After a decade of in-house expertise, Kodak’s former director of legal affairs for the Asia-Pacific region, Mao Rong, has moved on to Reed Smith’s Beijing office as of counsel. Her practice areas will focus on cross-border M&A and corporate transactions involving China and the United States.

Mao’s responsibilities in Kodak included managing the company’s legal affairs and supporting its management and business operations in the region. She worked closely with managing directors, business units and function leaders on major projects and transactions and provided regional support for worldwide M&A and restructuring projects. Prior to joining Kodak, she was in private law practice in the US and Asia for a decade.

“I’m looking forward to helping American and European MNCs to set up operations, diversify, and comply with Chinese and US regulatory demands in China,” said Mao, who is dual-qualified to practise in China and New York.

On top of cross-border M&A and corporate practices, Reed Smith is also expanding its life sciences initiatives. Practice head, Gordon Schatz who moved to Beijing in early 2009 from Washington, D.C., is working closely with pharmaceutical and medical device clients on corporate, compliance and litigation matters. 

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