US law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft has poached Rose Zhu from K&L Gates in Beijing, as part of a bid to advise on more local transactions.
Zhu joins as a partner and specialises in capital markets, M&A and bank financings. She is the fourth partner to join the firm’s Asia practice during the past year and will be based in the Beijing office.
“We are growing our presence in China and her appointment reflects our continued commitment to provide our clients with talented counsel,” stated Rocky Lee, head of Cadwalader’s Asia practice.
She has advised some of the biggest clients in China, including China Development Bank, Sinochem, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Citic Bank and Postal Savings Bank of China, among others, as well as many of the leading investment banks, on outbound and inbound transactions related to deal structure, deal protection, governance and defensive mechanisms.
“[Zhu]has a proven track record of providing best-in-class counsel to some of China’s largest corporations,” said Christopher White, chairman of Cadwalader.
After a miserable year for Hong Kong initial public offerings in 2012, Zhu said that she expects a return to stronger activity in 2013, as regulatory initiatives in China combine with cumulative demand and a US recovery.
Cadwalader’s Asia capital markets team advised on the last IPO in Hong Kong for 2012 — Wison Engineering Services’ HK$1.67 billion ($216 million) offering.
“Cadwalader has a sterling global reputation,” said Zhu. “I am thrilled to be part of this firm’s expanding geographic footprint in China.”
