20 April 2012 Zhong Lun Law Firm is pleased to announce that Carl B. Cheng, former partner with the Shanghai office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, has joined Zhong Lun’s Shanghai office. Cheng brings more than 20 years international law firm experience to Zhong Lun and will continue to focus on international mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, inbound/outbound investments as well as corporate governance matters.

Cheng is the most recent senior foreign lawyer to make the move from the China office of a leading international law firm to join Zhong Lun and is part of a larger trend of further internationalization of the top-ranked Chinese firm. In early 2011, Robert Lewis, former head of the Beijing office of Lovells, joined Zhong Lun’s Beijing office, and Peter Ni, former head of the China tax team for White & Case, joined the firm’s Shanghai office. More recently, Clifford Ng, former administrative partner of K&L Gates in Hong Kong joined Zhong Lun’s affiliated office in Hong Kong, and Zhong Lun announced the official opening of its new London office, making Zhong Lun the first top-tier Chinese law firm to enter the London market. 

Carl graduated from Yale University and the law school at the University of California, Berkeley. He was with Freshfields in Shanghai for 17 years and prior to that he practiced with an international law firm in the US. Carl’s native language is English, and he is fluent in spoken and written Mandarin and Japanese. 

Zhong Lun managing partner Zhang Xuebing issued the following statement: “We are very pleased to have Carl join Zhong Lun, further strengthening our top-end international practice capability. As a firm, we recognize the importance of expanding our firm’s international reach in order to continue to provide the highest standard of legal services for major multinational clients in respect of inbound transactions in China as well as to be able to work more effectively with major Chinese clients as they invest outside of China. Carl will play an important role in both of these areas, working closely with the other members of our international team.” 

Zhong Lun international managing partner Robert Lewis commented: “Carl’s joining Zhong Lun marks another significant milestone not only for the firm but also for the evolution of the Chinese legal services market generally. His arrival will also provide further energy and impetus to our continuing initiatives to expand our international capability and extend our international reach. On a personal level, Carl is a perfect fit, given his long practice experience in both the US and China. As a result, Carl has a very deep understanding of the business and legal cultures inside and outside of China, which will prove to be an invaluable asset in dealing not only with both foreign and domestic clients but also in developing closer ties with leading foreign law firms around the world. ” 

Carl Cheng stated: “This is a big step for me. I decided to take it because I was impressed with the determination of the Zhong Lun partners to build a top-tier world class law firm. The depth and breadth of the firm’s Chinese law experience, government relationships and Chinese client base will be a useful springboard in reaching that goal.”