作为贝克·麦坚时国际律师事务所首位亚裔全球主席，郑维明计划大规模进军中国内地市场，同时在中国香港特别行政区市场保持稳定的业务。
ALB：作为贝克•麦坚时首位亚裔全球主席，您获得了媒体的广泛认可。在您看来，您当选全球主席是否意味着贵所将计划着重在亚洲发展其业务？
郑维明律师：贝克·麦坚时一直是一家真正的国际律师事务所，没有哪种文化或来自哪个地区的管理层在律所内部占据主导地位。贝克·麦坚时在法律界引领了一系列的“第一”，我愿意把自己的当选看作是其中最新的一个：1999年，克里斯蒂娜·拉加德成为第一位女性全球主席；2010年，李蔼德成为第一位拉美裔全球主席；而现在，我成为了第一位亚裔主席。我认为这是向该地区致敬，也是对亚洲的增长和重要性的认可；同时这也表明，在贝克·麦坚时，无论背景如何，每个人都有机会获得成功并发挥领导作用。
ALB：2020年，您在进军中国市场方面的计划是什么？
郑律师：2020年对于我们在中国乃至全球的业务来说都是具有重要意义的一年。我们与奋迅律师事务所在上海自贸区成立的联营办公室将迈入第五年。这几年间，该团队的规模增长了6倍，为越来越多的国内和跨国客户提供服务。我们最近决定，将探索进一步推进该项合作，在粤港澳大湾区扩大我们的业务，包括可能在南方的科技中心深圳申请设立办公室。
ALB：您近期的策略是什么？
郑律师：任何一个像这样复杂的机构都会存在挑战。当我开始担任这个职位的时候，我发现多人的热情和乐于助人的精神使我受益良多；因此我觉得我已经做好了充分的准备。在未来几个月里，我的三大首要任务是：倾听和参与；与全球董事会合作沟通，就短期、中期和长期目标达成一致意见，同时为未来12个月及之后的发展制定清晰的实施计划；我将访问我们设在全球各地的办公室，与我们的合作伙伴和员工们进行交谈，向他们说明计划并争取他们的支持。
'Listen and Engage'
Recently elected as Baker McKenzie’s first Asian global chair, Milton Cheng has ambitious plans to grow the firm’s Mainland China presence. Here, he outlines his strategy for the immediate future.
ALB: You’ve received a lot of recognition in the media for being the firm’s first Asia-based chair, do you think your election signals an effort to focus on Asia going forward?
CHENG: Baker McKenzie has always been a truly global firm with no one region dominating our management or our culture. I like to see myself as the latest in a series of firsts that we have led the legal sector on: First female chair with Christine Lagarde in 1999, first Latin American chair in 2010 with Eduardo Leite and now with myself as our first Asian chair. I think it is a big tribute to the region and recognition of the growth and the growing importance of Asia, but also an example of how, in Baker McKenzie, everyone has the opportunity to be successful and to lead, regardless of background.
ALB: What are your plans for China heading into 2020?
CHENG: 2020 will be a year of some significance to our firm in China and glob-ally, as it marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of our joint operation office with FenXun Partners in the Shanghai FTZ. Over the years, the team has grown six-fold in size, serving an expanding suite of domestic and multinational clients. We have recently confirmed that we are exploring plans to take this co-operation a stage further by expanding our presence in the Greater Bay Area, including potentially applying or offices in the southern Chinese technology hub of Shenzhen.
ALB: What are your plans for the immediate future?
CHENG: The complexity of any organisation like this is a challenge. I have found the enthusiasm and helpfulness of so many people has helped me as I take on the role, so I feel well prepared. My top three priorities for the next few months coming into this new role are to listen and engage, work with the global board to agree and communicate short, medium and long term goals and chart a clear implementation plan for the next 12 months and beyond, and articulate and attain buy-in of the plan as I visit offices around the world and talk to our partners and our people.
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