International law firm Osborne Clarke, which has its roots in Bristol, has entered the mainland Chinese market for the first time after admitting a specially-formed Shanghai-based firm to its global network. 
The move allows Osborne Clarke to advise Western and Asian corporations on complex cross-border transactions and international trade relating to China. It is also looking to take on Chinese clients wishing to enter international markets.
Osborne Clarke has been developing a strong presence in South East Asia over recent years, setting up an association with Koh Vass & Co in Hong Kong in 2015 and with OC Queen Street in Singapore last year.
Since 2014 it has also had a close working relationship with BTG Legal in India.
The new firm in Shanghai, Zhang Yu & Partners, has been formed by Guohua Zhang and Steve Yu, who have more than 30 years’ experience between them. Zhang was most recently a consultant on secondment with Koh Vass & Co.
Foreign law firms have been allowed to practice in China through associated firms registered in Shanghai’s Free Trade Zone since regulations were relaxed in 2013. Osborne Clarke will compete against other UK-headquartered full service firms such as Linklaters and Fieldfisher as well as a number of specialist practices and US firms.
Zhang Yu & Partners and Koh Vass & Co in Hong Kong will enable Osborne Clarke to offer its international services to clients across China and globally. Zhang Yu is being supported by six lawyers who trained in China, UK and US specialising in IT, data and employment law.
Osborne Clarke, which employs more than 400 people at its Bristol office at Temple Quay, said they additional partners will join Zhang Yu later this year along with further legal recruits and business services support.
The team will initially focus on opportunities for clients in the digital business and consumer products sectors as well as offering cross-border advisory services for Osborne Clarke’s sector clients with requirements in mainland China.
Osborne Clarke International CEO Simon Beswick, pictured above, said: “This is a major step forward in strengthening our international business as we now have a robust Asian regional offering from offices in Hong Kong, Mumbai, Shanghai and Singapore.
“We can now fully support our clients who want to enter the second largest market in the world, and equally, we are well positioned to target local Chinese companies with our international sector expertise.” 
Guohua Zhang, pictured right, is a qualified lawyer in China and registered foreign lawyer in Hong Kong and is fluent in English, Mandarin and the Shanghai dialect. His practice areas include investment, cross-border mergers and acquisitions and general corporate and commercial advice in China.
He regularly advises on the legal frameworks for undertaking business in China, appropriate corporate structures, underlying contractual arrangements, regulatory compliance, labour and employment matters, and other wide-ranging legal issues concerning international clients in China.
Before his secondment with Koh Vass & Co he spent more than 10 years at international law firm Bird & Bird.
Steve Yu, pictured left, was previously Shanghai managing partner at US firm Armstrong Teasdale, has been a partner at CMS for two years and was previously at Eversheds Sutherland and Jones Day.
He has 20 years’ experience advising Western clients doing business in China. His practice encompasses mergers and acquisitions, business incorporation, international joint venture, technology licensing, franchising, business consolidation and restructuring, regulatory and compliance matters.
In addition to his corporate practice, he advises on trademark and brand protection, cross-border intellectual property (IP) licensing, establishment and operation of research and development centres, commercialisation of IP rights and enforcement by civil and criminal actions.
Steve Yu is also one of the first Chinese lawyers advising on China’s emerging antitrust regime.
