Member Voices: Rossana Bellina

Rossana Bellina

Recent Speaker, Shifting of the Gears–The Changing Global Landscape for Automotive
Zhong Lun Law Firm (China)
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1. Briefly describe your practice.
I am a Partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Shanghai, specializing in cross-border M&A and complex corporate transactions, as well as general corporate matters, where I assist multinational and domestic companies with their day-to-day legal needs, including corporate governance, commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, and restructuring.

My career has taken me across four continents - I studied and worked in Milan, London, New York, and Sydney before anchoring in Shanghai. This global journey has given me a deep understanding of how business is done across different legal systems and commercial cultures. For nearly two decades, I have advised multinational corporations, financial institutions, and strategic investors on high-stakes deals spanning Europe, the United States, Australia, and Greater China.

My practice focuses on bridging the gap between the Western world and China, helping clients navigate the complexities of different legal systems, regulatory environments, and business cultures.

In this regard, Zhong Lun has been selected by the Chinese Government as a key legal partner to assist Chinese enterprises with their outbound investments, and I am honored to work alongside our Managing Partner in representing the firm in this significant collaboration.

I bring a strongly commercial and operational perspective to transactions, ensuring that complex legal structures translate into practical, executable business solutions. I advise on the full lifecycle of M&A transactions, from structuring and negotiation to due diligence, regulatory approvals, and post-merger integration, across both inbound investments into China and outbound investments by Chinese companies going abroad. Additionally, as Zhong Lun is a full-service law firm, I serve as a bridge for Western clients, introducing them to the relevant specialized teams within the firm across practice areas such as dispute resolution, antitrust, labor and employment, tax, intellectual property, and data privacy, ensuring they receive seamless, coordinated support on all aspects of their China operations. My experience spans a wide range of industries, with a particular focus on financial services, automotive, luxury, sport, pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, manufacturing, and technology-enabled businesses.

2. You recently shared your perspective during WLG's virtual automotive industry session. Given your extensive cross-border M&A experience across multiple jurisdictions, what are the most critical legal or regulatory trends currently reshaping automotive and technology-driven transactions in your region?
In China, the automotive sector is being reshaped by two powerful forces: geopolitical pressure and a massive domestic regulatory shift toward sustainability and security.

From a trade and tariff standpoint, the US has essentially locked Chinese-made cars out of its market with a 100% tariff under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, with separate 25% tariffs on EV batteries. This has made the US market effectively inaccessible for Chinese EV exports.

Meanwhile, the EU has moved from punitive countervailing duties to a "minimum price commitment" mechanism for Chinese EV exports. As of January 12, 2026, Chinese EV exporters can replace anti-subsidy duties - which had reached as high as 35.3% for SAIC - with a Minimum Import Price (MIP) commitment per model and configuration. This "soft landing" approach reduces trade friction but introduces new compliance challenges around pricing structures and sales channel oversight. China's WTO challenge against the EU (case DS630) remains pending, with a final panel report not expected before the second quarter of 2027.

From a geopolitical and supply chain security perspective, the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict has demonstrated just how fragile global supply chains can be. The disruption of shipping routes and the surge in energy and raw material costs have created an urgent need for supply chain resilience. In response, China has enacted the State Council Regulations on Industrial and Supply Chain Security (effective March 31, 2026), which mandate a state-led governance framework for supply chain security and require enterprises to diversify their supply channels. This regulation also enables Chinese authorities to investigate and impose countermeasures against foreign entities engaged in "discriminatory" practices affecting China's supply chains.

Finally, China's environmental and technology regulations are fundamentally reshaping the industry. The new Ecological and Environmental Code and the mandatory Battery Passport Regulation, which took effect in April 2026, establish a rigorous "one battery, one code" traceability system. This creates significant compliance challenges, particularly for companies operating in both China and the EU, as they must now navigate two distinct and demanding regulatory regimes.

The intersection of AI, autonomous driving features, and data privacy is also drawing heightened regulatory scrutiny. The Tesla "Full Self-Driving" lawsuit pending in Beijing - where owners paid RMB 56,000 for FSD features that HW3.0 hardware cannot support - raises fundamental questions about the line between aspirational marketing and actionable fraud under China's consumer protection laws. Meanwhile, Chinese regulators are actively enforcing data privacy obligations: the Shanghai Cyberspace Administration and Market Regulation Bureau have published enforcement cases under PIPL, and the China Consumers Association has highlighted smart driving features as a "new complaint hotspot," noting that 64% of consumers believe automakers engage in exaggerated advertising of intelligent driving capabilities. These trends signal that technology-driven transactions must contend not only with trade and supply chain issues, but also with rapidly evolving liability and compliance frameworks.

3. Your unique "inter-network" move to Zhong Lun from MinterEllison in Australia was highlighted at WLG | summit Singapore. Having practiced in Milan, London, New York, Sydney, and now Shanghai, how do your deep cultural fluency and international background help you translate complex cross-border structures into practical solutions for your clients?
My career has been a true global journey, and that path has equipped me with a unique ability to understand and reconcile different business cultures and legal mindsets.

When advising a Chinese company on an outbound investment into Europe, I can anticipate the regulatory hurdles and commercial expectations they will face because I have been on the other side of the table in Milan and London. Conversely, when a Western multinational enters the Chinese market, my experience across the US, Australia, and Europe allows me to explain the nuances of the Chinese regulatory environment in a way that resonates with their commercial instincts.

This cultural fluency is not merely about speaking multiple languages; it is about understanding how business is conducted, the centrality of trust and relationships ("guanxi"), and the unwritten rules that can make or break a deal.

Beyond legal advice, I believe in embedding myself in the business communities of the jurisdictions where I operate. Whether serving on boards of key industry players or participating in governmental or local industry associations like the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association and the Banking & Financial Services Law Association (BFSLA), I build networks that extend far beyond the legal sphere.

On a personal level, to illustrate how powerful these networks can be, it was through BFSLA that I met Lloyd Kavanagh, a true international leader from MinterEllisonRuddWatts in New Zealand. And it was through the WLG network - and Lloyd's introduction - that I ultimately connected with Scott Guan of Zhong Lun, one of the most forward-thinking leaders I have ever met, whose vision ultimately drew me to Zhong Lun. For that, I am truly grateful to WLG for bringing together the finest legal minds from around the world and cultivating a community where trust and collaboration go beyond the ordinary.

This same approach informs how I work with clients - by actively participating in industry, governmental, and professional associations, I help them connect with the right people and navigate the local business landscape with the insights and relationships that matter most. Ultimately, my goal is to help clients create structures that are not only legally sound but also commercially viable in their target market.

4. How do you enjoy spending your time when you are not working?
Beyond my work, my life is centered on my family and a deep commitment to giving back to the community.

I believe every life deserves to be lived to its fullest. This belief drives my involvement with charities, particularly the Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation, where I serve on the Gold Dinner Committee and have contributed to raising $160 million to support critical care for children. Similarly, I am a Director of the Sydney FC Foundation, which uses the power of football to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, gender, background, or ability, has the opportunity to grow, connect, and thrive.