Boss & Young appointed Hubert Tse, former head of international business at Shanghai firm Yuan Tai, as a partner.  Tse has practiced law in Shanghai since 2003, advising clients on cross-border M&A, PE/VC, capital markets, banking & finance and QDII/QFII matters.

Orrick named Hong Kong securities and finance partner Michelle Taylor as its new head of China.  Taylor will oversee the management and administration of the firm's offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.  She began her career with Clifford Chance and then worked with Sidley Austin and Paul Hastings.

Fredrikson & Byron appointed E.W. Gentry Sayad, former managing partner of Armstrong Teasdale, as Chief Representative of its Shanghai office.  Sayad has extensive experience advising clients on doing business in China, including government relations, M&A, employment, IP, antitrust, trade and regulatory matters, compliance issues, and investment strategies.  

Jincheng Tongda & Neal recruited Zhao Ping as senior partner in Shanghai.  Zhao joins from Shanghai’s Shidai Law Firm.  He has a strong background in litigation and arbitration, but also focuses on IP, foreign investment and anti-monopoly work.

Run Ming represented Airbus S.A.S. in the bankruptcy proceedings against East Star Airlines, the first airlines to declare bankruptcy in China.  With a total debt of more than RMB 752m, the airline officially went bankrupt in August 2009 after its restructuring application was rejected by the Intermediate People's Court in Wuhan.

Jun He, Paul Hastings and Linklaters advised China SCE Property Holdings Limited, a PRC property developer, on its US$ 200m Hong Kong IPO.  This marks the first successful IPO by a Chinese property developer in Hong Kong in 2010.

Legal salaries – bubble squeezed

Salaries declined last year for elite business transaction lawyers working with top tier foreign and domestic law firms, and MNCs, in mainland China.  Survey results show an 11% decrease in average lawyer salaries from a comparable survey in 2008.

This decrease continues the downward trend observed in 2008 when we saw a modest 2% increase.  It represents a dramatic downturn from the 10% salary inflation in 2007 and 17.3% in 2006.

These numbers come from the soon to be published 2009 LawInn Legal Salary Survey & Review. 

Average year-on-year change in lawyer compensation
       —ALL data / ALL employer groups  

Not all legal employers cut average salaries the same amount.  Analyzing the data according to four employer groups shows significant differences in how lawyers were affected.  Details are described in this chart.

Average year-on-year change in lawyer compensation
       —Data grouped by 4 employer groups

The 2009 survey includes data from 579 lawyers and professional support staff.  This survey is the 5th in the series which began in 2005.  The report includes compensation charts for each employer group, charts for staff positions, and LawInn’s Observations & Comments.

We express our sincere thanks to readers who participated in the 2009 survey.  Thank you for sharing your personal data on-line.  We could not do our work without you.  To these readers, we will mail you a copy of the report as soon as it is published.  We expect to complete this work by March 15.

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

Legal Consultant – Shanghai – Ref: LPC11001
This is a US-based multinational scientific instrument company, focused on improving the health and safety of people and the environment.  The company operates in more than 100 countries worldwide.  The company is seeking Legal Counsel to be located in Shanghai.  Contact Angel Xin at (021) 6249-2300 or email.

Legal Counsel – Shanghai – Ref: LPC09802
This is one of Asia’s largest industrial and logistics infrastructure providers. The company is present in more than 15 cities across China, developing and managing more than 60 logistics parks. Currently, it is seeking a suitably experienced lawyer to serve in Shanghai. Contact Angel Xin at (021) 6249-2300 or email.

Contracts Manager – Beijing – Ref: LPC10901
This is a US-based global provider of geospatially powered solutions.  It has more than 4,000 employees worldwide.  Currently, the company is seeking qualified candidates to fill the vacancy of Contracts Manager, to be located in Beijing.  Contact Ally Zhang at (010) 5100-0696 or email.

Corporate Lawyer – Shanghai – Ref: LPF05804
This is a leading full-service law firm in the Nordic region.  It specializes in different areas of business law.  Currently, the firm is looking for a Corporate Lawyer to be located in its Shanghai office.  Contact Jolie Hu at (021) 6249-2300 or email.

Deputy Director – Shanghai – Ref: LPC10601
This is a prominent US-based cosmetic company whose business covers skin care and color cosmetics.  The company is looking for qualified candidates to fill the vacancy of Deputy Director.  Contact Angel Xin at (021) 6249-2300 or email.

Senior Corporate Lawyer – Shanghai – Ref: LPF10701
This is a leading French law firm.  The firm has more than 10 offices and 200 lawyers worldwide.  The firm is looking for qualified candidates to fill the vacancy of Senior Corporate Lawyer, to be located in Shanghai. Contact Angel Xin at (021) 6249-2300 or email.

Senior Associate (Banking & Finance) – Shanghai – Ref: LPF10502
This is a leading domestic full-service law firm.  It has over 300 attorneys in more than 5 offices throughout China.  The firm is looking for Senior Banking and Finance Lawyer to be located in its Shanghai office.  Contact Jolie Hu at (021) 6249-2300 or email.

BD Manager – Shanghai – Ref: LPF10503
This is one of the largest PRC-based law firms.  It operates more than 5 offices throughout China providing high quality legal services.  The firm is looking for BD Manager to serve in its Shanghai office.  Contact Susan Guo at (021) 6249-2300 or email.

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