Beijing-headquartered Guantao Law Firm has merged with Shenda Partners, making it the second time the firm merged with a Shanghai-based law firm. The firm merged with Zhongmao Law Firm this April.

Guantao has over 400 lawyers in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hong Kong and Sydney. The new merger is expected to strengthen Guantao’s Shanghai office with an aim to diversify its practice areas.

Guantao advises on capital market, mergers and acquisitions, while as Shenda focuses on litigation and arbitration, corporate, admiralty and maritime, employment and civil law matters.

The merger will bring in more than 60 lawyers to Guantao’s Shanghai office, taking the toll to 130.

After the merger, the name of the firm will remain unchanged in Chinese (观韬中茂律师事务所) and English (Guantao Law Firm). 

Tao Wuping, formerly a senior partner at Shenda, will serve as the director of Guantao’s Shanghai office while former managing partner Zhou Zhiming, will serve as director of executive committee of the Shanghai office.