Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati will extend its roots in China and launch into Asia from a new office in Hong Kong – to be set up by recent partner hire, Weiheng Chen, in collaboration with current head of China, Carmen Chang.
The Hong Kong will be the second in Asia for the Palto Alto-based firm – the first was in Shanghai, in 2008.
The firm’s China practice represents both US and Chinese clients in a variety of international matters including cross-border M&A, joint ventures, foreign investments, branch operations, and corporate and securities work.
Chen, who joins from Milbank Tweed’s, Hong Kong and Beijing offices, has been named as the new co-head of Wilson Sonsini’s China practice. He brings extensive experience in cross-border M&A, private equity investments into China and outbound investments from China. Some notable M&A deals he worked on involved Chinese companies such as China Huaneng Group’s acquisition of Tuas Power in Singapore and Bank of China’s strategic sale to RBS, UBS, Temasek and Asia Development Bank.
Chen will work closely with Chang to open Wilson Sonsini’s Hong Kong office in the coming months.
Wilson Sonsini CEO Steve Bochner said the firm’s Hong Kong expansion plans were due to the volume of Chinese cross-border transaction, and the migration of many US client operations to China.
“Opening an office in Hong Kong – a leading global capital market and one of China’s key business centres – is the logical next step,” Bochner said.
Prior to joining Milbank, Chen was an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell, starting in its New York office and moving to its Hong Kong office in 2003. He is a native Chinese speaker and graduate of Harvard Law School and Beijing University Law School.
Last month, veteran Wilson Sonsini partner Don Williams, who spent more than a decade with the firm and supervised the opening of Wilson Sonsini’s Shanghai office, left for Sheppard Mullin Ricter & Hampton’s Shanghai office to join as corporate partner.ALB
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