At a time when many senior lawyers are leaving international firms in China to join ascendant domestic firms, the head of King & Wood’s taxation practice Stephen Nelson has made a lateral move to join DLA Piper in Hong Kong as a new partner of its Asian tax practice.

In addition to heading King & Wood’s tax practice, Nelson was also the co-head of the PRC firm’s corporate group.

Nelson, who has practised in China for more than 25 years, has included foreign investments, M&A and other corporate work in his expertise over the years. He specialises in cross-border tax matters and restructuring of operations in China, with an industry focus in the TMT sector.

Nelson will be based in Hong Kong and expects to spend a major portion of his time in DLA Piper’s Beijing office.

According to partner and head of DLA Piper Asia tax group Daniel Chan, the firm has seen a significant increase in its base of US clients with operations in China and is looking to meet the growing demand for tax work in the North Asian region. Chan has been acquainted with Nelson for many years, facilitating the move over to DLA Piper this year.

Nelson was admitted to practice in California in 1986 and was called to the bar in Hong Kong in 2009.ALB

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• DLA loses more Asia partners; Norton Rose builds IPT practice (22 Jul 2010)