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Vinson & Elkins LLP¡]V&E¡^announced the opening of an office in Hong Kong, its seventh international office, to meet the increasing demand from clients for its services in Asia.
The V&E partner who coordinates the firm's International Practice, Mr Jay Cuclis, has relocated from the United States to head the new office in Hong Kong.
Mr Cuclis said the Hong Kong office would work closely with the firm's existing Asian offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo, as well as the firm's other international offices in London, Moscow and Dubai.
"Hong Kong remains one of the key gateways to China and our new office there will allow us to more effectively represent international clients investing in China as well as to service Chinese clients investing in other markets," Mr Cuclis said. "In addition, our presence in Hong Kong will increase the firm's capabilities to assist clients on transactions throughout East Asia, as well as in other international markets such as Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East."
V&E, one of the world's leading energy law firms, has long recognised the increasing importance of Asia and, in particular, China, in international trade and investment, according to Managing Partner of Vinson & Elkins, Mr Joe Dilg.
"Hong Kong is one of the key financial centres of the world," Mr Dilg said. "Having a vibrant office there not only enhances our capabilities and depth in the rapidly growing Asian market, it is also synergistic with our growth plans in New York and London. Jay's broad international expertise and his prior experience in our London and Moscow offices make him the perfect choice to build a successful office in Hong Kong."
The Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Mike Rowse, warmly welcomed V&E to Hong Kong.
"We are delighted to see international law firms like Vinson & Elkins continue to choose Hong Kong as a strategic location to capitalise on the fast-growing Asian market," Mr Rowse said. "Our high concentration of international and Mainland companies, rule of law and unique position as one of the key international arbitration centres have created an ideal business environment for world-class legal services providers. The addition of V&E to our legal services sector will certainly strengthen our existing offering to companies operating in our city and in the region."
Vinson & Elkins has operated a dynamic practice in the Asia-Pacific Region for many years. The firm's offices in Beijing, Tokyo and Shanghai now have more than 20 lawyers and legal professionals focusing on general corporate advisory matters; foreign direct investment; mergers, acquisitions, structured and syndicated finance, project finance, joint ventures and energy restructuring; intellectual property protection; and dispute resolution -- whether through mediation, arbitration or litigation.
The firm's Asia-Pacific Practice Group has served multinational clients across a broad range of industries from private equity, finance, energy, manufacturing, telecommunications, production and sourcing, to retail sales and distribution of consumer goods and other products. The group draws on the strengths and talents of lawyers across the firm's US and international offices, as well as its US-, English-, Singapore- and PRC-qualified lawyers and legal staff based in China and Japan.
In addition to handling matters relating to China or Japan, V&E lawyers in the Asia-Pacific Practice Group frequently advise clients investing throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including in Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and the Indian subcontinent. Increasingly, V&E's Asian offices also have been working closely with the firm's Dubai office in representing Middle Eastern investors on transactions in other parts of Asia, or Asian investors on transactions in the Middle East.
Head of Vinson & Elkins' China Practice, Mr Xiao Yong, said, "Vinson & Elkins' expansion into Hong Kong is a strong indication of the firm's commitment to the China practice and will further strengthen our capabilities throughout China and the Asia-Pacific region.¡¨
In addition to Mr Xiao Yong, V&E partners in the region include co-head of the firm's China offices, Mr Paul Deemer; the firm's resident partner and chief representative in Shanghai, Mr David Blumental; and the firm's resident partner and chief representative in Tokyo, Mr Chris Dawe.
Hong Kong marks the fourth international office V&E has opened in the past three years.
Vinson & Elkins was established in 1917 and is one of the world's largest international law firms. The firm has about 700 lawyers practicing in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Moscow, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Washington DC. In 2005, V&E advised on more than 1,900 energy-sector transactions, projects, disputes and regulatory proceedings, collectively involving a value of more than US$165 billion. For more information, please visit the website at www.velaw.com.
Invest Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government department charged with encouraging and facilitating inward investment into the city by providing the support needed to establish a business presence here. For more information, please visit the website at www.investhk.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, September 28, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:42
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