Herbert Smith Freehills and Kewei celebrates successful first year of China joint operation 史密夫斐尔与科伟庆祝联营成功开展一周年

The first year of Herbert Smith Freehills and Shanghai-based Kewei Law Firm’s joint operation in China has exceeded all expectations.

Revenue exceeded targets, headcount grew steadily, and every practice area outperformed.

Launched in August 2019 as Herbert Smith Freehills Kewei, the joint operation offers multinational and China companies seamless access to both international and PRC legal advice in investments, M&A, disputes, competition, capital markets and employment.

“We’re delighted that the new joint operation has performed so well, particularly in such a difficult and uncertain year,” said May Tai, Herbert Smith Freehills’ Managing Partner, Asia.

“Despite the effects of the pandemic, the joint operation made a major contribution to both firm’s revenue and profit growth in Asia.”

Clients can access China court, tribunal or regulatory representation through the joint operation. The structure has also increased the range of legal advice available for equity offerings, debt issues and domestic and international corporate matters.

“Our integration of local capability and international expertise has attracted and strengthened both firms’ client bases,” said Gavin Guo, International Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills Kewei.

“In recent months, international clients have particularly valued our support in China, enabling them to keep deals and disputes moving from a distance, despite pandemic travel restrictions.”

Kewei increased headcount by over 30% in the first year of the joint operation. It grew its corporate practice, strengthened its competition offering, and added a China disputes practice.

“In its first year, the joint operation worked on client matters with colleagues in over half of our global network offices and in over 50 global jurisdictions,” said Matt Emsley, the firm’s Managing Partner, China.

“Our planning paid off handsomely - by building trust and understanding in advance, we’ve been able to work as ‘one team’ from the start of the joint operation.”

“We would like to thank again the Bureau of Justice in Shanghai for approving this partnership,” said Stanley Xie, Herbert Smith Freehills Kewei partner. “With China markets already rebounding strongly, we look forward to continuing our growth story with Herbert Smith Freehills in the year ahead.”

全球领先的律师事务所史密夫斐尔与总部位于上海的科伟律师事务所在中国设立的联营办公室第一年表现强劲超出预期。

过去一年，营收目标超额完成，律师人数稳步增长，各执业领域表现优异。

科伟史密夫斐尔联营办公室成立于2019年8月，为跨国公司和中国公司提供外国法和中国法服务，涵盖投资、并购、争议解决、竞争法、资本市场和劳动法等方面。

史密夫斐尔亚洲管理合伙人戴枫媚 (May Tai) 表示：“看到联营办公室能在异常艰难和充满不确定性的一年取得如此出色的表现，我们对此感到非常高兴。”

“尽管受到新冠疫情的影响，联营办公室为双方在亚洲地区的收入和利润贡献突出。”

我们的客户可以借助联营办公室与中国法院、仲裁庭或监管机构进行对接。同时，联营办公室还将现有跨境股票发行、债券发行以及其他境内外公司事务的法律服务范围进行了扩展。

科伟史密夫斐尔联营办公室国际资深顾问郭武汉表示：“我们将本地能力与国际专业知识相结合，充实并巩固了两家律所的客户基础。”

“近几个月来，海外客户尤其看重我们在中国提供的本地支持，这令他们能够在疫情出行受限的情况下以远程方式继续推进交易和争议事务。”

在联营办公室运营的第一年，科伟的律师数量增长超过30%，公司事务执业领域得到扩充，竞争产品和服务得到充实，同时还新增加了中国争议解决等执业领域。

史密夫斐尔大中华区管理合伙人艾迈修 (Matt Emsley) 表示：“在第一年，联营办公室已经与史密夫斐尔一半以上的全球网络办公室的同事就全球50多个司法管辖区的客户事务进行过合作。”

“我们的规划获得了丰厚回报——通过预先建立信任和理解，从联营办公室成立开始，双方就能够像‘一个团队’一样工作。”

科伟史密夫斐尔联营办公室合伙人谢守德表示：“我们再次感谢上海市司法局批准成立科伟史密夫斐尔联营办公室。中国市场已经强劲反弹，我们期待着在未来一年继续书写联营办公室的增长故事。

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. In August 2019, Herbert Smith Freehills became one of then only six international law firms permitted to integrate China law advice with international legal services through the Joint Operation with Kewei based in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.
2. In its first year, the Joint Operation has worked on nearly 300 matters, and collaborated with Herbert Smith Freehills’ network offices in Beijing, Brisbane, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Moscow, Paris, Perth, New York, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.
3. With over 35 years of history in Asia, Herbert Smith Freehills has over 300 lawyers and legal professionals in the region, advising clients on complex corporate, disputes and finance matters from offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta*, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.
4. Kewei is a new model of Chinese law firm, led by Chinese lawyers with deep international experience. It combines lawyers with deep experience in local and international work with a low-cost managed legal services business that uses the new technology to manage bulk work cost-effectively.

编辑垂注

1. 2019年8月，史密夫斐尔通过与设立在上海自贸区的科伟律师事务所开展联营，成为仅有的六家获准将中国法律服务与国际法律服务相结合的国际律师事务所之一。
2. 联营办公室成立第一年，已经就将近300件客户事务提供法律服务，并与史密夫斐尔全球网络在北京、布里斯班、迪拜、法兰克福、香港、吉隆坡、伦敦、马德里、墨尔本、莫斯科、巴黎、珀斯、纽约、首尔、上海、新加坡、悉尼、东京的办公室进行了合作。
3. 史密夫斐尔律师事务所专注亚洲市场超过35年，拥有300多位律师和法律专业人士，在曼谷、北京、香港、雅加达*、吉隆坡、首尔、上海、新加坡和东京设有办公室，为客户就复杂的公司事务、争议解决和金融事务提供法律服务。
4. 科伟律师事务所开拓了中国律师事务所的新模式，由具有深厚国际经验的中国律师领导。科伟兼有国内外经验的资深律师为客户提供全面的战略化建议，运用新技术，高效地管理批量工作。