Zhong Lun Law Firm has recruited corporate lawyer Tom Fairley as its first Western partner in its London office, which opened last year.



Fairley has joined the Chinese firm from British firm Taylor Vinters. Prior to his tenure at Taylor Vinters, he has also practised with Norton Rose in Shanghai in addition to Linklaters in Shanghai, Hong Kong and London. His expertise areas include cross-border mergers and acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures, acting for both Chinese and multinational clients.



"We are very pleased to have someone of Tom’s unique qualifications join our team in London. Working together with our existing team of senior Chinese-trained, English-qualified lawyers in our London office, Tom will bring an important complementary set of skills which will assist us as we expand upon our existing cooperation relationships with top independent law firms in London on the full range of China-related projects in the UK and Europe,” said Xue Haibin, managing partner of Zhong Lun’s London office, in a press release.



“Now that Chinese enterprises are expanding into overseas markets, Zhong Lun needs high-calibre lawyers who speak the international language of commerce in both English and Mandarin to assist with projects going in both directions,” added Robert Lewis, international managing partner of Zhong Lun.



Fairley has worked in China for more than 10 years, and is fluent in Mandarin. He has a masters in Chinese from the Cambridge University, and has attended the Nottingham law school.



“This is a very exciting move for me. I decided to join a Chinese firm in the heart of the City because I really respect the strategic vision of the Zhong Lun partners to build a top-tier world class Chinese law firm,” said Fairley.



Liu Zhen is China senior journalist at ALB.