China’s Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has granted official approval to Haynes and Boone to establish a representative office in Shanghai.
The move would make sense as the firm already represents Asia-based companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Samsung, NEC, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and United Overseas Bank; and China-based clients Shanghai Press & Publishing Development and Bank of Communications.
“With California, Texas, New York, Mexico, and Brazil among the primary destinations for Asian investments, we will continue to see increasing legal work from Asian companies,” said firm managing partner Terry Conner in a statement. “This initial Haynes and Boone Asia office will serve the firm’s existing clients in cross-border matters in Asia and capitalize on existing and new client relationships for Greater China inbound matters to the Americas.”
The MOJ approval is only the first step of many to enter the Greater China market, according to Albert Tan, firm board member and head of its Asia practice group. He says the next steps are recruiting lateral attorneys and an office build-out.
In 2012, Haynes and Boone hired Yan Zhang, who is expected to co-lead the Greater China practice group along with a resident Shanghai partner. Zhang focuses his practice on cross-border transactions and currently splits his time between Shanghai and the firm’s Silicon Valley office.
“For our team, we will bring on lawyers with experience in domestic and cross-border transactions in the Americas and Greater China,” Zhang said in a statement.