Shanghai, China, 10 December 2021 – FenXun Partners, Baker McKenzie’s Joint Operation platform partner in China, announced that leading M&A/PE lawyer Zhang Hong has joined the Firm's Shanghai office as head of private equity for China. Ms. Zhang, who has worked in leading international and domestic firms, brings with her deep experience in complex domestic and cross-border M&A and corporate transactions inside and outside China.
Ms. Zhang has over a decade of experience in advising Chinese companies and multinationals on both China inbound and outbound investments. She focuses on domestic and overseas cross-border M&A and related legal issues, including complex private equity and venture capital investment and financing, "red chip" structures, pre-IPO equity financing for various types of corporations, as well as strategic cooperation and joint venture transactions. Over the years, she has accumulated extensive experience and unique insight across a wide range of sectors, including technology, media and telecom (TMT), fintech, healthcare, real estate, financial institutions, high tech and high-end manufacturing. The legal directory, the Legal 500, has named her a "Next Generation Partner" in recognition of her work in the area of private equity, and a "Rising Star" in the areas of China corporate and M&A.
Ms. Zhang graduated from East China University of Politics and Law with a bachelor's degree in law, and she obtained her master's degree in law from Columbia Law School (with honors). Ms. Zhang is admitted to practice in China and the State of New York in the United States.
"Ms. Zhang's experience, combined with her strong relationships with many of the key private equity investors and leading Chinese companies and multinationals, makes her an exciting addition to our Firm. Her joining will not only help us deepen our relationships with existing and new clients, but also bolster our ability to assist clients in complex domestic and cross-border deals. Ms. Zhang's appointment is further evidence of our commitment to grow our transactional capabilities in China, following on from other recent strategic hires. Her hiring will further strengthen our Joint Operation platform with Baker McKenzie, and help our Chinese corporate and PE clients, access Baker’s global platform of legal services" said Yingzhe Wang, Managing Partner of FenXun Partners.
"China's private equity/venture capital activity is likely to remain robust in the second half of 2021 given the record level of dry powder. There is still a healthy appetite among Chinese companies for outbound M&A. Against the backdrop of the lingering geopolitical tensions and stringent regulations on doing cross-border deals in the US and Europe, Chinese investors are more likely to look to other regions such as Asia Pacific and Africa for investment opportunities," said Brian Chia, Asia Pacific chair of Baker McKenzie's M&A Practice. "We are very excited about collaborating with Ms. Zhang. Her track record in complex China inbound and outbound deals provides us with an opportunity to further strengthen our M&A and financial sponsor service offerings and allows us to better serve our clients' growing needs as they seek investment opportunities in China and also across Asia Pacific."
Ms. Zhang added, "I am excited to join FenXun Partners. The Firm and the Joint Operation it has established with Baker McKenzie offer me the ideal platform to deliver first-class legal services with a combination of Chinese and international law advice. I look forward to working with my colleagues in China and also across Baker McKenzie's global network to help our clients bring their domestic and cross-border transactions to fruition."
Ms. Zhang's appointment follows a number of recent significant lateral appointments in keeping with the Firm’s strategy to grow its transactional practice, including most recently Stella Hu joining the Capital Markets team and Ada Hu joining the Financial Services team.