Pinsent Masons and newly-formed projects and construction boutique Beijing Hesen Law Firm have entered into a long-term cooperation agreement designed to capitalise on what is expected to be a record year for Chinese infrastructure development. The National Development and Reform Commission stated recently that the country has plans to spend upwards of RMB35bn on infrastructure this year making it the world’s biggest spender on this front.

Beijing Hesen was created earlier this year by former DeHeng partners Dr, Elvis Zhou and Ye Wanhe. Both Zhou and Ye are regarded as two of the country’s leading construction lawyers and have extensive experience in advising domestic and international Chinese companies on a range of issues. The duo will be supported by two associate-level lawyers, and ALB understands they plan to bring the office to critical mass over the next few months.

"We work with a number of Chinese law firms but in the construction space, particularly where our clients have needed PRC advice, we have worked closely with Elvis and Wanhe over the past few years," said Pinsent Masons senior partner, John Bishop. "In addition to being extremely well-known and respected in the industry both are proactive, responsive and commercial so this agreement is a natural progression for us," he said.

The potential to further deepen the firm's burgeoning Chinese client base was also appealing according to Bishop.

"Because of their experience, [Zhou and Ye] have very good relationships with Chinese contractors working overseas some of whom are the type of clients we are already working with and  others we are aiming  to attract."

The move is another sign of the UK-based firm's growth ambitions in Asia. Earlier this year, Pinsent Masons was named as one of the fastest-growing law firms in Asia on the back of solid headcount and revenue growth in the 2010 calendar year.