16 April, 2015
The Joint Operation provides clients of both firms with an unprecedented platform to serve their international and PRC legal needs
Baker & McKenzie and FenXun Partners has become the first international and PRC law firms to enter into a Joint Operation in the China (Shanghai) Free Trade Zone. Their Joint Operation is a historic step – the first law firms to be approved by the PRC authorities to provide their clients with international and PRC law capacity through the Shanghai Free Trade Zone initiative. The application to form the Joint Operation is the first approved by the Shanghai Bureau of Justice. The announcement was made at a ceremony at the Baker & McKenzie FenXun (FTZ) Joint Operation offices in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.
The Joint Operation will permit collaborative responses to client needs, joint execution of client matters,secondments of lawyers between the firms, exchanges of know-how and also for each firm to excel in its respective areas of legal services. Baker & McKenzie and FenXun Partners will remain structurally separate and independent.
Danian Zhang, Baker & McKenzie’s Chief Representative in Shanghai, said, “We are extremely pleased to be the very first firm to be granted approval for Joint Operation by the Shanghai Bureau of Justice, and are looking forward to this close collaboration with FenXun Partners. We are particularly delighted to make this announcement not long after celebrating the 20th year of our presence in China in Beijing, and the 10th anniversary of opening our Shanghai office. Our Firm has a long-term commitment to China and to excellence in serving our clients’ international legal needs. We welcome and look forward to the new opportunities that this Joint Operation affords.”
Yingzhe Wang, Managing Partner and Co-Founding Partner of FenXun Partners, said, “We are delighted to enter into this Joint Operation with the premier global law firm, Baker & McKenzie. FenXun Partners’ mission has always been to deliver results that help our clients achieve their strategic and commercial objectives. In this respect, we share with Baker & McKenzie common values and a common approach to our client relationships. The Joint Operation with Baker & McKenzie will better enable us to serve our PRC clients’ international legal needs.”
Eduardo Leite, Chairman of Baker & McKenzie’s Executive Committee, commented, “The announcement today is a very exciting one for our Firm. Baker & McKenzie has been committed to China for more than 40 years and being the first and only firm to be approved for Joint Operation in the China (Shanghai) Free Trade Zone again demonstrates our leadership in seizing new market opportunities to enhance our offering to our clients. We welcome working closely and productively with the partners and lawyers at FenXun Partners.”
Conventus Law