US firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft has announced that Beijing-based attorney Jiannan Zhang has been named a partner of the firm.

Zhang has worked as a counsel in the corporate/M&A group since joining the firm in 2007. He focuses his practice on corporate, securities, finance, M&A, venture capital, and international transactions.

Zhang’s promotion is believed to be part of the firm’s China expansion. “We believe that our presence in China is important for our long term strategy, particularly as we see increased activity in many areas for which the firm is well recognised in the US,” said Christopher White, the chairman of Cadwalader.