Charles Zhan

Partner and Head of International Trade

Charles Zhan has extensive experience advising private and public sector clients in matters concerning Australia’s implementation of and compliance with the WTO Agreements.

PRACTICE AREAS

Competition and regulatory compliance

International trade

Public and administrative law

Dispute resolution

International business with China

Energy and infrastructure

Manufacturing and supply chain

Charles Zhan is a partner with Moulis Legal and heads our international trade practice. He is a leading lawyer in our international regulatory and commercial law practice.

Charles’ practice focuses on trade defence and cross-border transactions. He is well versed in advising private and public sector clients. Charles also leads Moulis Legal’s China Business Desk with respect to a broad range of commercial matters including competition, investment, and cross-border disputation and enforcement.

Charles has represented major international companies operating in a range of industries, including in the agricultural, aluminium, automobile, chemical, electrical, glass, mining, paper, renewable energy, and steel sectors. He understands the dynamic trade, investment and business issues concerning Australia and its major trading partners at both the policy and legal levels, with extensive hands-on experience in representing clients across various Asian, African, American and European countries, including acting on behalf of foreign governments in their trade law and policy relationship with Australia.

Charles has assisted clients in a variety of trade defence matters. These include anti-dumping and countervailing investigations and appeals, customs compliance, competition law, cross-border trade dispute, matters involving international investment, commercial transactions, and commercial and judicial review litigations. He has argued cases before the Anti-Dumping Review Panel, the Federal Court, the High Court of Australia, and at the World Trade Organization. Charles’ analytical and problem-solving skills, strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and cross-cultural understanding allow him to provide top quality and highly regarded advice to our clients.

Before moving to Australia, Charles lived in Beijing and studied in Shanghai where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law majoring in Maritime Law. He gained a variety of experiences in Beijing in commercial law, maritime arbitration and international air cargo logistics before studying at the Australian National University in Canberra, where he was awarded with a Juris Doctor. Naturally, Charles communicates in both Mandarin and English, at the highest business and technical level.

Charles actively engages with the business and legal communities through his regular participation at various local and internationally focused business and industry council events, and has hosted guest lectures and seminars regarding cross-border trade, investment issues, and international business development. Charles also takes an active role in Australia’s key China focused trade and investment NGO, as vice-president of the ACT Division of the Australia China Business Council. He has also been an Officer at the International Trade and Customs Law Committee of the International Bar Association, dedicated to Diversity and Inclusion, and the committee’s special projects.

Outside of work, Charles finds time to enjoy good food, gardens, books, movies, and (non-work related) travels with his family.