CHINA

A number of large and medium-sized Beijing firms have been expanding their national presence by acquiring regional firms, which led to strong growth in revenues. Here are China's fastest growing firms.

Broad & Bright

• Managing partner: Yuan Changchun
• Number of partners/other fee earners: 8/29
• Asian offices: Beijing and Shanghai

Summary:
Although senior partner John Chu left the firm for Jun He, Broad & Bright has grown its partnership and lawyer team steadily and achieved a 30% increase in total revenues. The firm’s Shanghai branch office, which opened in August 2008, has contributed to the growth of its overall headcount and revenues and quickly emerged as a recognisable player in the city’s corporate legal market. In April 2009, former associate at O’Melveny & Myer’s Shanghai office, Xiong Tao, joined the firm as a partner, further strengthening its branding as a firm of lawyers with international experience.

Dacheng

• Managing partner: Wang Zhongde
• Number of partners/other fee earners: 383/893
• Branch offices: Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Chengdu, Chongqing, Jinan, Tianjin, Harbin, Chengzhou, Yingchuan, Xining, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Haikou, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Nantong, Changchun, Xi’an, Nanjing, Fuzhou, Shenyang, Wuxi, Qingdao, Urumqi, Taiyuan,
  Guiyang, Nanning, Huhot, Singapore, Taiwan, Paris, Los Angeles

Summary:

Over the past year, Dacheng’s expansion stories have had everyone in the legal community talking. The firm opened more than 10 branches and recruited a significant number of lawyers, becoming one of the largest law firms in Asia. Working with Singapore firm Central Chambers, Dacheng became the only  Chinese firm with a joint venture in Singapore. The joint venture thereafter entered into a strategic alliance with Indian firm Vaish Associates Advocates to offer clients greater access to China-India trade opportunities. The firm also jointly initiated the Across-Taiwan-Strait Legal Services Centre and opened an office in Taiwan.

Global

• Managing partner: Liu Jinrong
• Number of partners/other fee earners: 45/95
• Asian offices: Beijing and Shanghai

Global has had a good year with a stable increase in revenue and headcount. The firm’s managing partner Liu Jinrong was appointed to the managing position earlier this year. With a clear vision and stable growth, Global has plans to launch two more offices – in Chengdu and Shenzhen – within the next six months. Over the year, the firm has also expanded practice areas like anti-trust, project finance and tax.

Grandall

• Managing partner: Lv Hongbing
• Number of partners/other fee earners: 102/360
• Asian offices: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Kunming, Tianjin, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Ningbo

  
Summary:

Grandall’s leading position in the capital markets, together with its long-standing relationship with many domestic companies, has helped retain its position among the fastest-growing firms. According to a report issued by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) in 2009, Grandall is ranked first with respect to the number of IPOs it was involved in, overtaking 2007 champion King & Wood with a total issuance of 37 legal opinions (12.5% market share). The firm established a strategic alliance with Fujian Haochen Law firm and also launched an IP agent in Beijing.

Han Kun

• Managing partner/s: Nil
• Number of partners/other fee earners: 9/40
• Asian offices: Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen

In addition to new offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen earlier this year, Han Kun recruited three new partners and one counsel from top international law firms. The firm made 2009 another milestone year by its addition of 14 new lawyers and an expansive list of clientele including AsiaInfo, Huawei, Sequoia Capital, TeamSun and General Electric. The firm’s growth meant it was nominated as one of the finalists for “Rising Law Firm of the Year” at the ALB China Law Awards 2009.

Hylands

• Managing partner: Liu Hong
• Number of partners/other fee earners: 31/113
• Asian offices: Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing

Hylands, established in 2007 on the basis of a merger between Haotian and Li Wen & Partners, makes its debut in the ALB Fast 30 list this year. The full-service firm serves a diverse local and international corporate client base and enjoys a solid reputation in the practice areas where it has been traditionally strong – real estate, construction, IP and dispute resolution. Leveraging the new platform and its membership in Terralex, the international business group led by partner Jiang Jiang has experienced particularly strong growth.

Jade & Fountain

• Managing partner/s: Scott Guan and Mark Ho
• Number of partners/other fee earners: 15/46
• Asian offices: Shanghai

Summary:

As part of Jade & Fountain’s growth, the firm has made significant hires over the past year. It appointed three new partners from international firms to its corporate, dispute resolution, international trade and capital markets practice and also launched new practice groups – tax, capital markets, commercial real estate, international trade & anti-dumping. Recognised for its growing success, the firm was a finalist for the “Shanghai Law Firm of the Year” in the 2009 ALB China Law Awards.

Longan

• Managing partner: Xu Jiali
• Number of partners/other fee earners: 45/115
• Asian offices: Beijing, Shanghai, Shengyang, Shenzhen

Summary:

Longan’s managing partner Xu Jiali credits the strength of the IP team and a domestically-focused corporate practice, as well as the intake of several new partners for the firm’s solid 60% revenue growth. In the past 12 months, the firm has opened two new branches in Nanjing and Guangzhou, while its Shenzhen branch has expanded significantly by merging with the Shenzhen office of a Beijing firm and a local Shenzhen firm. Longan plans to set up more branch offices across the nation via acquisition of leading regional firms as well as establish closer cooperation with a number of foreign firms in the coming years.

T&C

• Managing partner: Zhang Jingzhong
• Number of partners/other fee earners: 21/101
• Asian offices: Shanghai and Hangzhou

Summary:

The winner of ALB China’s 2009 Zhengjiang Law Firm of the Year, T&C has had a fulfilling year while its national rivals had to face a dramatic reduction in client demand and deal flow. However, while its revenues grew by 45%, its profit-per-partner decreased by 7.7%. Under the leadership of managing partner Zhang Jingzhong, who currently serves as the president of the Zhejiang Lawyers Association, T&C remains a dominant player in the area of FDI, IPOs and corporate finance in the Yangtze River Delta region. The firm’s membership in the Sino-Global Legal Alliance also helps boost its management know-how and international practice.

Zhongyin

• Managing partner: Zhao Cenghai
• Number of partners/other fee earners: 21/101
• Asian offices: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Guiyang, Nanning, Taizhou, Wuxi, Jinan, Jixi, Fuzhou

Summary:

Zhongyin’s merger with Zhengtai in 2008 has not only created one of the largest firms in China (with 273 lawyers) but also helped the new firm to achieve an incredible 100% growth in revenues. The merger has reinforced Zhongyin’s leading position on its traditional turf and allowed it to expand in the areas of corporate, M&A, real estate, foreign investment, IP and dispute resolutions, benefiting its clients on the local and international scene. Aiming to expand internationally, the firm recently appointed Baker & McKenzie’s former Taipei partner Steven Hsu as senior consultant and managing director of the firm’s marketing centre. Having already established representative offices in Toronto and Frankfurt, Zhongyin is currently exploring possibilities to form strategic alliances with London and Hong Kong law firms.

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