DLA Piper appoints natural resources expert to China team

DLA Piper has hired Wan Li, an expert in corporate transactions relating to Greater China, as a partner in its China team, as the law firm aims to reinforce its growing China practice and acquire a deeper understanding of the Chinese market.

Wan Li will lead the corporate team in Shanghai and work closely with Beijing, Hong Kong and other DLA Piper offices, advising clients on both domestic and multi-jurisdictional transactions across the region, the firm said in an announcement.

Wan Li has over 20 years of experience in China-related matters, advising a diverse range of clients on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and corporate issues. He has a broad practice focused on foreign direct investment into China and representing Chinese companies in relation to multi-jurisdictional transactions including the acquisition of equity and assets of foreign energy and resources companies.

He is qualified as a lawyer in China, Hong Kong, England, Wales and Australia. He was previously a managing partner at the Shanghai office of Minter Ellison, one of the largest full-service law firms in the Asia-Pacific.

DLA Piper hopes Wan Li's arrival will bring more opportunities to expand its China energy practice and to capitalise on business opportunities in China as well as the Asia-Pacific region. The firm also expects his depth of expertise in corporate transactions in infrastructure, natural resources and energy in both China and Australia to be an asset to the firm as the deal flow in these sectors is likely to increase in 2010 and beyond.

"We are delighted to be able to attract lawyers of Wan Li's calibre to join our firm. Wan Li's arrival will add significant heft and reinforce DLA Piper's well-established and growing China practice and help us acquire even deeper understanding of our clients' businesses and sectors," Roy Chan, Shanghai office managing partner of DLA Piper, said in a statement.