Gibson Dunn to launch HK law practice with Reed Smith hire
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has poached two high-profile Hong Kong partners as part of a plan to localise in Hong Kong.
Reed Smith Richards Butler partner Graham Winter has joined Gibson Dunn’s corporate partnership along with O’Meveny & Myers Hong Kong head Yi Zhang.
Winter, who was a member of Reed Smith’s executive committee, has been practising in Hong Kong since 1992. He has advised on a range of corporate transactions, particularly deals governed by the Hong Kong Takeovers Code and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Listing Rules.
Gibson Dunn has had an office in Hong Kong since August 2010, but does not practise local law.
Along with a number of other solicitors at the firm Winter, who is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales as well as Hong Kong, will form a local Hong Kong firm that will practise in association with Gibson Dunn when approved by the Law Society of Hong Kong.
Commenting on Winter’s departure, Reed Smith global managing partner Greg Jordan said: “We can confirm that Graham Winter will leave the firm’s Hong Kong office on 2 December 2011. We wish him all the best and thank him for his contribution.”
Zhang’s practice focuses on foreign direct investment, M&A, private equity and large-scale project development and infrastructure. BP, Carlyle, China Development Bank, Citic PE, Deutsche Bank, Dow Chemical, GE are among the clients he has worked for.
