Cooley is expanding its Asia-Pacific presence with the launch of a Beijing office. It has recruited investment funds lawyer Xun Zeng as its first resident partner. The office is Cooley’s 13th office worldwide and its second in China, having opened in Shanghai in 2011. Xun Zeng joins from Ropes & Gray.  'China is a critical part of Cooley’s global growth strategy, and we are happy to welcome Xun Zeng to our partnership,' said Mike Lincoln, global chair of Cooley’s business department. 'We have a history of achievement across the Asia-Pacific region and, in particular, have worked with private investment fund clients over three decades. We can now deliver on-the-ground legal resources in China’s capital city as we further expand our international capabilities.'

Advising fund sponsors

Xun Zeng, a native Mandarin speaker, has more than 10 years of experience advising fund sponsors, institutional investors and other corporate clients in New York, Hong Kong and Beijing. Her practice is focused on the formation, structuring and operation of private equity, venture capital and co-investment funds. She also advises fund sponsors regarding upper-tier arrangements, carried interest plans and related governance matters. She will be part of Cooley’s global venture capital practice. 'Cooley has demonstrated a long-term commitment to this region, and I am proud to be part of the firm’s continuing growth,' she said. 'Its investment funds reputation in China and globally made this opportunity extremely attractive for me.'

Relocated

Two Cooley associates have relocated from the firm’s Shanghai office to Beijing to support the launch. Cooley also has four China-based partners who will be dividing their time between the Beijing and Shanghai offices: Pang Lee, Patrick Loofbourrow, James Lu and Christina Zhang. Cooley has 900+ lawyers across 13 offices in the United States, China and Europe.