Dechert LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that Xiao Yong and Nicholas Song have joined the firm as corporate partners alongside their team. Xiao, who will be resident in the firm’s Hong Kong office, and Song, who will work in Beijing, were most recently partners at Vinson & Elkins.
“Xiao and Nicholas are great additions to our firm,” said Dechert CEO Henry Nassau. “Their deals, particularly in the energy sector, are very impressive. This team gives us greater depth in Asia and their practices nicely complement those of our established M&A partners David Cho and Stephen Chan.”
The team includes counsel Nicholas Molan and associate Jason Wu in Hong Kong as well as counsel Zhaohui Li and associate Sarah Teh in Beijing.
“This group is perfectly aligned with our strategic plan for growth,” said Mark Thierfelder, chair of the firm’s Corporate & Securities group. “Our clients will greatly benefit from the addition of this team, which is an important part of our strategic plan to build our global finance, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity practices around the world.”
Xiao practices in the area of corporate law, with a focus on the energy and natural resources, mining and metals, oil and gas sectors. He represents Chinese companies, including a number of China’s largest state-owned businesses, including Sinopec, CNPC, CNOOC, CIC, Norinco, Zhenhua Oil, Sinochem, ChemChina, Silk Road Fund, Guoxing Investment, China Minmetals and Capital Steel on international mergers and acquisitions and foreign direct investments. His practice also includes seeking approvals from high-level government agencies and conducting anti-monopoly filings.
Xiao is described as a “prominent figure in the [energy] market, recognized for his abundant experience advising Chinese state-owned entities on overseas investments” in the 2017 edition of Chambers Asia-Pacific, where he has been listed as a leading lawyer for energy and natural resources in China since 2012. He is also recommended in Chambers Global 2016, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2017, IFLR1000 2016 and Who’s Who Legal 2016.
“We are all very pleased to join Dechert,” said Xiao. “The firm’s global platform is expansive and in today’s market, deals benefit from the firm’s extensive reach.”
Song focuses his practice on corporate matters, with particular emphasis on the energy industry, including the mining and metals, oil and gas, and power sectors. He represents a number of China’s largest state-owned companies on cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
Additionally, Song also advises clients on international arbitration matters. He has significant experience in arbitrations conducted under the rules of the HKIAC, LCIA, LMAA, SIAC and UNCITRAL.
David Cho, who joined Dechert in 2012, has advised major companies throughout Asia on a wide range of complex corporate transactions and financings, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He has significant experience representing clients in the energy, telecommunications, banking and life sciences industries.
Source: www.dechert.com
