Firm’s US-China Growth and Integration Accelerate To Capture Global Expansion of Asian Companies
(February 11, 2008, Los Angeles, CA) – LAWFUEL – Law Firm China Newswire – Reed Smith LLP, one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, today announced the addition of the highly experienced cross-cultural lawyer Jinshu “John” Zhang as a partner in the Corporate & Securities Group resident in its Los Angeles office, effective immediately.
Mr. Zhang was formerly a shareholder in the Los Angeles office of Greenberg Traurig, where he launched and led that firm’s China Practice.
“John is one of the most widely known Chinese-speaking lawyers in the U.S. and his arrival significantly accelerates the integration and growth of our Hong Kong and mainland China practice,” said John Iino, the Los Angeles-based firmwide head of Reed Smith’s Corporate and Securities Group. “His expertise in cross-border mergers and acquisitions will play a major role in helping us capture many of the opportunities presented by our recently consummated combination with Richards Butler Hong Kong, particularly as Chinese companies continue to expand globally.”
Mr. Zhang has extensive practice experience in mergers, acquisitions, private placements and public offerings of securities, and other sophisticated business transactions for Chinese companies in the U.S. He has served as lead corporate counsel to clients in a wide range of industries, ranging from investment banking, private equity, pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics, videogames, furniture, automotive parts, to information technology and entertainment. In addition, Mr. Zhang leads high-stakes cross-cultural negotiations focused on supporting the expansion of businesses into new markets.
“With more than 100 lawyers on the ground in China, Reed Smith has become a force to be reckoned with and I am delighted at the opportunities its expansion provides for growing my China practice,” said Mr. Zhang. “The timing is perfect for me to assist businesses from the Greater China region to develop new business opportunities in the West, as well as to support international companies as they expand into China.”
Mr. Zhang is interviewed and quoted frequently in the international media, such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, International Herald Tribune, Reuters, Bloomberg, South China Morning Post, China Daily and The People’s Daily, as well as in the U.S media. He publishes and speaks widely on topics related to US-Chinese business matters.
“With major clients and significant contacts in the People’s Republic of China, John immediately brings increased visibility to Reed Smith as a major firm in China-US matters,” said Peter Kennedy, Managing Partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office. “He will attract clients as well as other highly qualified attorneys to Reed Smith as we continue to build out and expand our Asian practice abroad, on the West Coast, and firmwide.”
Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig in 2000, Mr. Zhang was at Graham & James and then at Jones Day in Los Angeles. Born in China and a native Mandarin speaker, he graduated from Beijing University, China’s most prestigious institution of higher education, in 1982. From 1984 to 1986, Mr. Zhang was a Graduate Fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, after which he earned an M.A. from UCLA in 1990, and his J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley Boalt Hall in 1993.
Reed Smith opened offices in Hong Kong and Beijing as Richards Butler in Association with
Reed Smith LLP on January 1 of this year with more than 100 lawyers, as well as in-house translators and other support staff.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is one of the 15 largest law firms in the world, with more than 1,600 lawyers in 23 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its attorneys provide litigation services in multi-jurisdictional matters and other high stake disputes, deliver regulatory counsel, and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising and media, shipping, international trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com
U.S.: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Oakland, Princeton, Northern Virginia, Wilmington, Century City, Richmond
Europe: London, Paris, Munich, Birmingham, Greece
Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Dubai
Asia: Hong Kong, Beijing
