Hogan extends its reach into China

The Washington DC-based firm will open an office in Beijing in August.
The office will comprise seven lawyers, including two resident partners - Jun Wei and Steven Robinson - who will share the role of managing partner. Wei, who has practised in China since 1993, has joined Hogan from Canadian firm Torys. Hogan corporate partner Robinson will relocate from the firm's DC office.
Chairman Warren Gorrell said: "We've been focused on this opportunity for a long time. We have a lot of multinational clients in China or looking to invest in China. We felt it was the ideal time."
The office will focus on Hogan's core practice areas - corporate and finance, international trade and intellectual property. Gorrell said: "Our lawyers' experience in advising companies and investment banks in sophisticated business and capital markets transactions and government regulatory matters, in China and in other markets around the world, puts us in a strong position to advise clients pursuing trade and investment opportunities in China, given its highly regulated economy."
Gorrell said the firm had big ambitions for China and would look to opportunities in other locations. He argued that, as a first base, Beijing offered more synergies with the firm's core practices because it is where the country's regulatory authorities are located.