JD Journal » Hong Kong

Merger of King & Wood and Mallesons Stephens Jaques Creates Largest Law Firm in Asia

rebneely — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:45:48 +0000

The merger of King & Wood and Mallesons Stephens Jaques will create Asia’s largest law firm, with over 2,180 lawyers in both China and Australia, as well as in cities including London, New York and Tokyo.

Stuart Fuller, who will become global managing partner of the combined firm, King & Wood Mallesons, when the alliance takes effect March 1^st, was quoted as saying in the December 16^th businessweek.com article: “We’re creating a new law firm for the Asian century.”

The firms’ Hong Kong offices will merge and combine with the partnerships in China and Australia through a “verein structure”, and will maintain separate finances. While law firms including London-based Ashurst LLP and Australia’s Blake Dawson have agreed to merge this year, others, like Herbert Smith LLP of London and Germany’s Gleiss Lutz, are ending alliances.

Anthony Root, the China practice head of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCoy LLP, was quoted as saying of the merger that it “is a pioneering step by two firms seeking to go global. Like any such effort, it presents significant opportunities as well as challenges.”

The combined firm will be able to offer Chinese state- owned enterprises venturing abroad one-stop shopping, as it were, in the form of advice on energy and resource acquisitions, Wang Ling, King & Wood’s Beijing- based managing partner, was quoted as having said in an interview.

Robert Milliner, chief executive partner at Mallesons was quoted as saying: “Australia and China are more robust parts of the world and our clients there are still looking for growth. The world has become much more complex and we’re primarily placed in these opportunity markets.

China is Australia’s largest trading partner. The demand for iron ore and coal is driving the biggest resources boom in one hundred years in Australia. In 2010, relations between the two countries were strained with the trial and imprisonment in China of Stern Hu, an Australian convicted of accepting bribes and commercial spying while working for Rio Tinto Group.

King & Wood Mallesons joins together the Australian firm with the highest profit-per-partner and legal publisher Chambers and Partners’ best China law firm of 2010, and will have 21 offices, including 11 in China, five in Australia, and in London, New York and Tokyo.

The two firms, with the merger of their Hong Kong partnerships, will more than 130 lawyers in the city, which maintains a separate legal system from that of mainland China. Wang Junfeng, who left a Chinese state-owned law firm to found King & Wood in 1993, will be chairman of the combined firm based in Beijing.

King & Wood is a leading law firm in China, providing comprehensive legal solutions to multinational and Chinese clients across a broad range of cross-border and domestic transactions.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. It is one of the 30 largest law firms in Australia, and is widely regarded as one of the top commercial law firms in Australia.

Baker & McKenzie Announces Appointment of New Chief Operating Officer to Australia Offices

rebneely — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:42:51 +0000

Baker & McKenzie announced it has welcomed James Odell to its Australia offices as national Chief Operating Officer (COO). Odell transfers from Singapore; there he served COO of the firm’s South East Asia operations.

Before joining Baker & McKenzie, Odell was a member of Linklaters’ global Strategy & Planning team based in London and Hong Kong. He began his career as an aeronautical engineer with the UK Ministry of Defence, and possesses nearly two decades of experience in Asia.

Baker & McKenzie Managing Partner, Chris Freeland, was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Australia’s increasing connectedness with global markets, particularly in Asia Pacific, means the need for seamless legal advice, delivered efficiently across borders, has never been greater. In addition to a balance of strategic and operational experience, James brings a drive for efficiency born from his experience as an engineer. We are very pleased to have James on board to further strengthen the value of our offering.”

On his appointment, Odell highlighted Baker & McKenzie’s unparalleled global platform combined with a deep understanding of local markets, and was quoted as saying: “This has positioned us very well to advise investors looking to extend and protect interests in new markets. It’s exciting to be in Australia as it emerges as a key player on the world stage at a firm which has invested in its global offering for so many decades.”

Chris Freeland is National Managing Partner of Baker & McKenzie’s Australian offices and a member of its Asia Pacific Regional Council. Chris has had many years’ experience as a lawyer, strategy consultant and professional services manager in leading global and domestic organizations. He has lived and worked in New York, Beijing, Melbourne and Sydney.

Baker & McKenzie’s Australian lawyers have advised on many of the headline Australian transactions of the last four decades. These include the capital raising and listing for International Ferro Metals Limited, the first Australian company admitted to the FTSE 250; the A$4 billion KKR joint venture with the Seven Network; the groundbreaking A$1.85 billion Sims Group merger with the US company Metal Management Inc; and the A$1.2 billion acquisition of Schweppes Australia by Asahi Breweries.

The firm is a trusted advisor to leading Australian and multi-national corporations, State and Federal governments, Australian, international and multilateral institutions.

Baker & McKenzie continues to bring the experience of its global classroom to our clients in Australia through every transaction and every piece of advice. The firm actively ensures that it has harnessed the best legal solution as tested through its global platform. The firm’s ability to accomplish this is enabled by leadership in legal thinking, and by bringing experience across legal and regulatory boundaries to clients in their home markets.

Baker & McKenzie is an international law firm, founded in Chicago in 1949 by Russell Baker and John McKenzie. The firm employs over 3,800 lawyers in 70 offices in 42 different countries.

As a transnational operation, no single nationality dominates the firm, and over 80 percent of its lawyers practice outside the United States. The lawyers come from 60 countries and speak more than 75 languages, with English in common.

DLA Piper Adds Pair of Attorneys to Beijing Office

rebneely — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:46:45 +0000

DLA Piper has announced that John Shi and Nicolas Groffman have both joined DLA Piper as partners in Beijing.

The pair of attorneys will also work closely with the firm’s Shanghai, Hong Kong and other Asia Pacific offices.

The news dovetails with Mallesons preparation to seal a merger with Chinese firm King & Wood. The Australian firm’s partners voted in favor of the tie-up last week, with King & Wood’s partners understood to have given their backing to the deal this week, according to the November 1^st law.com article, “DLA Piper bolsters China practice with double hire from Mallesons”.

Mallesons’ Beijing chief representative since 2004, Shi is a corporate lawyer with significant expertise in M&A, foreign direct investment and all types of corporate structures and operational issues in China.

Groffman is a partner in Mallesons’ Beijing office. He specializes in technology, media and telecommunications. In addition, he has a broad M&A practice.

In a statement, DLA Piper’s joint CEO Nigel Knowles was quoted as having said, per the law.com article: “As the Chinese government continues to encourage Chinese entities to invest overseas we anticipate a growing emphasis on outbound work. As a global law firm with strong US and EMEA offerings, DLA Piper is well placed to support this trend and the appointment of John and Nic will ensure we have a market leading international legal practice in China.”

DLA Asia-Pacific managing director Alistair Da Costa was quoted as having said in the November 29th law.com article: “One of the strategic priorities for the firm, and for Asia Pacific in particular, is the continual development and growth of our Greater China offering, especially our corporate practice.”

Per the article, it’s anticipated that additional lawyers from Mallesons’ Beijing office will follow Shi and Groffman to DLA Piper, which is also expected to make additions to its Shanghai team.

Currently, DLA Piper has nine partners and 62 other fee-earners working across Beijing and Shanghai, while Mallesons has five partners and 22 other fee-earners in these two cities.

Global law firm DLA Piper has 76 offices across 30 countries and more than 4,200 lawyers. As of May 2011, it was the largest law firm in the world by number of attorneys. The firm is composed of two partnerships, DLA Piper International, and DLA Piper U.S. The two partnerships share a single management board but are not financially integrated.

DLA Piper’s clients range from multinational, Global 1,000 and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging high-tech companies and start-ups, for which it operates a dedicated division for venture-capital placements. The firm represents over 140 of the top 250 Fortune 500 clients and nearly half of the FTSE 350 or their subsidiaries.

Frank Burch and Tony Angel serve as Co-Chairs of the firm’s Global Board, and Senator George Mitchell as Chairman Emeritus.

Sullivan & Cromwell Launches Law Practice in Hong Kong

rebneely — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:33:04 +0000

Sullivan & Cromwell recently announced it has launched a law practice in Hong Kong.

Joseph C. Shenker, Chairman of Sullivan & Cromwell was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “S&C has been committed to the Asia-Pacific region for many decades, with an integrated practice advising clients in their inbound and outbound investments, M&A and capital raising activities. Having the ability to offer clients advice under Hong Kong law is a natural extension to our diversified, global practice.”

The Hong Kong office was established in 1992, and possesses a strong team of lawyers, including partners William Chua, Michael DeSombre, Kay Ian Ng, Chun Wei and Gwen Wong.

As well, S&C established its Beijing office in 1999 and was among the very first top-tier Wall Street firms to have an office in China. Together, these offices serve clients in Greater China and throughout Asia.

Joseph C. Shenker’s practice covers a wide range of areas. These include his extensive experience in negotiated mergers and acquisitions (public and private); domestic and cross-border joint ventures; the representation of private equity investors and family investment offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia; securities offerings; private and public financings; commercial real estate; and tax and estate planning. As well, he serves as a personal adviser to many of the world’s most active and influential business leaders and families.

S&C is committed to clients and transactions in Asia, which have formed an important part of our practice since the 1920s. The firm is recognized as a leader in the region’s capital markets, M&A, private equity, privatization and project finance work. Clients located in Asia make up over 20% of S&C’s non-U.S. clients; the firm’s Asian clients are located all over the region, mainly in Greater China and Japan, and also in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

With over thirty lawyers in our Tokyo, Hong Kong and Beijing offices, the firm provides expert legal counsel on corporate finance, M&A, private equity, real estate and project finance matters. S&C’s Asian practice has been widely recognized for its excellence and service to clients, and the firm regularly advises on the landmark transactions in the region.

The firm has been consistently recognized for its work in Asia. This includes IFLR’s “China Practice of the Year” in the IFLR Asia Awards, “ALB Deals of the Year Japan Awards,” “Equity Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year in Asia” by IFLR, “Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year in Asia” by AsiaLaw, and “M&A Law Firm of the Year in Asia” by IFLR.

The firm clients include many of the major companies, governmental and sovereign entities, and leading international and domestic investment and commercial banks in the region. As well, clients include a wide range of multinational corporations, financial institutions and private equity firms.

Sullivan & Cromwell is an international law firm headquartered in New York. The firm has approximately 800 lawyers in 12 offices, located in financial centers in the United States, Asia, Australia and Europe.

Cleary Gottlieb Announces Plans to Open Office in Seoul, Korea

rebneely — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:49:52 +0000

Leading international law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP announced today its plans to open an office in Seoul, Korea during the first half of 2012.

The firm’s announcement comes after the recent ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement by both countries; this resulted in the opening in 2012 of the Korean legal services market to U.S.-based law firms.

Partner Yong Guk Lee and counsel Jay Hoon Choi, both currently based in Hong Kong, will relocate to Seoul.

Cleary Gottlieb managing partner Mark Leddy was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Our plan to open an office in Korea as soon as we are able reflects our 30 year commitment to Asia. During that period, our Korea practice has become the leading international practice covering Korea. Having Cleary Gottlieb lawyers in Seoul will allow us to serve both our Korea-based clients as well as clients outside the region doing business there more efficiently and effectively.”

As well, several associates fluent in Korean from the firm’s Korea practice will relocate to Seoul. In addition, the firm also plans to relocate other members of the Korea practice team to Seoul over a period of time. Cleary Gottlieb attorneys in Seoul will continue to be fully integrated with the firm’s larger Asia practice.

Cleary Gottlieb has had a robust Korea practice for over twenty years. With over 30 lawyers worldwide fluent in Korean – this includes four partners, two counsel, one senior attorney and ten associates based in Hong Kong – the firm possesses a team of uniquely talented, native Korean-speaking lawyers.

In addition, the firm has a broad network of relationships with leading Korean law firms with whom it works hand in hand to ensure that clients receive exceptional Korean law advice.

Cleary Gottlieb opened offices in Hong Kong in 1980 and in Beijing in 2006. The firm has operated continuously in Asia through times of extraordinary changes in the economies of many Asian countries. The firm has developed a thorough understanding of the region and an unmatched ability to work for clients based in Asia and for those based outside of Asia doing business there. Currently, the firm has more than fifty lawyers resident in Asia serving the needs of those clients.

Cleary Gottlieb has significant experience in a broad range of public and private sector transactions, as well as litigation, arbitration and enforcement matters, involving Korea. The firm assists Korean clients with their capital raising, overseas investment and other activities and assists non-Korean clients in direct investment in Korea. These transactions often require advice with respect to a range of issues, including finance, corporate governance, tax and disclosure of information. As well, the firm has broad experience and has enjoyed great success in litigating and arbitrating important disputes on behalf of Korean clients and in matters involving Korea. The firm also handles sensitive criminal and regulatory matters, including conducting internal investigations, for Korean clients and for companies facing such issues in Korea.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP was founded in 1946, and has over 1,100 attorneys worldwide.

Proskauer Opens Office in Beijing; Effort Underway Since 2008

rebneely — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:00:45 +0000

Global law firm Proskauer announced it has opened an office in Beijing. In so doing, the firm significantly expands its global capabilities and Asia practice.

The firm counts the office as its thirteenth, and it is located in the Chaoyang District of Beijing.

Joseph M. Leccese, Chairman of Proskauer was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “This marks the next step in our global strategy of serving the needs of our clients in the major financial markets of the world where they are located and doing business. It will allow us to continue to expand the work we are doing as our clients build their businesses in Asia, enabling them—and us—to capitalize on the full range of available opportunities.”

Yuval Tal, who heads the firm’s Asia Practice was quoted as saying: “We are excited to be able to support our fast-growing practice with an on-the-ground base in mainland China, where many of our clients are focusing their attention, time and money. With 20 fee earners in Asia, we can handle the most sophisticated inbound and outbound transactions.”

The opening of the office has been underway since 2008. At that time, the firm had expanded to Hong Kong, by adding two partners from the now defunct firm of Heller Ehrman, along with the relocation of Proskauer corporate partner Yuval Tal from New York. According to the November 10th amlawdaily.com article, “At Last, Proskauer Rose Opens Its Doors in Beijing”, Tal explained that obtaining the necessary license to open the office, via the Chinese government, was a lengthy process.

According to the amlawdaily.com article, Tal was quoted as saying: “Every transaction we do is multilingual. It very often involves at least two, if not three jurisdictions, and very often two or three legal systems. It’s a very, very exciting kind of practice.”

At first, five attorneys from the Hong Kong office will relocate to Beijing, according to Tal in the amlawdaily.com article. Tal will divide his time between the two cities. The two offices will concentrate their efforts on matters relating to private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets matters. Many of the clients are from the entertainment, sports, and lodging and gaming industries.

The Beijing office is the most recent opening for the firm. The move follows the firm’s expansion into London and São Paulo in 2007, and Chicago and Hong Kong in 2008.

Global law firm Proskauer Rose, founded in 1875, is one of the largest in the nation, with twelve offices and over 650 attorneys. The firm offers a wide range of services, and attorneys practice in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, bankruptcy and reorganizations, taxation, litigation, trusts and estates, intellectual property, and labor and employment law. The range of clients served is diverse, and includes companies in the chemicals, entertainment, financial services, health care, hospitality, information technology, insurance, internet, manufacturing, media and communications, pharmaceuticals, real estate investment, sports, and transportation industries.

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher Adds Two Prominent Attorneys to Hong Kong Office

rebneely — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:21:53 +0000

Yi Zhang and Graham Winter have joined the Hong Kong office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as partners.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Zhang was with O’Melveny & Myers, and Winter will join the firm from Reed Smith Richards Butler. Corporate partner Joseph Barbeau and litigation partner Kelly Austin lead the Hong Kong office, which opened in August of 2010.

Joseph Barbeau, Partner in Charge of Gibson Dunn’s Hong Kong office was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Both Yi and Graham are seasoned, senior lawyers, and their depth of experience in Hong Kong and China will be critical additions to our capacity. Over his 16 years in Hong Kong, Yi has built a well-established, China-focused practice that includes very significant foreign investment, M&A, private equity and project development transactions in China in a wide range of industries. In Hong Kong since 1992, Graham is a Hong Kong-qualified lawyer with a leading Hong Kong practice specializing in advising on complex corporate transactions, including cross-border M&A transactions, privatizations, joint ventures, private equity transactions and international corporate finance transactions. Outside Hong Kong, Graham has extensive experience across the Asia Pacific region, including China, Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia.”

Ken Doran, Managing Partner and Chairman of Gibson Dunn was quoted as saying: “We are extremely pleased to have Yi and Graham join our firm. Yi and Graham are highly regarded in the business and legal communities in Hong Kong and China, and their experience will enhance our ability to field the most complex transactions across most of Asia. Their arrival is another important step forward for our Asia strategy, which is focused on strengthening our Hong Kong and Singapore offices and looking for the right opportunities in China.”

Zhang corporate practice focuses on China, and covers a broad range of transactions, including investment funds, foreign direct investment, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, real estate and distressed asset transactions, and large-scale project development and infrastructure. He was formerly the head of O’Melveny’s Hong Kong office.

He has provided representation for multinational companies, commercial and investment banks, and international private equity funds making investments in China and Chinese companies making outbound investments. His clients have included AES, BP, Carlyle, China Development Bank, Citic PE, Darby Asia Investors, D.E. Shaw & Co., Deutsche Bank, Dow Chemical, Export-Import Bank of China, General Electric, Goldman Sachs, Guangdong Dapeng LNG Company, JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, SOCAM Development, Sithe Global Power, Temasek, UBS and Yida Group, among others.

In 1992, Winter was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong. He has extensive experience in a wide range of complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity, capital markets and securities, corporate governance, compliance, joint ventures and restructurings. In particular, he has experience with transactions governed by the Hong Kong Takeovers Code and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Listing Rules., Winter has experience across Asia, including China, Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia, in addition to his Hong Kong practice.

Winter is recognized as a leading practitioner by various industry publications, including Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Practical Law.

Winter has provided advice on various ground-breaking transactions, including representing SABMiller in relation to its US$750 million proposed takeover of Harbin Brewery, Hong Kong’s first contested takeover under the Hong Kong Takeovers Code. Most recently, he represented PCCW Limited in relation to the proposed spin-off and separate listing of its telecommunications business in the form of a novel structure involving a listed trust, which would be the first listing of its kind in Hong Kong.

Winter has represented multinational companies, commercial and investment banks and international private equity funds. He has also represented PCCW Limited, First Pacific Company Limited, Melco International Development Limited, 3i Group plc, Baring Private Equity Asia Limited, SABMiller and The Royal Bank of Scotland, among others.

Gibson Dunn is planning to convert its Hong Kong office into a local solicitors firm when approved to do so under regulations in force. Until then, in accordance with Hong Kong regulatory requirements, Winter and other solicitors will form a separate firm that will practice in association with Gibson Dunn when approved by the Law Society of Hong Kong.

Simpson Thacher Launches Hong Kong Practice

jim — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:41:56 +0000

The law firm of Simpson Thacher has announced that it has performed all necessary regulatory measures to practice law in Hong Kong, helping the firm launch a law practice in the city. The addition of the practice in Hong Kong expands the firm’s successful China practice that the firm developed over the past two decades. Christopher Wong has already joined the firm and Celia Lam will join the firm before the month of October is complete.

Wong and Lam are joining the law firm as partners, both of whom have been practicing law for decades and will help clients of the firm in capital markets and mergers and acquisitions transactions. The two partners will also be joined by more than ten experienced solicitors who will provide Hong Kong clients with advice on capital markets and mergers and acquisitions transactions.

Lam was a partner with Linklaters before joining Simpson Thacher, where she served as Co-Managing Partner for the Greater China region (Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai). Wong was a partner with the firm of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he served as the Head of the Corporate Practice for China.

“The formal launch of our Hong Kong law capability demonstrates the Firm’s commitment to the Greater China region. The ability to advise clients on Hong Kong law as well as U.S. law further strengthens Simpson Thacher’s market leading position,” Pete Ruegger said. Ruegger is the Chairman of Simpson Thacher’s Executive Committee.

The Head of Simpson Thacher’s China practice, Leiming Chen, had the following to say about the announcement:

“The Firm is committed to offering our clients based in Greater China, as well as those with interests in the region, the capabilities they need for their most complex transactions. Under the skillful leadership of Celia and Chris, our Hong Kong law practice will work seamlessly with the rest of our China practice, offering clients broader expertise and enhanced services, particularly with respect to capital markets and mergers and acquisitions transactions.”

“Our Firm’s Hong Kong law advice will be offered from both its Hong Kong and Beijing offices. A substantial portion of the 40 lawyers in the Firm’s Hong Kong office, together with approximately 20 lawyers based in the Firm’s Beijing office, work extensively on transactions involving Chinese companies and other entities.”

Simpson Thacher launched back in 1884 and employs more than 800 lawyers across the globe. The company is headquartered in New York to go along with offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Palo Alto, Sao Paulo, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. The brand new Hong Kong practice will be operated by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, which is a Hong Kong general partnership. The firm is regarded as one of the most well known and well respected law firm’s on an international basis.

Winston & Strawn Adds Prominent Litigation Attorney to London Office

rebneely — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:13:15 +0000

Winston & Strawn LLP announced yesterday that Michael Madden has joined the firm as head of its commercial litigation practice in London.

The addition of Madden follows a succession of high profile appointments for Winston, both in London and globally. As part of its continuing strategy for expanding globally, prominent IP litigators, Richard Price and Gareth Morgan, joined the firm’s London office. In addition, other major hires include former managing partner/CEO of Howrey LLP, Robert Ruyak, and former head of the President’s national Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, Robb Adkins, to the firm’s Washington, D.C. and West Coast offices.

Madden is the former managing partner of Ashurst’s dispute resolution department. Not only does he have a strong track record in commercial litigation and arbitration, administrative law and judicial review, he has significant experience as the lead partner in disputes involving corporate acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures in various industries. He has also advised on disputes relating to international and domestic contracts, finance transactions, tax, defamation, professional negligence, insolvency issues and real estate.

Among Madden’s range of significant cases is a favorable decision before the House of Lords concerning directors’ duties which is a leading case on the use of “poison pill” and other takeover disputes. He has successfully handled many other major cases in the Court of Appeal and the High Court, including leading cases on injunctions, the exercise of public authority powers and on casino licensing.

Madden’s corporate clients represent a variety of sectors, including banks, private equity, financial services, retail, gaming and leisure, real estate and technology. He is consistently recommended for his strong client focus. He has been described, per the press release, in the leading directories as “someone you would always want on your side” and a “tough” litigator.

While serving as managing partner of the Ashurst dispute team, Madden oversaw the development of litigation and arbitration teams to service global clients, including the establishment of such practices in Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong, and with clients and lawyers in Beijing and other centres in China.

Winston’s managing partner, Thomas Fitzgerald was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We are delighted that Michael has chosen Winston to further develop his highly regarded disputes resolution practice. Michael’s experience and stature within the sector will immediately enhance our dispute resolution capabilities and undoubtedly attract the kind of talent we seek in growing our presence throughout Europe.”

Madden was quoted as saying: “Winston’s globally acclaimed disputes resolution team has an outstanding reputation and a premier list of clients. I am pleased to be joining the Winston London office at a time of growth and welcome the exciting new challenge of developing not only a London-based disputes resolution team but a truly global offering.”

Thomas Benz, managing partner of Winston’s London office was quoted as saying: “We are delighted that Michael is joining our London team, his strong management experience in developing a cohesive and highly successful disputes team and his track record of managing significant client relationships will be integral to broadening the scope of this practice area both here and globally.”

Founded in Chicago in 1853, Winston & Strawn LLP is an international law firm with over 900 attorneys in 13 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Law Firm Kirkland Ellis Commits $2.75 Million to Stanford Law School to Fund Scholars’ Program and Annual Forum

rebneely — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:03:04 +0000

Stanford Law School recently announced law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP has committed $2.75 million over five years to the law school. The funds, which were made possible through the firm’s foundation and through individual partners’ contributions, will fund a scholars program, honoring the law school’s top first-year students, as well as a yearly forum on important legal issues for students, alumni, and the Bay Area business and law community.

Stanford Law School Dean Larry Kramer was quoted as saying in a press release at Kirkland Ellis’s website: “This generous support from Kirkland & Ellis will enable Stanford Law School to continue to transform legal education and prepare the next generation of leaders through innovative, interdisciplinary and international programs, new and expanded forms of clinical education, and a renewed commitment to public service.”

The newly established Kirkland & Ellis Scholars Program will recognize first year law students who have performed at the very highest level. Each year, six first-year students will be designated Kirkland & Ellis Scholars, based on overall scholastic achievement across a variety of courses. Now, students may win awards in individual courses. These awards, known as “book prizes,” will help determine who among the first-year class deserve recognition with the highest honor, the Kirkland & Ellis Scholar designation. The award is unique at the law school.

Kramer was quoted as saying of the program: “The Kirkland & Ellis Scholar designation symbolizes the highest standard of achievement. It is an honor that students will covet and it will benefit them in their pursuit of career and public service goals.”

The Kirkland & Ellis Law Forum offer panel discussions and symposia on emerging legal issues of interest to the business community. Stanford Law School faculty, Kirkland & Ellis attorneys and other legal and business thought leaders from academia, private practice, government, and the public sphere will participate in the discussions.

Jeffrey C. Hammes, Chairman of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee was quoted as saying: “We’re very pleased to support Stanford Law School and excited about these new programs. The opportunity to recognize student excellence and to provide a forum for sharing thought leadership on emerging matters that may challenge and reshape the business and law community fit well with Kirkland & Ellis’s culture and mission.”

Established in 1893, Stanford Law School is one of the nation’s leading institutions for legal scholarship and education, and has worked to establish a new model for legal education that focuses on rigorous interdisciplinary training, hands-on experience, global perspective and focus on public service. The Law School employs more than 50 faculty and hosts over 500 students who are working towards their Juris Doctor (J.D.) or other graduate legal degrees.

Global law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP has over 1,500 attorneys, representing clients in a broad range of matters, including complex litigation, dispute resolution and arbitration, and corporate mergers and acquisitions. The firm has offices in Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.

DLA Piper Open for Business in Australia

rebneely — Tue, 03 May 2011 10:57:57 +0000

Following the integration of DLA Phillips Fox (Australia) and DLA Piper, DLA Piper is now open for business in Australia.

DLA Piper in Australia is a full service business law firm with the ability to provide clients with a broad variety of services across five capital cities nationally, and 11 offices throughout Asia-Pacific.

In Asia-Pacific, DLA Piper has more than 700 lawyers operating out of offices located in Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Canberra, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Perth, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

Globally, DLA Piper now has 4,200 lawyers operating in 76 offices in 30 countries. The group also has alliances with firms in an additional 17 countries.

Managing Partner for Australia Tony Holland was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Our clients are at the centre of everything we do and we are dedicated to supporting them and helping them to do business. We believe this is a significant day for the Australian legal market. We are adding real value by offering a comprehensive range of legal services across a truly national and truly international footprint. Integration has already enhanced our ability to compete for work in the region. Our new positioning in the market has been welcomed by our clients and is attractive to prospective clients, as demonstrated by our recent appointment to the panel of a major international investment bank.”

DLA Piper represents more clients in a broader range of geographies and practice disciplines than virtually any other law firm in the world.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:54:55 +0000

Good Morning! Today is Friday, December 3, and here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories…

The US Senate is preparing to pass a new whistle blower law…

Cleary is moving into Hong Kong…

Collas Day and Crill Canavan are set to merge…

A new panel has been authorized to consider pay raises for New York judges…

And WilmerHale has named a new pair of managing partners…

Cleary to Launch a Hong Kong Law Practice

marvins — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:33:32 +0000

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton revealed its plan to launch a Hong Kong law practice with a partner recruited out of Norton Rose, a UK based law firm. Cleary, like several other US firms before it, is responding to a rapidly growing legal market in Hong Kong, driven by Hong Kong IPO’s. Freeman Chan, who is leaving Norton Rose to head up Cleary’s Hong Kong practice, is a member of The Takeovers Appeal Committee of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong.

Cleary managing partner Mark Walker explained that the plan is a vital step given the present market condition. “Adding Hong Kong law capability to our existing, successful Asia practice is a natural and important extension of our firm’s global business model, which combines strong local law and international law practices around the world.”

Hammonds Hong Kong Office Rejects Merger of Hammonds and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey

joshua — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:30:56 +0000

Less than a month after partners at Hammonds and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey approved their transatlantic merger, the Hong Kong office of the British firm is saying no to the proposed union, which is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2011.

According to U.K. legal publication Legal Week, the six-partner office has told Hammonds’ management it intends to separate from the newly merged firm.

However, per the article at amlawdaily.com, it’s still unclear whether the partners from Hammonds’ Hong Kong operations will try and form a standalone firm or seek to join another firm entirely, Legal Week reports.

Creating a truly global firm was critical to both firms when Squire Sanders and Hammonds announced the merger talks in August. Hong Kong was one of the four cities in which both firms have an office. Squire Sanders chairman James Maiwurm, who will become global chair and CEO of the combined firm, told The Am Law Daily earlier this month that Hong Kong was the only remaining location where integration issues had yet to be resolved because of space limitations in each of the firm’s offices.

Hammonds managing partner Peter Crossley, who will become the new firm’s managing partner for Europe, told The Am Law Daily that the newly merged firm was focused on expanding its operations in Asia and was looking forward to doubling its size in Hong Kong with the merger.

However, as a result of Hammonds’s Hong Kong office rejecting its soon-to-be former parent, the new Squire Sanders Hammonds firm’s local operations will be comprised solely of Squire Sanders’s four-partner, 11-lawyer office, Legal Week reports.

In a joint statement, the two firms wished their Hammonds Hong Kong colleagues well, but emphasized the strength of their union.

“As is common with large law firm combinations, even in circumstances such as ours where the vast majority of the voting partnership approved the combination, a small handful of partners in Hong Kong have taken the view that they do not want to be part of a fully integrated global firm with established offices throughout China and have decided to leave,” the two firms said to Legal Week. “Regardless of this, the merger has significantly strengthened our ability to serve clients across the globe, and the collective energy of our two legacy firms is focused on the successful integration across our platform, including Asia.”

Dorsey & Whitney Adds Leading PRC Practitioner as Partner in Shanghai Office

joshua — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 14:00:41 +0000

International law firm Dorsey & Whitney announced that Peter Corne will join the firm as a partner, and will head its Shanghai office.

Currently, Peter is Managing Director of Eversheds Shanghai office, which he has led since 2006.

Having worked in Shanghai for over 15 years, Mr. Corne is widely regarded as one of the leading practitioners in the PRC, and one of the foremost commentators on PRC investment law. He represents a number of multinational clients including Coca-Cola in their M&A transactions, corporate restructuring and equity/asset acquisitions of foreign-invested companies and State-owned enterprises. Peter also has significant experience in renewable energy projects and has spearheaded one of the foremost antitrust practices in the PRC.

In the press release at the firm’s site, Marianne D. Short, Dorsey’s Managing Partner was quoted as saying: “This is a significant step for Dorsey in expanding and further strengthening our China practice. Peter’s recruitment is part of our strategy to grow our business in China to meet the growing demands and requirements of our clients in the region’s vibrant economy.”

Corne was quoted as saying: “Dorsey, with its strengths in clean energy, agribusiness, environmental, healthcare and financial services is in a great position to help China and the U.S. harness their obvious synergies. I look forward to helping Dorsey unlock inbound and outbound transactional opportunities for its clients in all of these sectors.”

Dorsey & Whitney has had a presence in China since 1995 with established offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, where it represents a number of the world’s most successful multinational companies from a wide range of industries.

Headquarted in Minneapolis, Dorsey has 19 offices worldwide in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Asia Pacific region, and employs nearly 700 attorneys.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:19:52 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, November 23rd. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Russell Rogers, a partner in Thompson Hine LLP’s business litigation and product liability litigation practice groups, will assume leadership of the firm’s Atlanta office…

Davis Polk announced that Paul Chow, a leading Chinese and Hong Kong M&A lawyer, would join the firm as a partner in Hong Kong…

Clifford Chance added Meghan O’Reilly as counsel in the firm’s New York office…

Walmart’s legal department announced plans to form an in-house pro bono program…

International law firm King & Spalding added three partners to it finance practice…

Davis Polk Adds Partner to Complete Conversion of Hong Kong Office

joshua — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:55:59 +0000

Davis Polk announced that Paul Chow, a leading Chinese and Hong Kong M&A lawyer, will join the firm as a partner in Hong Kong. He joins recent partner arrivals, Bonnie YT Chan and Antony Dapiran, to round out Davis Polk’s core team of senior Hong Kong and U.K.-qualified lawyers.

The announcement comes on the heels of the Nov. 1 conversion of Davis Polk’s Hong Kong office to a Hong Kong law practice. Most of the firm’s nearly 40 lawyers in Hong Kong are dually admitted in Hong Kong and New York, and a number are U.K.-qualified as well. These lawyers include eight partners and approximately 20 associates who are admitted in Hong Kong.

“We are delighted to welcome Paul to the firm,” said John R. Ettinger, Managing Partner of Davis Polk. “His arrival is critical as we complete the foundation of our team of elite partners across the core Hong Kong law services that our clients are asking us to provide.”

Chow will join Davis Polk from the Beijing office of Linklaters, where he is a partner and heads the office. He has advised on a range of public and private M&A transactions, cross-border and strategic investment transactions and a number of privatisations and takeovers in Hong Kong.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:43:51 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, November 19th. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s headlines.

Greenberg Traurig announced that former Motion Pictures Associations of America IP Counsel Joseph Geisman joined its Intellectual Property and Technology Practice…

Prominent life sciences patent attorney Dr. Lauren L. Stevens joined Foley & Lardner…

Nixon Peabody expanded its presence in China through a new affiliation with Hong Kong firm Cheng Wong Lam & Partners…

Nixon Peabody Sets Up Shop in Hong Kong

joshua — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:32:50 +0000

Nixon Peabody has expanded its presence in China through a new affiliation with Hong Kong firm Cheng Wong Lam & Partners.

The alliance provides Nixon Peabody with its second office in Asia, joining its Shanghai operation that opened in 2008.

“By 2020, China will be the largest single market for legal services worldwide. Our clients are there and we need to be there,” said Richard F. Langan, Jr., CEO and managing partner of Nixon Peabody LLP. “Lawyers from across our firm are already working closely with Cheng Wong Lam & Partners on current client matters. With our new Hong Kong office, we are expanding our capabilities to handle the most sophisticated inbound and outbound transactions across Asia.”

Cheng Wong Lam & Partners provides a full range of legal solutions in Hong Kong and advises clients on matters including inbound and outbound investments, transactions, and legal disputes involving Mainland China. It was named by Asia Legal Business as a finalist for boutique law firm of the year in 2010.

“China has replaced Japan as the world’s second-largest economy and, accordingly, clients’ needs continue to evolve,” said Cheng Hoo, founding partner of Cheng Wong Lam & Partners. “For more than 170 years, Hong Kong has acted as a major bridge between Mainland China and foreign businesses, corporations, and investors. We are pleased to align ourselves with Nixon Peabody, a firm which shares our commitment to providing extraordinary client service.”

David Cheng, chair of Nixon Peabody’s China practice and a Hong Kong native, will split hit time between Nixon Peabody’s Hong Kong and Shanghai offices.

Nixon Peabody has 700 attorneys collaborating across major practice areas in 17 cities across the U.S. and in European and Asian commercial centers.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:26:26 +0000

Good morning everybody! Today is Thursday, November 18th. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

Lisa Murkowski won her bid to be returned to Washington as Alaska’s Senator…

Boies Schiller let three female associates go late last week…

Sidley Austin’s Matthew Sheridan was promoted to practice Co-Head…

Mintz Levin Co-Chairs will be the featured speakers at MIT Conference…

McGuire Woods finalized an agreement to combine operations with the Houston-based firm of Nickens Keeton Lawless Farrell & Flack LLP…

Hogan Lovells added two partners to its firm, one in Philadelphia, and one in Washington, D.C….

Sidley Austin’s Sheridan Promoted to Practice Co-Head

joshua — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:02:34 +0000

Sidley Austin corporate finance partner Matthew Sheridan is relocating from Hong Kong to the firm’s Singapore office, effective Jan. 1, where he will assume responsibilities as co-head of the firm’s Asia International Corporate Finance group. Sheridan will share those responsibilities with Tim Li, who will remain in Hong Kong.

Thomas W. Albrecht, the firm’s Managing Partner for the Asia Pacific region, commented on the move in a press release: “Matt and Tim have built a top-tier corporate finance reputation and a deep and talented bench in Hong Kong. We have experienced increased client demand in South East Asia and we expect that trend to continue, so now is the time to expand our geographic capabilities utilizing that deep bench.”

Sheridan, who has lived and worked in Asia since 1994, including in Singapore from 1995-2002, represents underwriters and issuers, including corporate enterprises, financial institutions, governments and governmental entities in connection with corporate financings through global offerings of debt and equity securities, as well as mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructurings.

“I am excited to take up this new challenge, which represents a natural progression in our Asian practice,” Sheridan said.

Sidley has had an established presence in the Asia Pacific region for more than 25 years, having opened its first office in the region in Singapore in 1982.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:25:59 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, October 28th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Baker & McKenzie was slapped with a $103 million malpractice verdict by a Mississippi jury…

Four attorneys at Milberg LLP were selected for the 2010 Top Attorneys List by legal media company Lawdragon…

Sidley Austin’s Michelle Illene Ruiz, a partner in the firm’s Chicago office, was honored at The Anti-Defamation League’s 3^rd Annual Rising Star Awards Luncheon…

Renowned mediation attorney Kenneth R. Feinberg headlined the ILR Summit…

DLA Piper announced that Stéphane Lemarchand will join its Intellectual Property and Technology practice in Paris as a partner in the beginning of November…

Anti-Defamation League Honors Sidley Austin Chicago Partner

joshua — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 21:00:53 +0000

Sidley Austin’s Michelle Illene Ruiz, a partner in the firm’s Chicago office, was honored at The Anti-Defamation League’s 3^rd Annual Rising Star Awards Luncheon Tuesday. Ruiz was one of five women recognized “as the next generation of women defining the future.”

“Michele has a deep commitment to Chicago and has been dedicated to the community throughout her career,” said Thomas A. Cole, chair of Sidley’s Executive Committee. “Her leadership and tireless commitment to her profession and the community is evidenced through the wide range of Chicago organizations to which she contributes her time and talent.”

In addition to her legal practice, Ruiz is actively involved in many organizations throughout Chicago. She served as co-chair for three years of the Alliance of Latinos and Jews, a bridge-building organization with a long history in the Chicago area. She also has given back to her law school, the University of Chicago Law School, in many ways, including co-chairing their Annual Fund campaign in 2006-2007 and serving as a mentor in their Women’s Mentoring Program.

At Sidley, Ruiz represents hedge fund clients in structuring private offerings and compliance matters. She assists hedge funds and other end-users to navigate the complex world of derivatives, particularly in light of the recent sweeping U.S. financial reform.

Sidley Austin is one of the world’s largest full-service law firms, with approximately 1,600 lawyers practicing in 17 U.S. and international cities, including Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:29:56 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, October 26th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Baker Botts partner J. Bradley Bennett was named the new head of enforcement for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority…

Goodwin Procter was named the winner of the 2010 Beacon of Justice Award by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association…

Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP formed a national foreclosure litigation and investigation practice to deal with the emerging national foreclosure crisis…

Loeb & Loeb attorneys were named as 2011 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers…

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati opened an office in Hong Kong…

Goodwin Procter Named ‘Beacon of Justice Award’ Winner

joshua — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:21:25 +0000

Goodwin Procter was named the winner of the 2010 Beacon of Justice Award by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association. The award honors law firms that have made significant contributions to pro bono representation in the area of immigration law.

Goodwin Procter was nominated for the award by Medical-Legal Partnership-Boston for its naturalization project, which provides legal assistance to families with permanent resident or “Green Card” status to become U.S. citizens. According to the firm, 25 Goodwin Procter attorneys have contributed more than 500 pro bono hours to the program, which was launched in 2009 in conjunction with MLP|Boston.

The program works like this: MLP | Boston screens individuals for eligibility for naturalization, selects cases with high potential for success and connects these individuals and families with Goodwin Procter lawyers. The firm’s volunteer attorneys then interview the clients, assist them in completing and filing the necessary immigration documents, and accompany them to interviews with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

NLADA was founded in 1911 and is one of the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit associations focused on delivering legal services to the poor. Goodwin Procter has offices in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Washington D.C.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Opens Office in Hong Kong

joshua — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:55:27 +0000

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has opened an office in Hong Kong.

In a press release at the firm’s site, CEO Steve Bochner was quoted as saying: “China is an incredibly vibrant market—one that we have been focused on and investing in for many years. Given Hong Kong’s position as a leading global financial center and the preferred overseas capital market for many Chinese enterprises, it is the logical place for us to open our second office in China. There are also considerable synergies between Hong Kong and the work we already are doing in China. We are extremely pleased to have found the right team and leadership to anchor our Hong Kong office, and look forward to continuing to build our presence in the Greater China region.”

The Hong Kong team will be led by Weiheng Chen, who co-heads the firm’s China practice along with Carmen Chang. He recently joined the firm from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley, and McCloy and has particular expertise in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets. The Hong Kong team will work closely with the firm’s attorneys in Shanghai and the U.S.

The China practice represents clients in a variety of legal matters in the Greater China region and the U.S., including cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, capital markets, joint venture and other forms of foreign investments.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s is nationally recognized as a leader in many areas of law, including the fields of corporate governance and finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities class action litigation, employment law, and intellectual property. In addition to the newly opened Hong Kong location, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has offices in Austin, New York, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, and Washington, D.C.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:49:03 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, October 13th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Milbank added lateral partner Dieter Yih to launch a practice in Hong Kong in 2011…

A federal judge in New Orleans appointed a 15-member plaintiff’s steering committee that will oversee the hundreds of lawsuits filed against BP…

A former director of the Federal Highway Administration and Environmental Protective Agency joined K&L Gates as an advisor in the firm’s public policy practice in Washington D.C…

Milbank Readies For Expansion in Hong Kong

joshua — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:14:54 +0000

Milbank, Tweed Hadley & McCloy has added lateral partner Dieter Yih to launch a practice in Hong Kong in 2011, the firm said in a press release Tuesday. The move is being described as “a significant expansion of Milbank’s 35-year presence in Hong Kong.”

Dieter, whose practice focuses on corporate finance and M&A, will join Milbank’s U.S. partnership in 2011 and the firm’s Hong Kong partnership when it is established later that year. He is a former partner at Mallesons Stephen Jacques.

“We are expanding our capabilities in response to the sustained growth of international capital markets and M&A deal activity involving Hong Kong law,” said Mel Immergut, Milbank’s Chairman. “As one of Hong Kong’s leading corporate lawyers, Dieter will play a key role in meeting the growing needs of our corporate, private equity and investment banking clients.”

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP is headquartered in New York and has 11 offices worldwide, including Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 10:54:21 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, September 24th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Reed Smith was brought on as U.S. corporate and securities counsel for China Sun Group High-Tech Co…

Quarterly revenue at Britain’s 100 biggest law firms increased by an average of 5 percent for the three-month period ending July 31…

Arnold & Porter acquired three attorneys from Sonnenschein…

Four Davis Polk partners were named ‘Top Lawyers’ in California…

Troutman Sanders appointed a new managing partner in its Washington, D.C office…

The Best Lawyers in America 2011® will feature 58 attorneys from Winstead PC…

Reed Smith Enlisted by China Sun Group

joshua — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:16:29 +0000

Reed Smith has been brought on as U.S. corporate and securities counsel for China Sun Group High-Tech Co., which supplies raw materials for rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries in China.

In its role, Reed Smith will handle U.S. securities filings, compliance work and transactions in the U.S., and will ensure China Sun Group’s compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

According to a press release, China Sun is emerging as one of the world’s leading suppliers of anode materials for lithium ion batteries. The company has made several moves recently to increase its production capacity in order to meet the growing demand for the green technology.

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to work with China Sun Group, especially at this juncture in which it is poised to capture a significant market share in the growing demanding for Li ion battery materials,” said Los Angeles-based attorney Allen Z. Sussman, a partner in Reed Smith’s Corporate & Securities Group.

Sussman will serve as China Sun’s lead outside counsel, and will head the legal team that will guide the company’s disclosure and compliance obligations under SEC and stock exchange rules, as well as its ongoing corporate governance issues, complex securities law matters and capital-raising transactions.

Reed Smith frequently handles cross-border transactions for Chinese companies and foreign companies doing business in China. The firm established a presence in China in 1980 and has become one of the largest law firm’s serving the Asia-Pacific region.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:35:45 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, September 21st. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Brooks Kushman Diversity Officer Phyllis Golden Morey was honored among “2010 Women In Law”…

Fish & Richardson was chosen as an elite “National Tier 1″ IP law firm by U.S. News & World Report…

Fourteen attorneys in the Texas offices of McKool Smith were recognized in the 2010 Texas Super Lawyers…

Highly regarded litigator and advisor Elizabeth P. Papez joined Winston & Strawn…

Mintz Levin earned high marks in the U.S. News Law Firm rankings…

Sidley Austin bolstered its international trade practice…

McKool Smith was recognized in the 2010 “Best Law Firms” rankings…

Sidley Austin Bolsters International Trade Practice

joshua — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:16:42 +0000

Sidley Austin said Monday it has added Stuart Harbinson to its Geneva office as a senior international trade advisor in its international trade and World Trade Organization practice. In the role, Harbinson will advise clients on WTO and other general trade policy matters, as well as the WTO’s dispute settlement procedures.

Harbinson previously served in several high-level positions in the United Nations, WTO and the Hong Kong government. While a senior official at the WTO, Harbinson served as special adviser to Director-General Pascal Lamy. Prior to that he served as chief of staff to Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi.

“Stuart is a savvy and highly regarded former WTO official and diplomat with vast experience and connections in Geneva and throughout the international trade policy community,” said Scott Andersen, co-managing partner of Sidley’s Geneva office. “We are pleased to welcome Stuart to the firm and build on the recent additions of Marc Palay and Sybilla Fries to expand the international trade and arbitration capabilities we offer our clients in Geneva.”

Sidley’s International Trade practice includes both lawyers and non-lawyer professionals based in Washington, D.C., Geneva and Brussels. The Geneva office was established in 2002.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:59:06 +0000

Good morning everyon! Today is Tuesday, August 24th. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

The “Tax Lady’ Roni Deutch was slapped with a $34 million lawsuit for fraud by California Attorney General Jerry Brown…

Dickstein Shapiro added two partners, previously from Patton Boggs…

The American Lawyer publication Corporate Counsel announced the top coporate law firms…

McCarter & English named a new managing partner…

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati added a partner, and expanded its Asia Practice…

Two principal members of Price Waicukauski & Riley were selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America…

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Adds Partner, Expands Asia Practice

joshua — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:08:35 +0000

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati today announced that Weiheng Chen has joined the firm as a partner in the corporate and securities practice, and as co-head of the China practice.

In recent years, Chen has been involved in some of the most significant M&A and capital markets transactions involving Chinese companies. With vast experience in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets, he will add significant strength in the private equity and M&A arenas to the firm’s on-the-ground China team and collaborate with the firm’s U.S.-based attorneys on cross-border transactions. He will also work closely with Carmen Chang, who heads the firm’s China practice, to establish an office in Hong Kong in the coming months.

According to today’s press release at the firm’s site, CEO Steve Bochner was quoted as saying: “Carmen and her team have done a remarkable job in expanding and solidifying the firm’s presence in Asia and growing our China practice. Now, with the continuing globalization of capital markets, the migration of many clients’ operations to China, the increasing cross-border transaction volume between China and the U.S., and the thriving Chinese business climate, we’re even more excited about the opportunities the region offers. Opening an office in Hong Kong — a leading global capital market and one of China’s key business centers — is the logical next step, and Weiheng is the perfect partner to help Carmen lead the charge.”

Chen joins from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy’s Hong Kong and Beijing offices, where he amassed substantial experience in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, capital markets, and joint ventures. He is a native Mandarin speaker and graduate of Harvard Law School and Beijing University Law School.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is the premier legal advisor to technology and growth enterprises worldwide, as well as the investment banks and venture capital firms that finance them. Over the past four decades, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has established its reputation by having an unmatched knowledge of its clients’ industries and deep and long-standing contacts throughout the technology sector.

The firm’s legal expertise serves clients at all stages of growth, from venture-backed start-up companies to multibillion-dollar global enterprises. The firm’s clients include some of the most recognized names in the technology, retail, life sciences, venture capital, and finance sectors.

The firm is nationally recognized as a leader in a wide variety of areas, including corporate governance, public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, mergers and acquisitions, securities class action litigation, and intellectual property litigation. The firm has offices in Austin, Palo Alto, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, and Washington, D.C.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:21:54 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, August 17th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Andrew J., “A.J.” Thomas joined Jenner & Block’s L.A. office as partner…

A Greenberg Traurig partner was named ABA Committee Co-Chair…

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP added two partners to its Hong Kong practice…

Kobre & Kim prepared to open an office in Hong Kong…