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  1. TMT: foreign firms
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Bird & Bird’s dedicated communications and technology practice is led by Marcus Vass out of Hong Kong and Beijing. Grace Chen focuses on technology-related commercial transactions, and represents clients in the technology, communications, publishing, advertising and pharmaceutical industries. Weishi Li has significant experience representing multinational companies in a range of technology matters including licensing, strategic alliances, joint ventures, distribution and OEM relationships.

Morrison & Foerster’s TMT group is led by Hong Kong-based Gordon Milner, who has particular expertise in cross-border outsourcing. Gregory Tan is the lead contact in Shanghai. The team recently advised Softbank on Alibaba Group’s proposed $4bn restructuring of its holdings in Alipay. Other work includes advising NTT Docomo on the structuring and negotiation of a joint venture with China’s Baidu. Clients include Dell China, Intel and Zynga.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP’s TMT practice operates out of Beijing and Hong Kong. Led by Jeanette Chan, the team recently advised DreamWorks Animation SKG on its joint venture with China Media Capital, and on plans to include Shanghai Media Group and Shanghai Alliance Investment. Other work includes advising SilverLake, Temasek Holdings and a Hong Kong-based investment group on their investment in the Alibaba Group. Other clients include Asia Satellite, IMAX and Motorola.

Allen & Overy LLP’s integrated Hong Kong and mainland China TMT team is praised as having ‘a superior understanding of the technology industry globally’. The team recently advised Kew Capital on renegotiating various terms of its investment in a PRC telecoms-services company; other work includes advising HSBC, as financial adviser to Alibaba, on the proposed privatisation of Alibaba.com. Hong Kong-based Will McAuliffe is praised as ‘an exceptionally talented lawyer’ who provides ‘wise, perceptive, and pragmatic counsel’.

Baker & McKenzie recently advised a leading US-listed consultancy services group on two joint ventures with leading Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs)’ IT services subsidiaries. Newly made-up partner Anna Gamvros has ‘excellent expertise in IT and IP’, Shanghai-based Howard Wu is ‘high quality’, and Nancy Leigh is recommended for telecoms regulatory matters. Other work highlights include advising a US search and media company on the regulatory, tax and customs aspects of its roll-out of online, mobile and offline media and software applications in China.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s TMT group is co-led by Connie Carnabuci and recently made-up partner Mark Parsons, who are based in Hong Kong. The firm recently acted for Hutchison on its $1.2bn 3G network expansion procurement in Indonesia and its 2G and 3G mobile network expansion procurement in Sri Lanka. It also advised an international ISP on Hong Kong data privacy aspects of its online advertising. Clients include BT, Vodafone, Logica and Reed Elsevier.

Hogan Lovells International LLP recently advised News Corporation on its agreement to acquire ESPN’s 50% equity interest in ESPN STAR Sports (ESS), giving News Corporation full ownership of ESS. The team has significant expertise in IP-related TMT matters, with IP specialists William Fisher, Deanna Wong and Zhen Feng. Geoffrey Lin joined Ropes & Gray LLP in 2011.

Simmons & Simmons LLP’s TMT group is led by Davis Wang in Beijing, with support from Alexander Shepherd in Dubai, after Damien Bailey left to join Sydney-based firm Herbert Smith Freehills. The team is praised for its ‘responsiveness and professionalism’. Wang ‘fully understands the client’s needs and pitches the advice precisely and effectively’. Recent work includes advising Yahoo! on a number of regulatory and strategic matters in relation to its co-operation with its Chinese partner and the structuring of its China business.

A recent highlight for the TMT group at White & Case LLP includes advising six banks underwriting the $3bn financing put in place to support the privatisation of Alibaba.com. Leading IP lawyer Patrick Ma recently advised American Superconductor Corporation on its €190m acquisition of The Switch Engineering Oy, and Xiaoming Li advised China Development Bank on a $400m financing for the take-private transaction of Harbin Electric.

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Legal Developments in China

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