Chonqing-based Zhonghao Law Firm has hired a team of lawyers from city rival Jiwei Law Firm, led by Cheng Dichang.

Beijing-headquartered Zhongwen Law Firm has opened a new office in Takapuna, New Zealand, and became the first Chinese law firm establishing presence in the sovereign island country.

Haiwen & Partners has hired Philip Chan as a corporate partner in Hong Kong from Hong Kong International Construction Investment Management (HKICIM), where he was general counsel.

UK law firm Simmons & Simmons has opened a new office in the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, its fourth in the Greater China area after Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Reed Smith has hired Eric Lin as a partner in its energy and natural resources industry group in Beijing from Simmons & Simmons, where headed that firm’s office in the capital.

A newly announced agreement between Hong Kong and mainland China is set to formalize the reciprocal enforcement of interim measures supporting arbitration carried out in the two markets. Lawyers say this is a game-changer cross-border disputes spanning the two regions, and will help internationalise the mainland’s dispute resolution system.

V&T Law Firm has opened a new office in the city of Changsha in Hunan Province, its seventh branch till date.

Tian Yuan Law Firm has hired a nine-member dispute resolution team in Shenzhen, led by partner Guo Shizhan.

Shearman & Sterling and Fangda Partners have represented Chinese assisted reproductive services (ARS) provider Jinxin Fertility Group on its $390 million Hong Kong IPO, with Paul Hastings and Commerce & Finance Law Offices advising the joint sponsors and underwriters.

AnJie Law Firm has hired dispute resolution specialist Yang Chao as a partner in Beijing from Hui Zhong Law Firm.