Jade & Fountain law firm news

Law firm consolidation is no longer a rarity today, yet several recent mergers between mid-tier Shanghai firms have caught the industry’s attention. Lawyers in Shanghai regard the recent mergers as a new trend that will shift the legal landscape, especially in terms of size of and competition between law firms.

Jade & Fountain has recently added another two partners to its Shanghai office. Former Concord Partners partner Jill Lee and Jones Day (Shanghai) senior associate Julia Kong have recently joined Jade & Fountain’s Shanghai base.

曾任共和律师事务所合伙人的李颖之和此前曾在众达上海代表处执业的孔江南律师，近日加盟了九州丰泽律师事务所上海办公室担任合伙人。

The newly launched Beijing office of Shanghai Jade & Fountain has increased its capacity by appointing Sophie Sha, formerly a senior consultant at Baker & McKenzie's Beijing office, as a partner.

曾在贝克∙麦坚时北京代表处担任资深顾问的沙海燕律师，已作为合伙人加盟九州丰泽新设立的北京分所。

Domestic firms have devised many different strategies to compete with their international rivals, especially with regard to work on outbound M&A transactions. An increasingly popular one is to join international alliances and legal networks, via which law firms can promote themselves as one -stop-shop, for Chinese clients.

如今，在海外进行投资并购的中国企业数量不断上涨，投资规模也与日俱增，中国律所因此更需要提高处理涉外或是跨国交易的能力和资源。

According to 2010 GDP numbers, the Tianjin Binhai New Area is set to displace Shanghai Pudong area. And Qu Hualin, vice president of the Tianjin Airport Economic Zone, says the BNA has scored better in all aspects economic standing – overall GDP, total value of industrial output.

天津空港经济区管理委员会副主任曲华林表示，无论GDP、还是工业总产值和税收等各方面，今年滨海新区都将全面超过浦东新区。天津律师们表示，近几年来非诉讼案件的增长尤其强劲。

China's direct investment in Brazil has soared to a projected US$12bn this year, making it the highest investor in the country for 2010. The increasing number and size of Sino-Brazil deals will mean a shift in focus for PRC and Brazilian legal advisors.

随着中国投资巴西力度的加大，尤其是在能源资产方面，两国律所间也很可能会建立起更多更紧密的合作关系。

Despite the predominant trend seen recently of international lawyers moving into PRC firms, some lawyers are still seeing good reasons to go international.

The recent US/China Economic Dialogue discussions held between the two countries further cements their powerful business and bilateral relations. ALB examines the new playing field for 21st century deals.

The tough market conditions of 2009 have been well documented, but some firms still managed to record exceptional growth. ALB China's annual Fast 10 returns to acknowledge the fastest-growing firms in a trying year.

经过一个多月的调研，《亚洲法律杂志-中国版》已评选出2010年'中国发展最迅速的十家律师事务所'。北京盈科以其2009年业务总收入增长787%的业绩荣登榜首。

Seeing opportunities brought in by the Shanghai Expo 2010, Beijing Yingke and Chang Tsi & Partners have both recently set up branch offices in Shanghai.

上海法律服务市场的不断发展与成熟正吸引着更多北京律师事务所来此设立分所。近日，两家北京律所盈科和铸成分别在上海开设了分所。

While local firms are moving even closer to their international counterparts in terms of breadth and quality of service, the difference in fees between the two remains wide. ALB finds out how sustainable this is, and whether the market is on the brink of profound change in this regard.

Seeking to provide more comprehensive legal services to a broader base of clientele, Shanghai firm Haworth & Lexon has recently launched an office in Beijing.

上海和华利盛律师事务所北京分所近期获北京市司法局批准正式成立。