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Duane Morris to Launch Shanghai Office

January 9, 2014

Duane Morris to Launch Shanghai Office

January 9, 2014

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Leon Yee
Leon Yee

SHANGHAI, January 9, 2014—Duane Morris LLP announced today that it is establishing an office in Shanghai through Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, its joint law venture in Asia. The firm is awaiting approval from the People's Republic of China's Ministry of Justice to open its foreign representative office. Through its new presence in China, Duane Morris attorneys will work closely with clients to achieve their investment and business goals, with a particular emphasis on facilitating outbound investment for Chinese corporates. The firm will also support foreign aspects relating to inbound investment and work with local law firms on domestic aspects. Coverage will include advising on foreign direct investment, mergers and acquisitions, market entry, outbound investing, taxation, licensing and joint ventures, intellectual property matters, reporting requirements and regulatory issues.

Eng Wee Chong
Eng Wee Chong

The launch marks the third international opening for Duane Morris since the beginning of 2013. Last March, the firm opened its first office in the Middle East through a joint venture in Oman with the Dr. Said Al Mashaikhi Law Firm, a multi-practice law firm in Muscat. More recently, in September, it established the first presence in Myanmar of any U.S.-based firm. The firm previously expanded its global footprint in Southeast Asia with the formation of Duane Morris & Selvam LLP in Singapore in 2011 and before that with offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Duane Morris' footprint across Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Latin America—combined with its ability to support the needs of Chinese clientele seeking support in the UK and 20 locations across the United States—offers a unique proposition for companies seeking outbound investment.

John Soroko
John Soroko

Leon Yee, managing director of Duane Morris & Selvam, will serve as Chief Representative of the new office. He will be joined by Eng Wee Chong, an associate director in Singapore. The office will open with five lawyers in total.

"Our launch in China builds upon the firm's substantial growth and successes in Asia during the past several years, as well as our extensive experience handling China-focused matters for numerous multinational companies," said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO John J. Soroko. "Shanghai represents the natural next step in our long-term strategy for the region. It is our intent to be a key facilitator of Chinese companies seeking to invest abroad. Additionally, many of our clients have shared with us their intense interest in entering the Chinese market or in actively developing their existing investments there. We are now even better positioned to help them achieve those goals."

"This is truly an exciting milestone for us," Yee said. "Though our emphasis has been on Southeast Asian markets since the formation of Duane Morris & Selvam, we've heard from clients repeatedly that they wanted us to provide an avenue into China. Our new, on-the-ground Shanghai team will assist Chinese companies interested in international markets and clients looking to seize the business opportunities offered by the complex and rapidly developing Chinese marketplace."

Duane Morris has represented clients in the offshore aspects of China-related matters for many years, particularly in the technology, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, energy, banking and private equity sectors. For instance, the firm has represented a global diagnostics company in the negotiation of several collaboration and service agreements designed to expand diagnostic testing capabilities in the country. In addition, Duane Morris lawyers advised an international real estate investment, development and management firm in its $650 million acquisition and financing of a Shanghai office building. In the private equity sector, a Duane Morris team advised one of the world's largest residential apartment owner-operators and the fund manager in the establishment of a $500 million private equity fund in China. Duane Morris attorneys also represented major investors in a $50 million round of financing for a leading Chinese Internet video company.

Shanghai, the country's largest city by population, is a global financial and shipping hub. It is among the most competitive financial centers in the world, ranking 16th in the latest edition of the Global Financial Centres Index, a semiannual report based on data from international indices and an online survey. The city also boasts the world's busiest container port. In addition, the Shanghai Stock Exchange is the world's fourth largest by trading volume and seventh largest by market capitalization.

About Duane Morris

Duane Morris LLP, a law firm with more than 700 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally, is asked by a broad array of clients to provide innovative solutions to today's legal and business challenges.