International law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP announced today that Ling Huang will join the firm as a partner in its Beijing office. Ms. Huang, 39, joins the firm from the Beijing office of Shearman & Sterling LLP, where she was a partner focusing on cross-border M&A, private equity, and foreign direct investment transactions.
“The addition of Ling demonstrates our continued deep commitment to our practice in Asia where we have had a continuous presence for more than 30 years. It follows the firm’s launch of a local law practice in Hong Kong in early 2011, and an announcement of our intention to open an office in Seoul later this year,” said Cleary Gottlieb Managing Partner Mark Leddy. “Ling adds significant China-based expertise and experience to our already internationally recognized domestic and cross-border M&A and private equity practices in China and across the globe.”
Ms. Huang advises a wide range of Chinese and global clients on M&A and private equity transactions involving both outbound transactions by Chinese companies as well as inbound investments and other transactions in China by private equity firms and multinational corporations. With the addition of Ms. Huang, the firm will have more than 55 lawyers in Hong Kong and Beijing, including 11 partners and three counsel.
Ms. Huang’s recent work spans a wide range of sectors, including aviation, energy, financial services, insurance, leisure and entertainment, media, pharmaceuticals, technology, and telecommunications. Ms. Huang, a Beijing native, graduated from Beijing University School of Law in 1996 and received her LLM degree from Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, in 1997. She is a New York-qualified lawyer and has practiced at Shearman & Sterling LLP in Beijing for more than 14 years.
Ms. Huang said, “Cleary Gottlieb offers a unique global platform that is an excellent match for my experience and goals. I look forward to working with the firm’s extremely talented lawyers in China, the rest of Asia, and around the world to provide the firm’s international and Asia-based clients with the highest quality advice on China-related matters.”