Rachel Tan, an IPR specialist, joins Rouse & Co's Beijing office.  Tan will provide branding and trademark advice, including brand strategy, trademark acquisition and policing, and trademark commercialization.  Demand for IP specialists is growing in mainland China, already the world’s biggest market for IP infringement work.

Run Ming Law Office appointed two new partners in Beijing, Charles Liang and Kathy Yang.  Previously the general counsel for Alstom in China, Liang joins as an executive partner.  Liang will work alongside executive partners, Wang Yadong and Liu Yi, building the firm's brand, marketing, business development and management structure.  Kathy Yang joins from O'Melveny & Myers Beijing office where she was a senior counsel in the firm's M&A practice.

Japan practice veteran Qi Bin rejoined Shanghai Shimin Law Office as a partner, leaving Run Ming where he was a founding partner and helped build the firm's Shanghai office.  Qi was a partner at Shimin for a number of years before leaving three years ago to head up Junyi's Shanghai office.  He became a founding partner of Run Ming following a merger between a Junyi team and a new start-up Beijing firm Runbo in April 2007.

Lovells advised on the listing of Chinese liquor distributor Silver Base Group Holdings Limited, raising US$133 million (HK$1.03 billion), the joint-largest IPO in Hong Kong in 2009.  The Hong Kong Public Offering was 43 times over-subscribed allowing the deal to be priced at the top of the range.  Silver Base is one of the largest distributors of Wuliangye Liquor Series, a famous and traditional Chinese baijiu liquor.

Pinsent Masons advised Veolia Transport China Ltd on a 50-50 partnership with Wharf Transport Investments Ltd to operate Hong Kong Tramways Ltd.

Gide Loyrette Nouel advised Domaines Baron de Rothschild on its investment in China's wine industry.

Have we reached BOTTOM?

Continued reports of layoffs chilled lawyers and staff of law firms in China during the late autumn and winter.  With the coming of spring is the chill gone?  Maybe.  Layoff statistics for April indicate a pause…..maybe an end to the layoffs.

The LawInn research team gathered information tracking firm downsizing and layoffs of lawyers and legal staff by law firms in China since early autumn.  We documented 167 employees laid off by 13 foreign law firms from their offices in Shanghai and Beijing in the last 6 months.  The monthly layoffs ranged from 4 to 79.  An average of 13 employees was laid off by each firm.  December (’08) and March (’09) were the peak months.  We know of only one layoff in April.

This data comes from these US and UK international law firms—Akin Gump, Allen & Overy, Baker & McKenzie, DLA Piper, Herbert Smith, Jones Day, Linklaters, O'Melveny & Myers, Orrick, Paul Hastings, White & Case, Pillsbury and Mayor Brown.

With the more positive economic data coming from the general economy, perhaps the worst is over and layoffs are ending.  It’s too early to know.  Some law firms, especially local ones, complete a mid-year review and determine a second half strategy in June.  We are watching this period for evidence that the downturn in legal services has hit bottom in China.

For readers concerned about holding on to your jobs, you may want to review our November edition of the LawInnSight where we discussed strategies to secure your job during this challenging period. 

Notes on methodology – Lay off data does not come directly from employers.  Data was collected from press reports and human contacts.  The precise number of lay offs may vary from what we recorded.  If you know any mistakes, please let us know.

A lawyer was driving his big BMW down the highway, singing to himself, "I love my BMW, I love my BMW." Focusing on his car, not his driving, he smashed into a tree. He miraculously survived, but his car was totaled. "My BMW! My BMW!" he sobbed.

A man drove by and cried out, "Sir, sir, you're bleeding! Oh, my.  Your left arm is gone!"

The lawyer, horrified, screamed "My Rolex! My Rolex!"

The LawInn team is constantly working to bring you the best choice of legal opportunities in China. Here’s just a small selection of the positions we are currently handling:

Legal Counsel (Insurance) – Beijing – Ref: LPC09401
This is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New York City. The company is a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services. Currently, it is looking for Legal Counsel to support its young Chinese businesses, based in Beijing. Contact Ally Zhang at (010) 5100-0696 or email.

Commercial Legal Counsel – Beijing – Ref: LPC09501
This is a Fortune 500 IT company. Currently, the company has an immediate opening for an experienced commercial attorney to join the Worldwide Sales Group of the Legal & Corporate Affairs department at China office in Beijing. Contact Ally Zhang at (010) 5100-0696 or email.

Senior Associate/Junior Partner (Shipping) - Shanghai – Ref: LPF09601
This is a prominent UK law firm which has offices worldwide. The firm mainly focuses on shipping, maritime, capital market and corporate practice. Currently, the firm is looking for a Senior Associate / Junior Partner to join its Shanghai office. Contact Angel Xin at (021) 6249-2300 or email.

Senior Associate/Partner (Tax Group) – Shanghai – Ref: LPF04825
This is a reputable law firm that is strategically aligned with an international law firm with a network of more than ten offices in the United States and Europe . The firm's Tax Group is looking for Senior Associate / Partner to join its Shanghai office.  Contact Jolie Hu at (021) 6249-2300 or email.

Of Counsel – Shanghai – Ref: LPF02610
This is a top 10 Wall Street law firm from the United States. Based in New York, the transactions of the firm extend throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. With the expansion of its Shanghai office, the firm is seeking an Of Counsel. Contact Angel Xin at (021) 6249-2300 or email.

For more positions, please click http://www.lawinn.net/service2.asp