NEWS | news >>
news in brief >> Mayer Brown and Simmons merger off The merger talks between Simmons & Simmons and Mayer Brown were short-lived. Just one week after various media reports confirmed that the two firms had held preliminary discussion regarding a potential trans-Atlantic union, they jointly released a statement announcing that nothing will be going ahead. In the statement the two firms said “Simmons & Simmons and Mayer Brown have held preliminary discussions with regard to the potential for a merger. Mergers are complex and present a number of issues which need to be resolved before discussions can proceed. We have concluded that a combination between our firms is not the right option. There is, however, considerable goodwill and continuing respect on both sides.” 美亚博与西盟斯放弃合并计划
在针对跨大西洋合并可能性进行了初步探讨之后，美国 美亚博与英国西盟斯昨日发表联合声明，称合并对于两 所来说并非正确选择。 双方在联合声明里表示：“美亚博与西盟斯已经针对 跨大西洋合并可能性进行了初步探讨。合并是一项复杂 的工程，并且存在一些尚待解决的问题。只有这些问题 解决之后，进一步合并谈判才能够进行。我们的结论是 合并对于两所来说并非正确选择。但是，双方对彼此的 善意和尊重仍将继续。”
Sidley appoints new Asia-Pacific MP Sidley Austin has named Chicago-based partner Thomas Albrecht as its new Asia-Pacific managing partner. The US firm created the new leadership position as part of a ‘strategic plan for the Asia-Pacific region’, which includes adding more offices to the six it currently operates in the region. Albrecht will transfer from his current post in Chicago to take up the role, based in Hong Kong. Before Albrecht’s appointment, management responsibilities over Sidley’s six Asia-Pacific offices – Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo Thomas Albrecht Sidley Austin – were loosely divided between Greater China managing partner William Fifield and other partners within each office. Fifield will step down from that role at the end of 2010 and return to Dallas. Meanwhile, the firm recently appointed Chinese lawyer Yabo Lin as a partner to work across the Palo Alto and China offices, advising on cross-border investments between the US and Asia.
盛德任命新亚太区主管合伙人
盛德国际律师事务所已任命芝加哥的合伙人Thomas Albrecht担任亚太区新的主管合伙人。这家美国律所在 实施“亚太区战略规划”过程中已建立起新的领导地位。该 计划包括在该地区已有的6家分所之外再新设更多分所。 Albrecht将放下目前芝加哥的工作，赴香港担任新的 职务。在任命Albrecht之前，盛德设于北京、香港、上 海、新加坡、悉尼及东京的六家亚太分所分别由大中华 区的主管合伙人William Fifield及各分所的其他合伙人分 管。Fifield将于2010年底卸任，然后返回达拉斯。 与此同时，盛德近期已委任中国律师Yabo Lin为合伙 人，协调帕洛阿尔托市与中国分所间的工作，并就美国 与亚洲间的跨国投资提供咨询。
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beijing >>
JT&N enters alliance to win SinoJ incheng Tongda & Neal’s (JT&N) recent alliance with Korean firm San Gyung Law Firm is evidence of the increasing Sino-Korean work reported by many firms from both countries. The agreement, initiated by partners Jason Pang, Liu Zhihai, James Yang, Wang Yong, Yang Cheng and Fang Yan, forms part of the firm’s response to the increasing demand for legal services from their Korean clients. “This is a breakthrough for both firms in view of our existing business model,” said JT&N’s partner committee. “Both firms have rich resources, political, business and legal knowledge in our homegrounds and this will prove to be greatly beneficial for each firm,” the partners added. According to JT&N’s partners, the
agreement works on a referential basis. When clients are seeking legal advice regarding either firm’s home jurisdiction, the work would then be referred to the alliance firm. A temporary team with experts from both sides will be formed specifically for the project. Four lawyers, including a senior partner at JT&N, are proficient in Sino-Korean trade work, but the firm’s international affairs department, litigation and arbitration and IP practice groups are able to advise on Korean-related matters. The enthusiasm stems from both sides – Korean firms have also been actively imprinting their footsteps in the mainland. As an example, Shin & Kim recently launched its second China office in Shanghai. ALB
金诚同达与韩国产经达成合作协议
金
诚同达律师事务所与韩国产经律师事务所 近期达成合作协议，以加强其服务中韩贸 易以及客户方面的实力。 由合伙人庞正中、刘治海、杨建津、王勇、杨 晨及方燕签署的合作协议，正是金诚同达为满 足不断增长的韩国客户需求所做的一项努力。 金诚同达合伙人委员会表示：“我们各自在本国 拥有丰富的资源、专业的政治、业务及法律知 识。这对促进彼此发展非常有利”。据称，合作 协议采用的是业务转介模式。如客户就对方司
法管辖区内的事宜寻求法律建议，该案件就会 转介予合作所，并由双方抽调专家组成项目专 案团队处理案件。 金诚同达拥有四名精通中韩贸易的高级律师 （包括一名高级合伙人），而该所的国际事务 部、诉讼及仲裁及知识产权业务组均能处理涉 韩事务。 中韩两国的律所对发展跨国业务均热情高涨， 韩国律所亦在积极开拓中国内地的业务。世宗律 所已于近期在上海开设了第二家分所。
Shanghai >>
New Shanghai boutique targets mid-sized
A
number of new firms have been set up in Shanghai over the past year, including Jin Neng, Ocean and Panocean. However, only a few were launched with a clear market focus. New boutique firm R&P China Lawyers is one such firm, which has set its mission to primarily service medium-sized foreign companies in China and Chinese subsidiaries of large multinationals. Four principals of R&P – Luo Ai,
Zhu Ye, Lu Zhiqian and Maarten Roos (a legal adviser of Dutch nationality) – have come together from four different firms in Shanghai and with their respective expertise. Luo, previously with Jun He, focuses exclusively on employment-related matters; Zhu, formerly a lawyer at Lehman Lee & Xu, is experienced in commercial transactions and IP matters; Lu Zhiqian, joins from Shanghai Talent law firm, has
上海方旭创立目标客户为中型外商企业
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去六个月中，有不少新的律师事务所在上海设 立。上海方旭律师事务所是近期成立的众多新 上海律师事务所之一。但该所在成立之处就定位为 一家提供国际商务法律服务的专业律师事务所，目 标客户为中型外商企业以及跨国企业在华子公司。
方旭律师事务所的总经理为Maarten Roos， 他此前曾任广东敬海律师事务所高级客户经理， 协助客户在各地处理法律事务。方旭的其他主要 合伙人包括擅长处理诉讼和仲裁案件的陆智潜律 师，曾在君合执业专长于劳动法相关事务的罗艾 ISSUE 7.7