Morgan Lewis is to significantly expand its pan-China practice by adding 13 partners in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai and 40 lawyers in mainland China.The hires will more than double the size of the company senior team in mainland China which currently is home to seven partners.An additional 40 lawyers and legal professionals are also expected to be added to the firm’s 30-strong team already in China. These 70-plus lawyers and legal professionals will also work closely with Morgan Lewis’s offices in Singapore and Tokyo.

Moving partners 

The  team is led by Edwin Luk, who is well known for advising on Hong Kong capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity matters in relation to Chinese companies. Maurice Hoo, who was global practice group co-leader of the mergers & acquisitions and private equity practice group at his former firm, also leads the team. In addition to Mr Luk and Mr Hoo, partners Ning Zhang, June Chan, Keith Cheung, Connie Cheung, Louise Liu, Billy Wong, and Mathew Lewis will soon join Morgan Lewis in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Growing business

In late 2014, the firm significantly expanded its Tokyo office with the addition of the asset management regulatory practice from Bingham McCutchen.

Then, in 2015, Morgan Lewis secured a key base of operations in Singapore with its combination with The Stamford Law Firm, led by Suet-Fern Lee.

And, in 2016, Morgan Lewis significantly expanded its mainland China representative office in Beijing and branch office of Morgan Lewis Consulting in Shanghai with a team of more than 25 lawyers and legal professionals.