Global law firm White & Case LLP has boosted its China Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Practice with the addition of new partner Tao Lan in Beijing. Tao’s practice supports the Firm’s strategic goals of strengthening its Global M&A Practice and increasing its capabilities in China. He joins the Firm from Dewey & LeBoeuf in Beijing, and he was previously a partner at King & Wood.
“Tao Lan is a terrific addition to our China M&A team,” said Alex Zhang, the head of White & Case’s China M&A Practice. “He is recognized by his clients and peers as a solid M&A practitioner. His sector experience and skills will provide a boost to our leading M&A Practice in China.”
Tao is a PRC national who brings to White & Case his experience advising Chinese state-owned enterprises and multinational corporations on their M&A activities across a wide range of sectors, including telecommunications, manufacturing, banking, facility and hotel management, and media. He also has solid experience in the energy sector, having advised CNPC, CNOOC, Sinopec and others on significant outbound transactions involving acquisitions in Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia.
Tao adds depth to White & Case’s China M&A team, which is active in both inbound and outbound work. The team’s recent experience includes advising Nestlé on its US$1.7 billion acquisition of 60 percent of confectionery maker Hsu Fu Chi and Haier Group on its acquisition of Sanyo Electric’s washing machine, consumer refrigerator and white goods sales businesses in Japan and four countries in Southeast Asia.
“We are finding that our Chinese clients seeking outbound investment opportunities require partners on the ground in China with both language skills and the ability to readily connect with our large, global network of M&A lawyers,” said Xiaoming Li, head of the Firm’s China practice. “Our solid China platform, combined with our strength in New York and London as well as Latin America, Africa and other emerging economies, is important to many of our clients. Tao Lan adds further depth to this offering, and we are very pleased to have him on board.”
Tao Lan is a member of the New York Bar. He holds a JD from St. Louis University School of Law and an LLB from the People’s University of China.
