Orrick has named Hong Kong securities and finance partner Michelle Taylor as its new head of China. Taking over the helm from her predecessor James Tervo who is relocating to San Francisco, Taylor will assume a key regional management role, overseeing the management and administration of the firm's offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The three offices are staffed with more than 80 legal professionals and 17 partners working across 12 practice areas.
Taylor is recognised for her securitisation and structured finance practice expertise. She began her career with Clifford Chance in London and then went on to Sidley Austin and Paul Hastings. In 2007, she joined Orrick's Hong Kong office as partner and head of the firm's Asia financial markets practice.
The appointment of the new China office leader came after several other recent appointments and promotions in Orrick's China offices, including Andrew Dale's promotion to partnership and the recruitment of partner Phoebus Chu from Paul Hastings in Hong Kong, Michael Haworth's relocation to Hong Kong, the joining of Wu Niping from Cleary Gottlieb in Beijing, and Thomas Tobiason's relocation from Silicon Valley to Shanghai. All indicate Orrick's expansion plans for its Chinese business.
Taylor is confident that in 2010 China's continuing emergence as a leading global force in finance and investment will increasingly present clients with great opportunities.
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