Pinsent Masons grows Shanghai Practice

Bernd joins from Salan's Shanghai office and has practised in China for 23 years.   He has extensive experience of assisting German multinationals expand into China, with particular experience of advising export orientated manufacturing companies.  Having also advised on the restructuring of joint ventures investing in Chinese technology, Bernd pairs in depth knowledge of the Chinese legal system with multi-jurisdictional expertise. He is a founding member and director of the Asia Transformation and Turnaround Association and is fluent in Mandarin, as well as English, French and his native German.

 Liu Wei has over 10 years experience advising on a range of high profile cross-border deals with Chinese manufacturing and technology enterprises. He has advised multinationals and private equity houses on investing in Chinese real estate and local projects and has assisted with the acquisition of Chinese businesses and the restructuring of international joint ventures. Liu Wei will also join the firm from Salans.

 Ian Laing, head of Asia at Pinsent Masons comments: "The arrival of Bernd and Liu Wei demonstrates our focus on ensuring that Pinsent Masons in Asia can comprehensively respond to the needs of our clients in our global sectors. Combined with our successful alliance with Beijing Hesen Law Firm, we will have far greater strength and depth in China to meet our clients needs. This further expansion demonstrates our continuing, long-term commitment to growth in China."

 Commenting on the news, Pinsent Masons' Managing Partner David Ryan said: "We are delighted Bernd and Liu Wei are joining us. We are committed to opening in Germany this summer and Bernd will be ideally positioned to help grow strong links between German and Chinese clients looking to do business with each other and to trade in each jurisdiction."