Recently, Carol Zhu and Steve Zhao joined Zhong Lun Law Firm’s Shanghai Office as Partners.

Faegre Baker Daniels is pleased to announce that Kevin L. Jones has joined its Shanghai office as partner, becoming the head of the firm’s labor and employment practice in China. Kevin has been recognized as a leading employment lawyer in China by Legal 500 for three consecutive years (2010, 2011 and 2012) and Chambers Asia for two consecutive years (2011 and 2012).

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP today announced the opening of its new office in Shanghai, China. The office is Katten’s first in China and represents both American and European companies with business interests in China, as well as Chinese companies that are doing business in the United States.

Herbert Smith LLP announced today the recruitment of Brenda Horrigan, a highly regarded international arbitration practitioner, who will be joining the firm as a partner in its global dispute resolution practice. Upon her arrival she will be based in Shanghai as part of Herbert Smith’s Asia disputes team, which numbers over 80 dispute resolution lawyers and is one of the largest groups of dispute resolution specialists of any international law firm operating in Asia.

Herbert Smith’s Shanghai office has advised Arkema, a French chemical company listed on Euronext Paris, on its US$365 million acquisition of two Chinese chemical companies, which significantly strengthen its position in the polyamide and sebacic acid markets.

Zhong Lun Law Firm is pleased to announce that Mr. Zhang Mingjie has recently joined the law firm’s Shanghai office as partner in the International Practice. Mr. Zhang was a senior partner of Boss & Young Attorneys at Law before the joining.

O’Melveny & Myers LLP is advising China Real Estate Information Corporation (NASDAQ: CRIC), on a going-private transaction which will result in its being taken private by its controlling shareholder, E-House (China) Holdings Limited (NYSE: EJ). Under the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, which was entered into on December 28, 2011, by and among CRIC, E-House and a newly formed subsidiary of E-House, each of CRIC’s ordinary shares will be converted into the right to receive US$1.75, without interest, and 0.6 E-House ordinary shares, except for shares held by E-House and certain other excluded parties, which will be cancelled in the merger for no consideration. The transaction is expected to close around the middle of 2012 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by CRIC’s shareholders.

Cooley LLP announced today that it has opened an office in Shanghai, China. The office extends the firm’s market leadership in advising innovative companies and investors in sectors spanning software, hardware and mobile technology, digital and social media, life sciences and clean energy into one of the world’s most dynamic and essential  markets.

A team of lawyers from Clyde & Co’s Shanghai and London offices advised China Reinsurance Corporation (“China Re”), the country’s only state-owned reinsurance group and largest reinsurer, in connection with the formation of a strategic partnership with Catlin Group Limited (“Catlin”) that will result in the establishment of a special purpose syndicate at Lloyd’s of London.

Hogan Lovells has strengthened its Greater China intellectual property (IP) practice with the lateral hire of William “Skip” Fisher in Shanghai.  Skip, an experienced U.S. IP lawyer and China IP strategist, joins Hogan Lovells on 29 November 2011 based in the firm’s Shanghai office.