Press Announcement

Star Anise Legal Announces Strategic Alliance with Shanghai’s Zen Legal Talent

Hong Kong / Shanghai – Tuesday 27 January 2026 — Star Anise Legal, a member of the Star Anise Group, today announced a strategic alliance with Zen Legal Talent, Shanghai’s pre-eminent legal recruitment and consultancy service.

Founded by Chris Tang and Annie Tang, Hong Kong-based Star Anise Legal has grown over the past decade and a half into a trusted partner to law firms, financial institutions, multinational companies, regulatory bodies, and growth-stage enterprises across the Asia-Pacific region. The firm is recognised for its deep market knowledge, high-touch advisory approach, and its ability to support clients across legal and corporate governance recruitment, talent strategy, coaching, legal operations, and flexible legal solutions services.

Since Zen Legal Talent’s 2013 founding by Shelley Xie, the company has gained wide recognition for its deep understanding of China’s legal market, and strong relationships with preeminent legal practitioners across the greater China, Singapore, and United States markets. The firm has a record of success in delivering legal search / recruitment, advisory, and mentoring solutions to leading Chinese and international law firms, multinational corporations, and fast-growing domestic companies.

A Timely Cross-Border Alliance

The alliance of Star Anise and Zen Legal Talent comes at a time of accelerating cross-border talent flows throughout Greater China and Asia. Both firms have seen rising demand from:

• Chinese law firms expanding into Hong Kong, Singapore, the Middle East, and Europe;
• Chinese corporations building international legal teams to support stock market initiatives and outbound investment;
• International law firms evaluating their Greater China and wider Asia business strategies;
• General counsels and legal heads seeking trusted advisers capable of operating seamlessly delivering across borders.

The alliance brings enlarged, integrated, and strategic value to the marketplace based upon the client, candidate, and capability synergies of Star Anise and Zen Legal Talent.

Commentary from the Leaders

Chris Tang, Co-founder of Star Anise Legal:
“We’re seeing unprecedented movement of legal talent across Greater China and the wider Asia region. Chinese law firms and companies are expanding rapidly into international markets, while global firms are looking for a more coordinated and informed approach to hiring in China. Partnering with Shelley and her Zen Legal Talent team allows us to offer clients a seamless cross-border experience, combining our regional footprint with their exceptional local expertise.”

Shelley Xie, Founder of Zen Legal Talent:
“This alliance reflects the reality of today’s legal market: practitioners and teams are increasingly international, and clients expect advisers who are efficient, effective and capable of integrated solutions for their international needs. By joining forces with Chris, Annie, and the Star Anise Legal team, our combined service will better support preeminent Chinese legal practitioners’ and firms’ global growth, and international firms’ Greater China market plans. The alliance will benefit our clients through broader coverage, deeper insights, and a unified approach across borders.”

About Star Anise Legal

Star Anise Legal (www.staranise.com.hk) is a Hong Kong–based legal recruitment, search and selection, legal consulting, and flexible legal solutions firm. It supports global law firms, financial institutions, listed companies, regulatory bodies and fast-growing businesses across Asia. Star Anise is part of the Star Anise Group, founded by Chris Tang and Annie Tang which also includes its alternative legal services arm, Yuzu (yuzulegal.com) and training and leadership platform, SALT (salt.com.hk).

About Zen Legal Talent

Zen Legal Talent (www.zenlegaltalent.us) is a Shanghai-based legal recruitment and services consultancy founded by Shelley Xie. The firm specialises in partner / associate / in-house legal search and recruitment; coaching and mentoring for legal individuals and teams; and specialist advisory and information services for the Greater China and wider Asian region.

Contact for enquiries:

marketing@staranise.com.hk

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