Zhao Sheng strengthens Competition and Corporate practices with hire of Vivian Cao and Colette Pan

06 Aug 2019

Zhao Sheng Law Firm, the China joint operation partner of global law firm Linklaters, today announced the hire of Vivian Cao, who will join the firm’s growing Competition practice in their newly established Beijing branch, and corporate M&A practitioner Colette Pan who will be based in the firm’s Shanghai office, to supplement the firm’s offerings in Beijing and Shanghai.


Eric Liu, Managing Partner of Zhao Sheng Law Firm said:


“We are delighted to announce two new additions to the Zhao Sheng team. Vivian is a well-recognised competition lawyer in China with both Chinese and international exposure. Following the opening of our Beijing office in May this year, Vivian joining us further demonstrates our long-term commitment to the China market and our clients. Colette had spent more than 10 years with our joint operation partner, Linklaters, following her graduation. As a leading practitioner in the financial institutions M&A space, she will further strengthen our capabilities in this area and help us continue to advise both our international and Chinese clients to seize the opportunities arising from the recent opening up of the financial sectors.”


Vivian Cao, who is qualified in both PRC and New York State, has been a partner with Fangda Partners since 2017, joining from Freshfields. Prior to that she worked at MWE China and IDG Asia.


Colette Pan, who is also qualified in PRC and New York State, specialises in China-facing financial institution, Tech and Fintech M&A as well as financial regulations. Colette previously trained and practiced at Linklaters, Zhao Sheng’s joint operation partner in China, for her entire career (more than 10 years) before leaving to join Fangda Partners where she has been a partner since 2018.

 

Fay Zhou, China Competition partner at Linklaters said:


“Competition is a strategic priority for Linklaters and China is of critical importance to the success of the firm’s wider global competition practice. Vivian has a great track record advising multinational and Chinese clients on the competition law regime in China and her hire will allow us to cement our competition law capability in China through our joint operation with Zhao Sheng.” 


William Liu, China Managing Partner of Linklaters said:


“We are thrilled to welcome Colette Pan back to the Linklaters’ global network. As well as being an extraordinarily capable team member who will significantly strengthen our corporate and regulatory coverage in mainland China at a time when the market is seeing a significant uptick in international work, she was an extremely popular and key member of our senior Shanghai team."


“We believe the Chinese government’s opening up of international financial markets is an ongoing trend likely only to accelerate over the coming years and we are seeing growing demand from our clients for the combined PRC and international advice that we are able to provide through our market leading offering.”

 

Zhao Sheng Law Firm is the Shanghai Free Trade Zone joint operation partner of Linklaters LLP. Linklaters Zhao Sheng brings together Linklaters’ long-standing international experience on the most significant deals and Zhao Sheng’s PRC-law capabilities to deliver seamless client service. In May this year, Zhao Sheng Law Firm received official approval, from the Beijing Bureau of Justice, to establish a branch in Beijing. The opening of a second office marks the further development for Zhao Sheng, following the firm’s decision to form a Shanghai free trade zone joint operation with Linklaters in April 2018.