Norton Rose Fulbright enhances China offering through Joint Operation with Shanghai Pacific Legal

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has received approval from the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice for its Joint Operation with Shanghai Pacific Legal in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

The strategic Joint Operation will enable Norton Rose Fulbright and Shanghai Pacific Legal to combine Norton Rose Fulbright’s leading international legal services and its extensive global platform with Shanghai Pacific Legal’s high-quality PRC law capabilities.

Established in 1994, Shanghai Pacific Legal offers PRC legal advice across a wide range of practice areas including banking and finance, corporate and mergers and acquisitions, foreign direct investment, intellectual property, data privacy, data compliance and cybersecurity, disputes and arbitration and regulatory investigations, labour, antitrust and competition, debt capital markets and equity capital markets.

The Joint Operation will allow Norton Rose Fulbright to deliver co-ordinated and seamless international and domestic law services across all of Shanghai Pacific Legal’s practice areas. It also offers Shanghai Pacific Legal’s clients access to international legal services, as well as Norton Rose Fulbright’s global platform with over 3,000 lawyers and more than 50 offices worldwide, to support their international operations and growth.

Known as Norton Rose Fulbright Shanghai Pacific Legal (FTZ) Joint Operation Office, the Joint Operation marks a significant milestone in Norton Rose Fulbright’s commitment to enhancing its service offering in China.

Since establishing its Beijing representative office in 2002 and its Shanghai representative office in 2006, the firm has continuously aimed to enhance the support it can provide to its clients in China. Norton Rose Fulbright and Shanghai Pacific Legal have worked closely together over a number of years, often referring clients to each other and working on cross-border transactions and international matters.

Peter Scott, Global Managing Partner of Norton Rose Fulbright, commented:

“We are pleased to have received approval from the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice for our Joint Operation with Shanghai Pacific Legal. This is a strategic move that will enhance our service offering in China and demonstrates our long-term commitment to the China market. We very much appreciate the support and assistance from the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice in achieving this milestone. Shanghai Pacific Legal has a strong team of lawyers who are well-versed in the key practice areas of interest to international clients involved in cross-border investments into China. The Joint Operation will enable us to provide a seamless and coordinated service combining Chinese and international legal services to our clients.”

Frank Liu, Managing Partner of Shanghai Pacific Legal, commented:

“The approval of the Joint Operation between Shanghai Pacific Legal and Norton Rose Fulbright marks a significant new opportunity for our clients, granting them enhanced access to international legal services and Norton Rose Fulbright’s extensive global network, and strengthening our ability to support our Chinese clients seeking to expand into markets outside of China. We are also eager to deepen and formalise our collaboration in supporting the legal requirements of Norton Rose Fulbright’s clients in China. We would like to thank the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice for granting their approval for the Joint Operation.”