为扩展中国业务，Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati事务所宣布即将在香港成立其亚洲的第二个办公室，同时任命最近加盟的合伙人陈炜恒为律所中国地区联席主管。新办公室将由陈律师和现任中国地区总负责人周一华共同带领。该所于2008年在上海设立代表处，其上海代表处合伙人Don Williams于近日加盟盛智律师事务所上海代表处。
加盟Wilson Sonsini前，陈律师供职于美国美邦律师事务所北京和香港办公室，专注于境内外并购以及私幕股权投资，曾参与中国华能收购新加坡大士能源等项目。
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati will extend its roots in China and launch into Asia from a new office in Hong Kong – to be set up by recent partner hire, Chen Weiheng in collaboration with current head of China, Carmen Chang.
The Hong Kong will be the second in Asia for the Palto Alto-based firm – the first was in Shanghai, in 2008.
The firm’s China practice represents both US and Chinese clients in a variety of international matters including cross-border M&A, joint ventures, foreign investments, branch operations, and corporate and securities work.
Chen, who joins from Milbank Tweed’s, Hong Kong and Beijing offices, has been named as the new co-head of Wilson Sonsini’s China practice. He brings extensive experience in cross-border M&A, private equity investments into China and outbound investments from China. Some notable M&A deals he worked on involved Chinese companies such as China Huaneng Group’s acquisition of Tuas Power in Singapore and Bank of China’s strategic sale to RBS, UBS, Temasek and Asia Development Bank.
Chen will work closely with Chang to open Wilson Sonsini’s Hong Kong office in the coming months.
Wilson Sonsini CEO Steve Bochner said the firm’s Hong Kong expansion plans were due to the volume of Chinese cross-border transaction, and the migration of many US client operations to China.
“Opening an office in Hong Kong – a leading global capital market and one of China’s key business centres – is the logical next step,” Bochner said.
Prior to joining Milbank, Chen was an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell, starting in its New York office and moving to its Hong Kong office in 2003. He is a native Chinese speaker and graduate of Harvard Law School and Beijing University Law School.
Last month, veteran Wilson Sonsini partner Don Williams, who spent more than a decade with the firm and supervised the opening of Wilson Sonsini’s Shanghai office, left for Sheppard Mullin Ricter & Hampton’s Shanghai office to join as corporate partner.ALB
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