NEW YORK, June 11, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Global law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP announced today that the firm has received a license from the Chinese government to open a new law office in Beijing, the firm's third location in Asia and second opening there in the past twelve months. Weil Gotshal's expansion in Beijing highlights the firm's ever greater participation in transactions involving both Asia-based clients and clients located elsewhere with significant business interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
"This is a natural step forward for our law firm," said Chairman Stephen Dannhauser. "Beijing is a market we've long contemplated as a necessary complement to Hong Kong and Shanghai, and as with all of our new office openings, we decided to act based on our ability to deliver to clients the same level of skill and service they have come to expect throughout our firm."
The Beijing office will focus primarily on mergers and acquisitions and private equity matters and will enhance the firm's transactional capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region. Steve Xiang, who leads the firm's China practice, will head up the Beijing office and be joined by newly promoted partner Kevin Ban as well as of counsel Yan Yang and a team of associates and assistants.
"Since opening our Shanghai office in 2004," commented Steve Xiang, "we have become a standard bearer in the region for inbound and outbound investments and multi-jurisdictional corporate and regulatory advice."
With the Beijing opening, Weil Gotshal now has twenty offices, half of which are located outside of the United States. The firm opened its first international office in 1991; since that time, the firm's international platform has earned plaudits in each local market and has facilitated the firm's participation in many landmark cross-border transactions.
"It is extremely rewarding to build business relationships that can endure changes in the marketplace," commented Akiko Mikumo, the Managing Partner for Asia, "Our goal, as always, is to provide the most comprehensive and consistently excellent legal service to our clients -- when and where they need it -- and Beijing is a key part of that formula."
The new Beijing office is located at 301 Office Tower C2, Oriental Plaza, No. 1 East Chang An Avenue, Dong Cheng District, Beijing, 100738, PR China (Tel: +86 10 85150558).
About Weil, Gotshal & Manges
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is a global law firm of 1,300 lawyers, including more than 300 partners. Weil Gotshal is headquartered in New York, with offices in Austin, Beijing, Boston, Budapest, Dallas, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Miami, Munich, Paris, Prague, Providence, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Warsaw, Washington DC and Wilmington. Please visit www.weil.com for more information.