Following the departure of Shanghai managing director Peter Corne, UK firm Eversheds has appointed heavy weight M&A lawyer Jean-Marc Deschandol as its new managing partner in Shanghai to further its growth in China.

Deschandol joins from Norton Rose, where he served as managing partner of the China practice. He has more than 20 years of experience in China, focused his practice on cross-border M&A. Deal highlights include advising the Forbo Group on its first major acquisition in mainland China, involving a dual onshore/offshore structure and requiring the application of PRC, Hong Kong and BVI law.

Having being based in Beijing for most of his time in China, Deschandol is likely to facilitate Eversheds' future launch in Beijing, which was announced in April this year. Deschandol is upbeat about the move. "The timing is exciting and seems perfect as the Chinese market is taking on a new dimension both in complexity and size," he said.

Eversheds was reportedly in talks with Deschandol prior to the defection of Corne, who will join US firm Dorsey & Whitney as partner and head of the Shanghai office in early 2011. ALB

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