Leaders

Legal expertise drives the electric automotive industry's evolution, balancing innovation with compliance in a rapidly changing landscape. As global political tensions, data privacy, and sustainability reshape the sector, legal professionals ensure adherence to global regulations while fostering growth. Their role is critical in aligning technological advancements with ethical and legal frameworks worldwide. At the forefront of this endeavour is Fang Liu, whose career is a testament to the power of resilience and visionary leadership.

As the Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of Zeekr, Fang Liu has been pivotal in navigating global regulations while fostering a culture of innovation. With expertise in capital market, corporate governance, compliance, and regulatory strategies, she plays a crucial role in addressing the complexities of the electric automotive industry. Fang’s commitment to legal integrity aligns with her dedication to supporting Zeekr’s mission of driving sustainable mobility. Her strategic legal leadership and ability to tackle diverse challenges have made her a key driver of Zeekr’s global success.

Below is an excerpt of Fang Liu's exclusive interaction with Women Entrepreneur Review magazine.

What are some important facets of your life and professional journey?

Reflecting on my journey, I’d say it’s been a blend of transformative milestones and deeply personal moments that have shaped who I am. Professionally, my academic foundation at the prestigious People’s University of China, followed by my LSAT success and U.S. legal education was a defining start. Passing the New York Bar in 2000, I embarked on a legal career that bridged continents, handling high-profile cross-border transactions with practicing at various international law firms.

Transitioning in-house with global giants, including Daimler, Chrysler and Ingersollrand, etc. enriched my understanding of legal strategy in business contexts. Joining NIO and Zeekr, two pioneer Chinese EV startups, allowed me to lead groundbreaking EV initiatives, building legal frameworks from scratch and steering IPOs on the NYSE. 

Personally, raising my two wonderful boys has been my greatest joy and energy source. 

Give us a glimpse of your extensive professional journey as a corporate law professional. What have been some of the most crucial junctures throughout your professional journey in the field of law?

My professional journey as a corporate law professional has been marked by pivotal experiences that have both honed my legal expertise and expanded my perspective on business. Early in my career, working with top-tier international and Chinese law firms, I specialized in cross-border M&A, FDI, infrastructure and high-profile project financing projects. These roles allowed me to refine my technical skills, providing a solid foundation in structuring complex transactions.

Transitioning to MNCs brought its own challenges and rewards. Managing Asia-Pacific legal operations of these MNCs required a deep understanding of business strategy, financial implications, and rapid decisionmaking. I realized that a successful corporate lawyer must possess not only legal acumen but also a sharp business mindset, seamlessly integrating legal advice with strategic objectives.

The most transformative phase of my career, however, has been with the pioneering EV startups like NIO and Zeekr. Building global legal teams from scratch and supporting rapid expansion, IPOs, and global market expansion underscored the active interplay of law and innovation. These experiences have not only tested my adaptability but also deepened my passion for enabling business growth through strategic legal guidance.

Introduce us to Zeekr. What are the key roles and responsibilities you shoulder as the company’s Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer?

Zeekr is a premium EV brand under Geely Group, renowned as a leader in China’s electric vehicle industry. Founded in April 2021, Zeekr has achieved remarkable milestones, including its listing on the NYSE in May this year, which is the fastest IPO within NYSE’s around 200 years of history. With a global footprint already spanning more than 30 countries just within Zeekr’s three year history, the company boasts cutting-edge R&D in Sweden and Hangzhou Bay and headquarters in Hangzhou, alongside manufacturing plants in China and operations in Europe and US.

As Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, I oversee Zeekr's global legal framework, covering capital markets, corporate governance, general corporate, IP strategy, and dispute resolution, etc. I also lead Zeekr’s compliance programs and initiatives, managing areas including ethics and anti-corruption, data privacy, EHS, and trade and sanction regulatory compliance. My role ensures seamless legal support for Zeekr’s dynamic growth and innovation-driven global expansion.

Besides legal and compliance responsibilities, I am also in charge of Zeekr’s ESG work, where I supported the company in formulating its 15 year ESG and carbon strategies, setting up and implementing robust action plans, key milestones and targets, fulfilling disclosure requirements and formulating annual sustainability reports. 

From a compliance perspective, what are your key focus areas in terms of facilitating growth for Zeekr?

From a compliance perspective, facilitating Zeekr’s growth involves a multifaceted approach. Key focus areas include supporting global market entry, ensuring robust corporate governance, and adhering to local regulations in over 35 countries. My team establishes tailored structures to meet diverse legal and operational needs, emphasizing labor laws, antitrust, customer protection, and data privacy compliance, particularly under EU GDPR. Product compliance is another critical focus, where we collaborate with R&D and business units to ensure vehicle functionalities and telecom features meet local standards. Our dedicated data privacy team oversees compliance across product development, operational systems and app launches, and cross-border data transfers.

Additionally, we implement a comprehensive global compliance management system, addressing anticorruption, FCPA, supplier ethics, employee conducts, EHS, trade compliance and regulatory reporting. As a U.S. listed company, ensuring SEC compliance remains a priority. These efforts collectively enable Zeekr to navigate complex legal landscapes and sustain rapid global expansion.

As Chief Legal Officer, I navigate a dynamic legal landscape, with challenges spanning stringent data privacy regulations, geopolitical trade complexities, and evolving ESG mandates. Data protection, especially under frameworks like GDPR, requires meticulous compliance as countries globally, including Australia, Brazil, and the Middle East etc, also adopt strict policies. My team proactively assesses these regulations, aligning operational frameworks across regions.

Geopolitical tensions present another layer of complexity. Chinese EV industry, often at the center of trade policies, require deep legal analyses of trade and sanction related policies and regulations, including cross-border tariffs, export control rules, and sanction related policies and development, etc. We employ robust strategies to ensure compliance while mitigating risks.

The rapid evolution of ESG regulations, particularly EU directives like CSRD, CBAM, and battery regulations, demand careful monitoring and action. My team formulates comprehensive compliance roadmaps, ensuring alignment with international standards. Addressing these challenges requires agility, collaboration, and foresight to secure Zeekr’s global growth trajectory.

Throw light on the most significant professional milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey. What has your success mantra been over the years?

Throughout my professional journey, several milestones stand out as transformative. Pursuing a doctorate in the U.S. was a pivotal moment, achieved against significant odds as one of the few students from my university to clear the rigorous LSAT. This experience laid the foundation for my career, instilling resilience and intellectual rigor. Transitioning from law firms to in-house roles marked another critical turning point, expanding my perspective beyond legal intricacies to encompass business strategies and management. Working with pioneering Chinese EV startups, both NIO and Zeekr, further refined my leadership capabilities, where I built the legal teams respectively from scratch, navigating uncharted regulatory landscapes and complexities legal solutions for emerging technologies.

My success mantra has been a blend of dedication, diligence, strategic prioritization, and fostering a collaborative work culture. Balancing professional rigor with personal commitments and passion has sustained my growth and resilience, ensuring consistent excellence in all endeavors. 

How do you foresee the corporate law landscape evolving in 2025? What steps must Chief Legal Officers take to futureproof their respective organizations?

By 2025, the corporate law landscape will be increasingly defined by the above mentioned three key areas, namely data privacy, trade compliance, and ESG regulatory developments With the rise of global data protection laws and intensified geopolitical tensions, Chief Legal Officers must ensure their organizations stay ahead of evolving regulations. A proactive approach is essential, which can be achieved by closely collaborating with internal and external experts, in all necessary areas, monitoring local and global regulatory developments, and cross-functionally working with teams across the business. Implementing robust action plans, ensuring compliance with emerging laws, and fostering strong execution within legal teams and cross-functionally will be crucial to future-proofing organizations in this complex global environment. 

Fang Liu, Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Zeekr

Fang Liu, Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at Zeekr, is a seasoned legal expert specializing in capital markets, M&A, corporate governance, compliance, and regulatory strategy. She drives innovation while ensuring adherence to complex legal frameworks, supporting Zeekr’s vision for cuttingedge technology solution and sustainable mobility. Her leadership strengthens the company’s global expansion and commitment to ethical, sustainable and forwardthinking practices.