Akin Gump hires New York veteran to head Beijing office

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has hired Bill Rosoff to head its Beijing office. An international corporate transactions partner, he will take over the role from Spencer Griffith, who will continue his strong China trade practice from Akin Gump’s Washington DC office.

Rosoff’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, as well as general corporate, infrastructure and China-related matters. He joins from Cozen O’Connor in New York, where he had worked for the past three years. Before that, he was a partner with Davis Polk & Wardwell and O’Melveny & Myers, also in New York.

His arrival comes shortly after the firm opened in Hong Kong earlier this year, and will strengthen the firm’s corporate and M&A practice throughout the region, representing Chinese companies seeking to expand overseas as well as foreign companies entering or expanding their investments or operations in China.

“Bill is a great addition to our firm and represents another strong step forward for Akin Gump in Asia,” said Rick Burdick, international managing partner at Akin Gump. “The increasingly sophisticated work that we are handling for clients in China and throughout Asia makes Bill, with his broad corporate practice and in-depth knowledge of the Chinese legal system, an excellent fit.”

Rosoff represents clients in the structuring and negotiation of complex mergers, hostile takeovers, cross-border acquisitions and joint ventures. His practice also includes the handling of infrastructure projects and transactions.

“Akin Gump offers that rare combination of a respected global corporate practice and a renowned public policy and regulatory team that clients find invaluable,” stated Rosoff. “That, coupled with its commitment to continued growth in China and throughout Asia, makes me very excited to join the firm.”

In addition to his previous positions in private practice, Rosoff also served as senior vice-president and general counsel of Marsh & McLennan Companies and of RJR Nabisco.

Rosoff is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is on the General Counsel Panel of Distinguished Neutrals of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR). He is also a CPR-certified mediator.