International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is pleased to announce a number of significant changes to further strengthen its China team, reflecting the strategic importance of China to the firm.
The changes involve appointing partner Teresa Ko to the new role of Chairman of the firm’s China practice, partner moves within China and two London partners relocating to the region.
These moves bring the number of partners in the firm’s China offices to 21 and the firm expects to continue to grow this number over the next few years.
In her new role of China Chairman, Teresa will:
· work with all the firm’s China partners to develop the firm’s growing list of major Chinese clients and build on the firm’s strong reputation for helping companies investing in China or looking to access its fast growing capital markets; and
· work with regulators on regulatory and legislative reform that will benefit the business community and the wider China marketplace. Her position as chairman of the Listing Committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and as deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Panel on Takeovers and Mergers of the Securities and Futures Commission gives her a unique view of market shaping developments.
Alongside this new role, Teresa will continue to support her clients. She has also been elected to the firm’s global Partnership Council, where she will contribute to the strategic direction of the firm as a whole.
Rob Ashworth, regional managing partner for Asia, comments: ‘We have the leading IPO and M&A franchises in the China region and our international clients are becoming even more active there. We are also building great relationships with major Chinese corporations and institutions, who are increasingly requesting our help outside of China so it is important for us to keep investing in these areas.’
Will Lawes, senior partner, comments: ‘I am delighted that Teresa Ko has accepted this role, which is an important one for the firm. We share Teresa’s ambition that we consolidate our position as a top choice international law firm in China.’
Teresa Ko says, ‘Serving as the firm’s Chairman for China is an honour. We have made tremendous progress in the last five years. I will work hard with the China partners to build on the reputation we have developed in China through advising on market-leading transactions both in China and elsewhere in the world.’
To help meet increasing demand from the firm’s clients for international support relating to China, a number of partner moves within China and international partner relocations will also be taking place.
London partner Jenny Connolly will move to the firm’s Shanghai office and, with her rare combination of antitrust and corporate experience, will play a key role in developing strong client relationships across our China offices, particularly in the technology sector. Beijing corporate partner Jack Wang will also be moving to Shanghai in June to enhance the firm’s cross border M&A offering.
Corporate partner Melissa Thomas will be relocating from Shanghai to Beijing (also in June) to help strengthen the firm’s China financial services practice, working closely with regulatory partner Royce Miller, based in Hong Kong. Melissa’s move to Beijing will bring her closer to many of the firm’s financial services clients, as well as the key regulators located in Beijing.
Finally, the Hong Kong practice will benefit from the arrival of London corporate partner Simon Weller in May. Simon will focus on expanding the firm’s M&A and fast-growing private equity practices both in China and across the rest of Asia.
Global head of corporate, Edward Braham, says, ‘Jenny’s considerable experience in both corporate and anti-trust work and her close ties to corporations on the west coast of the US, combined with Jack’s M&A experience in the region will be a real boost to our Shanghai office. Melissa’s long experience of deals in the financial institutions space in China is unparalleled and Beijing is the best place for her to develop our China financial institutions group offering.’
‘We are experiencing increased demand in Asia from our private equity clients and Simon’s experience in this area and all round versatility will be of real help in meeting the needs of these important clients of the firm,’ he concluded.
