Linklaters today announces that Tien-yo Chao has been elected a partner in its China practice with effect from August 2011. Tien joins from Morrison & Foerster in Hong Kong where he has been a partner since 2003 after previously heading his own firm and serving as a partner at Slaughter and May.

Tien, who will divide his time between Hong Kong and Beijing, brings huge experience in the Greater China markets and is a Hong Kong law practitioner of outstanding reputation. He has a broadly based corporate practice with a particular emphasis on M&A and equity capital markets to which he brings a deep understanding of the Hong Kong listing regulations and a strong track record of working with clients in mainland China. Tien will bring this expertise to the Linklaters platform in Greater China, where he will focus on these core practice areas and on building further the firm’s relationships with PRC-based clients. 

Linklaters also announces two leadership appointments for its China practice. Corporate partner Fang Jian has been appointed national managing partner for China and corporate partner Betty Yap has been appointed as head of the China practice. 

Fang Jian will have management responsibility for the firm’s China Group, comprising its offices in Beijing and Shanghai together with its China-focused teams in Hong Kong. Fang Jian will remain fully engaged in client work and, in his new role, will lead the firm’s growth strategy in China, with particular emphasis on building the firm’s onshore expansion and leading the further development of relationships with China-based clients. 

Betty Yap’s new role, which is in addition to her existing M&A and private equity practice responsibilities, will involve driving forward the interaction of the firm’s China practice with the firm’s international clients and global network. 

In addition, corporate partner Teresa Ma has been appointed by the Securities and Futures Commission to the Takeover Panel and Appeals Committee in Hong Kong. Teresa will continue to combine these roles with her client work and her commitments as head of our Shanghai office and other firmwide management responsibilities. 

Stuart Salt, Linklaters regional managing partner for Asia, said:

“We are delighted that Tien has agreed to join us. He is well known to our firm over many years and is one of the most highly respected lawyers in the region. His experience in both the Hong Kong markets and with PRC-based clients will be enormously valuable to us in fulfilling our ambitious plans to develop still further our business in Greater China.”

He added:

“The appointments of Fang Jian and Betty Yap represent a major statement of our intent in China, which is a key strategic priority for the firm. Both are pre-eminent practitioners in their respective fields and I am delighted that they have agreed to take on these leadership roles in addition to their heavy practice responsibilities. We are also excited by Teresa Ma’s recent appointments to the Takeover Panel and Appeals Committee. This is tremendous recognition for Teresa and a proud moment for the firm which highly values its involvement in the wider business community. 

“This is an exciting and dynamic time for us as we develop further our platform over the next few years to meet our business objective of remaining the long-term leading international firm in Greater China. In doing this, we are fortunate to have a strong group of market-leading partners and an associate base of unrivalled quality.”