1994 | Founded in Shanghai
Shanghai Everbright Law Firm was approved for establishment by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice on December 17, 1994, and commenced operations in January 1995. From the outset, Everbright has regarded professional excellence and quality of service as the foundations of the firm.

1995 | Building a Real Estate Law Practice
Beginning in 1995, Everbright held eight consecutive Real Estate Law Seminars, bringing together policymakers, members of the judiciary, academics and real estate companies to discuss emerging issues affecting the sector.
Against the backdrop of Shanghai’s real estate market reforms and urban development, Everbright steadily expanded its services across real estate development, construction, transactions, operations and dispute resolution, laying the foundation for its longstanding strength in real estate and construction.

1997 | Establishing a Tradition in Criminal Defense
As China’s criminal law and criminal procedure continued to develop, Everbright was among the earlier firms to undertake criminal defense work across the investigation, review and prosecution, and trial stages. The firm built sustained experience in major and complex matters as well as legal aid cases, establishing criminal defense as one of its longstanding practices.

2007 | Expanding into Commercial Real Estate and Income-Producing Properties
In response to changes in the real estate market and its business models, Everbright extended its focus beyond conventional real estate development to commercial real estate and income-producing property management.
To address the tenant sourcing, leasing, operation and property management needs of major commercial projects, Everbright lawyers worked with professionals in China and overseas to develop commercial leasing and property management documentation tailored to the Chinese market. This work established a body of expertise distinct from traditional residential real estate services.

2008 | Transitioning to a Partnership
Following reforms to the regulatory framework governing the legal profession, Everbright converted from a cooperative structure to a partnership and enhanced its mechanisms for partner governance, decision-making and talent development. This provided the organizational foundation for the firm’s subsequent specialization and long-term development.

2010 | Extending Our Office Network
Everbright received approval to establish its Shangqiu office. Starting from Shanghai, the firm began developing a model for cross-regional legal services and collaboration between its headquarters and branch offices.

2013–2015 | Building the Restructuring and Insolvency Practice
In 2013, Everbright began the systematic development of its corporate bankruptcy, liquidation and restructuring practice. In 2015, the firm was admitted to the second roster of enterprise bankruptcy administrators maintained by the Shanghai High People’s Court and obtained Tier-2 bankruptcy administrator status.
Building on its experience in acting as an administrator and handling insolvency matters, Everbright progressively developed an integrated restructuring and insolvency team, supported by enhanced mechanisms for matter management, specialization, risk control and standardized case handling.

2019 | Advancing Team-Based Practice
Everbright relocated to Century Commercial Plaza in Shanghai and further advanced specialization and team-based collaboration.
As matters grew more complex and clients’ needs became increasingly integrated, Everbright strengthened collaboration across its practice teams, progressively transforming individual lawyers’ experience into institutional knowledge and capabilities that could be shared across teams and carried forward.

2022 | A Major Advance in Restructuring and Insolvency
Everbright was admitted to the Shanghai High People’s Court’s roster as a Tier-1 bankruptcy administrator. Restructuring and insolvency subsequently developed into one of the firm’s most distinctive and market-recognized core practices.
Beyond domestic corporate insolvency and restructuring, Everbright further expanded into out-of-court restructuring, corporate rescue, cross-border insolvency, offshore asset recovery and related dispute resolution.

2023–2024 | Expanding the Office Network
Everbright’s Taizhou office was established in 2023.
In 2024, the firm’s Kunming, Zhengzhou and Hong Kong offices were established in succession, and its Cape Town office was formally inaugurated. Everbright’s network expanded beyond Shanghai to the Yangtze River Delta, central China, southwest China and overseas markets. The Hong Kong office focuses on cross-border insolvency and restructuring and dispute resolution, strengthening coordination between the firm’s onshore and offshore capabilities.

2024 | 30th Anniversary
Everbright marked its 30th anniversary on December 17, 2024.
Over three decades, Everbright has witnessed the transformation of China’s real estate market, changes in the organizational structures of law firms and the increasing specialization of the legal services sector. From its origins in real estate legal services to the development of distinctive strengths in restructuring and insolvency and other practices, Everbright has consistently responded to market change through professional excellence while building the firm for the long term.
To mark its 30th anniversary, Everbright organized the compilation and publication of several professional works and a commemorative collection, transforming its accumulated practical experience, research and institutional memory into knowledge that can be shared and passed on.

2025 | Continuing to Expand Our Capabilities
Everbright’s Shanghai headquarters retained its status as a Tier-1 bankruptcy administrator recognized by the Shanghai High People’s Court. The Zhengzhou office was included in the roster of bankruptcy administrators published by the Henan High People’s Court.
Everbright strengthened collaboration among its headquarters and branch offices in restructuring and insolvency, dispute resolution, corporate and commercial law and other practices, further enhancing its ability to provide legal services across regions.

2026 | Establishing the Hongqiao Office
Everbright’s Hongqiao International Central Business District office in Shanghai was approved for establishment. This further strengthens the firm’s presence in Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta and enables it to provide more accessible, full-service legal support to businesses in the Hongqiao International Central Business District and surrounding areas.

Legal Principles and Practice of Income-Producing Property Management
Edited by Yanhua Wu and published by Wenhui Publishing House in 2024.
This book examines the fundamental concepts, legal relationships, domestic and international management models, and key practical issues relating to income-producing properties. Drawing on nearly 50 cases and practical questions, it provides legal and operational guidance on the investment, development, construction, tenant sourcing, leasing, operation and management of such properties.
The book brings together Everbright’s longstanding experience and research in real estate and income-producing property legal services.

A Practical Guide for Bankruptcy Administrators
Edited by Yi Liu and published by Peking University Press in 2024.
Drawing on the experience of Everbright’s restructuring and insolvency team in acting as bankruptcy administrators, this book provides a systematic, process-based guide to the full lifecycle of an administrator’s duties. It covers bankruptcy liquidation, reorganization, composition and related special procedures, and includes standardized document templates used in administrator engagements.
The book reflects Everbright’s efforts to translate its experience in insolvency matters into team standards, practical methodologies and professional knowledge resources.

Everbright at Thirty: A Commemorative Collection
Edited by Hai Wu and published by Wenhui Publishing House in 2024.
Published to mark Everbright’s 30th anniversary, this commemorative collection comprises two parts. Part I features recollections by Everbright lawyers, staff and others connected with the firm, documenting the firm’s development and changes in the legal profession from different perspectives. Part II presents 20 representative cases that reflect the work of Everbright lawyers at different stages of the firm’s history.
The collection records Everbright’s first 30 years and preserves the firm’s culture, professional experience and shared memory.