LexisNexis® 40 UNDER 40 2023

Chun Lei Natalie

Legal Counsel

Alibaba Group

Natalie's career trajectory in the legal industry is nothing short of extraordinary. A specialist in Asia Pacific's high-profile transactions, she has advised a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, on matters like Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), and compliance. She then transitioned to Ping An Group, leading overseas legal matters and digital transformation projects that played a key role in the company's top rankings in Forbes Global 2000 and Fortune Global 500 in 2021.

Within the last year, Natalie's role at Alibaba Group led to pivotal successes in capital markets. She provided key advisories for the listings of Alibaba investees Bona Film Group and YH Entertainment in Mainland China and Hong Kong, respectively. Notably, she also pioneered novel arrangements related to blockchain-based digital collectibles and equity-based cost allocation for Alibaba Pictures.

Natalie's leadership has been marked by innovative initiatives and awards. She has been at the forefront of leveraging technology to redefine legal operations, gaining recognition as a candidate for Financial Times Asia Pacific Innovative Lawyers 2021. As a lecturer with Peking University Law School and a member of the Innotech Committee of the Hong Kong Law Society, she’s nurturing the next generation of tech-savvy legal professionals.

Esteemed peers like award-winning lawyer Danny Kan hail her as a "technically excellent, well-rounded, and highly versatile lawyer," reflecting her rare combination of legal acumen and business pragmatism.