作为九州丰泽发展计划的关键一步，该所已在北京设立办公室并于日前正式开业。北京办公室
的设立将有利于满足该所在北京乃至整个中国北部地区日益增长的客户需求。

本月初，该所吸引了曾在贝克∙麦坚时北京代表处任资深顾问的沙海燕律师加盟成为其北京分所的新合伙人。沙律师曾代理诸多中外公司处理大型跨境投资和基础设施建设项目，尤其在自然资源类和石油天然气领域有丰富经验。加入九州丰泽后，沙律师计划将和其他公司和并购合伙人一起大力发展代理中国公司海外投资和工程承包项目等。

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.

Sha focuses on cross-border energy & resources and infrastructure & construction projects.  Prior to her time at Baker & McKenzie, she worked in the in-house legal department of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).

The increasing legal needs of internationalising Chinese companies and the growth prospects for the local legal profession are the reasons Sha decided to leave an international firm and take up partnership with a local firm. "The market place has experienced some remarkable changes in recent years and PRC firms have gained prominence in the provision of legal services to foreign investors and multinational companies in China. The rise and strong growth of Chinese companies in the domestic and global markets have also brought new opportunities and opened new markets for local firms," she said.

Currently, Jade & Fountain's Beijing office has two partners and several associates. The office is headed by partner Lawrence Guo, a China-New York dual qualified lawyer who joined the firm in April this year to drive its expansion into Beijing. The firm's plan is to develop a medium-sized practice in Beijing with 50 lawyers and partners in the next few years. ALB

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