies creates significant variations in enforcement standards across regions based on their varying levels of economic development and local judicial practices. This combination of legislation flexibility and regional disparities exposes enterprises to significant challenges and potential risks throughout the entire employment management chain—from recruitment to contract fulfillment, compensation design, performance evaluation, working hour management, trade secret protection, and employee departure procedures. How to strike the right balance between corporate employment autonomy and tightening compliance demands, while systematically preventing and resolving labor disputes, has thus emerged as a critical and urgent priority for all management and HR departments.


Zhonglun W&D Labor & Employment team is a seasoned specialist in this field, with years of experience serving clients and accumulating profound practical expertise as well as forward-looking industry insight. We have established an efficient service network that covers major economic regions across China, with strategic offices located in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Hangzhou, and Xi’an to ensure prompt responses to our clients’ needs. By closely tracking the latest legislative trends and judicial rulings at both national and local levels, we are dedicated to translating our in-depth understanding of regulatory policies into practical services, helping clients build robust internal compliance systems.


Services

  • Labor Dispute Arbitration and Litigation

    We offer full-process representation services for arbitration and litigation, crafting efficient dispute resolution strategies. Our team handles a wide range of labor disputes, covering matters such as labor contract validity, probationary period disputes, training service obligations, compensation and benefits, working hours and leave, economic compensation, wrongful termination, non-compete agreements, equity incentives, and labor dispatch arrangements.

  • Development of Labor and Employment Compliance Systems

    We assist enterprises in establishing and optimizing comprehensive compliance frameworks for labor and employment. Our services involves designing, drafting, reviewing, and revising related rules and regulations—such as employee handbooks, disciplinary systems, attendance and leave policies, and compensation and benefit structures—as well as standard legal document templates, including labor contracts, labor dispatch agreements, training agreements, confidentiality agreements, mutual termination agreements, disciplinary decisions/notices, and unilateral termination notices. We also provide compliance guidance to help businesses effectively mitigate labor and employment-related risks.

  • Labor & Employment Legal Services for Governments

    We deliver legal services to human resources and social security authorities at all levels and their affiliated institutions. Our services include drafting and revising labor and employment laws, regulations, and normative documents, supplemented by superior legislation analysis, provision drafting, draft argumentation, and amendment recommendations. We also provide targeted training for law enforcement officers on the application of labor laws and practical enforcement scenarios, designed to enhance their legal comprehension, standardize their enforcement procedures, and thus mitigate compliance risks. Furthermore, we offer comprehensive legal services including regular reviews of the department's legal operations and assisting in organizing legal publicity initiatives.

  • Employee Conduct Investigations

    We assist enterprises in conducting special investigations into employee misconduct (including but not limited to disciplinary violations, commercial bribery, embezzlement, data breaches, and infringement of trade secrets). We develop customized investigation plans based on client needs, secure essential evidence, and deliver legal analysis reports to help mitigate their legal risks.

  • Labor Due Diligence

    In mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring transactions, we conduct thorough labor compliance reviews of target companies to identify potential legal risks, proposing rectification suggestions, and assisting in the smooth advancement of the transaction. 
  • Layoffs & Restructuring Support

    We provide end-to-end legal services for employee resettlement and mass layoffs arising from business realignment, organizational streamlining, M&A restructuring, or bankruptcy liquidation. Our services include designing layoff schemes, leading or assisting in employee negotiations, managing collective labor disputes, preparing all necessary legal documentation, and balancing compliance risks with operational costs.

  • Daily Legal Consultation & Training

    We deliver comprehensive, timely legal consultation with in-depth solutions for complex labor management matters at every stage. Our customized training programs are designed for management, legal teams, and HR professionals, aligned with specific business requirements. Additionally, we provide value-added services including regular updates via professional journals, latest regulatory insights with expert analysis, and invitations to exclusive internal and external training exchanges. Through ongoing professional services, we help enterprises effectively prevent and mitigate labor-related legal risks.

  • Trade Secret Protection & Non-Compete Agreement

    We assist enterprises in establishing robust confidentiality and non-compete frameworks to effectively mitigate the risks of core talent attrition. Our services include developing a comprehensive graded protection system for trade secrets, implementing differentiated management measures for information at various classification levels, and designing end-to-end non-compete management systems that cover protocol signing, compensation payment mechanisms, and breach accountability protocols.

  • Employee Incentive Plan

    We specialize in designing and implementing comprehensive legal frameworks for employee incentives. Tailoring our approach to your company's specific growth stage and strategic needs, we offer a diverse portfolio of tools including equity incentives, stock option plans, and employee stock ownership programs (ESOPs), ensuring your incentive framework effectively fits your business goals.

  • Global Employment Solutions

    We specialize in delivering comprehensive, cross-border legal compliance services and strategic planning for enterprises going global. We offer precise cross-border employment schemes and risk assessments tailored to different countries and regions' labor laws, cultural nuances, visa regulations, and employment models. Our services cover the entire workflow, including localizing employment contracts, structuring salaries and benefits, ensuring social insurance and tax compliance, as well as preventing and managing labor disputes. Additionally, we assist companies in establishing local employment systems and management frameworks that align with regional practices, ensuring legal compliance and effective control of overseas operations to provide a solid foundation for global development.

Service Performance

Long-term Legal Achievements

Providing long-term labor and employment legal services for a securities firm.  

• Providing legal services regarding a mass layoff project in China for an international airline.
• Providing long-term and specialized legal services regarding a large-scale layoff project involving over a hundred employees in Beijing for a Fortune Global 500 group.

• Providing daily employment consultation and specialized legal services regarding equity incentives and non-compete agreements for an internet technology company.
• Providing specialized legal services regarding employee handbook review and revision for a multinational engineering and technology company.

• Providing specialized legal services regarding employment compliance consultation in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Middle East for an internet technology company.


Legal Achievements in Dispute Resolution

Representing a market research group in labor disputes involving multiple former employees regarding year-end bonuses and unilateral recession of employment.
• Representing a securities firm in labor disputes involving two former employees regarding employment contract termination and performance-based bonuses.
• Representing an internet technology firm in labor disputes involving multiple former employees regarding unilateral recession, stock options, and restricted stocks.
• Representing a state-owned enterprise in a labor disputes regarding the confirmation of labor relationships.
• Representing an international airline in labor disputes involving two former employees regarding employment contract termination.