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
“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.