Acclaimed Tianjin-based law firm Winners has recently taken its first step into Beijing, becoming the second Tianjin firm – Hanyang Law Firm was the first – to open in the first-tier city. Subject to receiving regulatory approval, the firm is planning to relocate three of its core partners, including Ning Peijun and Guo Weifeng, to the new location. Plans are also underway to hire local Beijing attorneys.

According to the managing partner, Li Haibo, the firm’s decision to launch an office in Beijing is due to the many client requests it has received. Long-term clients like Standard Chartered Bank, which Winners advised on private equity-related transactions in Tianjin, asked the firm to have a Beijing presence to better serve their legal needs. 

Winners also recently established new practice areas including environmental law and anti-trust work, in preparation for its Beijing launch. “Our clients have told us that there is more work available in Beijing. The market is much larger than Tianjin and niche practice areas like environmental law, funds and anti-trust work are good sectors to break into,” said Li.

“There are an increasing number of Beijing and Shanghai firms coming into Tianjin to seize market share. They have their eye on the major infrastructure projects here and to service domestic PE funds. We have a relatively strong foundation in Tianjin now, so it’s about time for us to take on the Beijing locals,” he added.

Established in 1995, Winners is a full-service firm and is also one of the largest firms based in Tianjin. After merging with Ruiying Law Firm in 2006 and hiring four new partners earlier this year, Winners now has 14 partners and around 50 lawyers on staff. ALB

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