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Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has received government approval to enter a joint venture in the Qianhai Free Trade Zone with Chinese corporate law practice, China Commercial Law Firm.
Pinsent Masons has entered into a joint venture with China Commercial Law Firm (CCL). The JV will be known as the China Commercial Law Firm and Pinsent Masons LLP, Qianhai Joint Operation Office, and is the first of its kind in the Qianhai Free Trade Zone and mainland China.
Founded in 1993, CCL has more than 260 partners and 3,000 lawyers in 58 offices around China.
The news follows the firm’s opening of a new office in Shenzen, as reported by Lawyers Weekly early last year, which was the firm’s third office in mainland China and fourth in Greater China, having operated in the country for over four decades.
Under the JV, the firms will maintain their independent name and offices, but they will work together on matters for existing clients and win work from prospective clients, bringing together their extensive networks in China and globally to service both Chinese and international clients.
Speaking about the JV, Pinsent Masons global senior partner Andrew Masraf said: “The opening of our Shenzhen office and the announcement of the joint venture with CCL, together with the opening of our office in Riyadh last year and in Poland in May this year, positions us to service our clients in key areas of global economic growth.
“In particular, we are well positioned to continue to take the opportunities created by the flow of work between China and the Middle East, especially in the energy and infrastructure sectors. We see this as a great driver of work for us across our global network and really plays to our strengths as a firm.”
CCL chief partner Gao Shu said: “Our aim is to build a seamless service for cross-border legal services for our clients.
“This alliance will build a powerful legal entity for Chinese enterprises as they expand globally, but will also, through the deep integration of Chinese and international legal service systems, help redefine the landscape of international commercial law.”
Pinsent Masons’ head of Asia-Pacific, James Morgan-Payler, added that the joint venture with CCL was another significant step in Pinsent Masons’ growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We have been steadily and strategically growing our presence in the Asia-Pacific for more than 40 years, since opening our Hong Kong office in 1983,” he said.
“Our focus in the region over this period has been primarily on the energy and infrastructure sectors; however, these moves into Shenzhen and the joint venture with CCL will provide us with the opportunity to advise clients in key sectors such as finance, technology and logistics, all of which have a heavy presence in the Qianhai Free Trade Zone.”
Pinsent Masons’ head of China, Kanyi Lui, said the “partnership of equals” with CCL stems from the shared values and vision of the two firms.
“China is one of the most strategically important markets for our clients. Chinese corporates are also quickly globalising. The combination of our international capabilities and CCL’s scale and local expertise reflects our shared commitment to providing clients with seamless, practical, and commercial legal solutions in an increasingly complex world,” he said.
“I am excited to be heading our Shenzhen office and to work closely with CCL on ensuring that this relationship is of value to each firm and to our clients.”
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of professional services (including Lawyers Weekly, HR Leader, Accountants Daily, and Accounting Times). He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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