UK firms expand China outfits

Denton Hall and Linklaters have bolstered their Chinese practices, hiring the heads of the China outfits of Canadian firm Goodman Phillips & Vineberg and Australian firm Allen Arthur Robinson respectively.

Linklaters has appointed Zill Shao, a Chinese-qualified lawyer and currently head of the China practice of Allens Arthur Robinson in Hong Kong.

Shao's departure from Allens Arthur Robinson follows the closure of its London office early this year and, prior to that, its New York office. He will be responsible for developing a direct investment practice for Linklaters in China.

Andrew Halper, head of Goodman's Beijing office, will be moving to Denton Hall's London office.

Tony Grant, head of Dentons' corporate group, said: 'Andrew will specifically act as a bridge between the UK and Europe on the one hand and China and Hong Kong, where the firm has a mainly corporate and energy-related practice.'