China (PRC)
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Teresa Ko, the chairman of the Listing Committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, as chairman of the firm’s China practice.
Ko, a partner with Freshfields since 1993, is also deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Panel on Takeovers and Mergers of the Securities and Futures Commission. Her new appointment, along with several partner relocations in the region, reflects the strategic importance of China, the firm said in a press release.
Ko’s responsibilities will include bringing in more major Chinese clients and advising companies investing in China or looking to access its fast growing capital markets. She will also work with regulators on regulatory and legislative reform that will benefit the business community and the wider China marketplace, according to the firm.
“Serving as the firm’s chairman for China is an honour. We have made tremendous progress in the last five years. I will work hard with the China partners to build on the reputation we have developed in China through advising on market-leading transactions both in China and elsewhere in the world,” said Ko, who joined Freshfields in 1988.
Other changes include the relocations of London partner Jenny Connolly and Beijing corporate partner Jack Wang to the firm’s Shanghai office.
Corporate partner Melissa Thomas will move from Shanghai to Beijing to help strengthen the firm’s China financial services practice, while the Hong Kong practice will welcome London corporate partner Simon Weller in May. Weller will focus on expanding the firm’s M&A and private equity practices across Asia.
Freshfields now has 21 partners in its China office, a number it expects to further increase over the next few years.
Rob Ashworth, regional managing partner for Asia, said: “We are also building great relationships with major Chinese corporations and institutions, who are increasingly requesting our help outside of China so it is important for us to keep investing in these areas.”
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