King & Wood
Encyclopedia
King & Wood PRC Lawyers is among the first law firms established when law firms were repermitted in the People’s Republic of China during the modern era. It is now the country’s largest with 210 partners and 990 fee earners.
, when the central government permitted private ownership of law firms allowing them to create the firm.
To advance its policy of market-based reforms in the 1980s, China adopted reforms to align its legal system with international norms, particularly in the area of commercial law
. These began with the Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Venture Law, the first law governing foreign investment, enacted in 1980. Since then, some 300 pieces of legislation have been issued relating to economics and trade. The Chinese legal market has grown with the increasing sophistication of Chinese law
.
The name of the firm is an example of Western-oriented marketing by a Chinese firm. There is no "Mr. King" or "Ms. Wood" among the founders of the firm, the names having been chosen for their "ear appeal" among prospective Western clients. The corresponding portion of the Chinese name, is 金杜 ("Jin Du"), which likewise do no refer to a specific "Mr Jin" or "Mr Du".
King and Wood maintained a strategic alliance with Australia
n law firm Gilbert + Tobin
between 2007 and 2011. In November 2011, the partners of Mallesons Stephen Jaques
reportedly voted to merge with King & Wood in 2012.
, Japan
, and the United States
and has now grown to become the largest law firm in China by number of lawyers. These lawyers are spread throughout 15 offices throughout the world, but predominantly on the mainland.
The firm specializes in assisting foreign companies do business in China. Its main practice areas includes banking, foreign investment, international trade
, litigation and arbitration
, and securities.
, China Life, the Beijing Organizing Committee
of the Olympic Games, Wal-Mart
, PetroChina
, and the Bank of China
.
King & Wood advised on the largest IPO in Chinese history for PetroChina, allowing the company to temporarily become the highest valued company in the world at over $1 trillion.
History
In 1993 King & Wood’s founding partners were still working with a state-sponsored organization, the China Council for the Promotion of International TradeChina Council for the Promotion of International Trade
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade is a trade body of the Chinese government founded in 1952. It also goes by the name of the China Chamber of International Commerce ....
, when the central government permitted private ownership of law firms allowing them to create the firm.
To advance its policy of market-based reforms in the 1980s, China adopted reforms to align its legal system with international norms, particularly in the area of commercial law
Commercial law
Commercial law is the body of law that governs business and commercial transactions...
. These began with the Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Venture Law, the first law governing foreign investment, enacted in 1980. Since then, some 300 pieces of legislation have been issued relating to economics and trade. The Chinese legal market has grown with the increasing sophistication of Chinese law
Chinese law
Chinese law is one of the oldest legal traditions in the world. In the 20th and 21st century, law in China has been a complex mix of traditional Chinese approaches and Western influences....
.
The name of the firm is an example of Western-oriented marketing by a Chinese firm. There is no "Mr. King" or "Ms. Wood" among the founders of the firm, the names having been chosen for their "ear appeal" among prospective Western clients. The corresponding portion of the Chinese name, is 金杜 ("Jin Du"), which likewise do no refer to a specific "Mr Jin" or "Mr Du".
King and Wood maintained a strategic alliance with Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n law firm Gilbert + Tobin
Gilbert + Tobin
Gilbert + Tobin is a corporate law firm headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with offices in Melbourne and Perth.Gilbert + Tobin was established in 1988 by Danny Gilbert and Tony Tobin and firm employs more than 400 lawyers and professionals...
between 2007 and 2011. In November 2011, the partners of Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Mallesons Stephen Jaques is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. It is one of the 30 largest law firms in Australia, and is widely regarded as one of the top commercial law firms in Australia.-Offices:...
reportedly voted to merge with King & Wood in 2012.
Profile
King & Wood employs nearly 990 attorneys throughout China, Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and has now grown to become the largest law firm in China by number of lawyers. These lawyers are spread throughout 15 offices throughout the world, but predominantly on the mainland.
The firm specializes in assisting foreign companies do business in China. Its main practice areas includes banking, foreign investment, international trade
International trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product...
, litigation and arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
, and securities.
Clients
The firm’s clients include CitigroupCitigroup
Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate...
, China Life, the Beijing Organizing Committee
Beijing Organizing Committee
The The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, or BOCOG, also known as the Beijing Organizing Committee, is an informal name for the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. It was also the organizing committee for the Games of the XIII Paralympiad...
of the Olympic Games, Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, PetroChina
PetroChina
PetroChina Company Limited is a Chinese oil company and is the listed arm of state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation , headquartered in Dongcheng District, Beijing. It is China's biggest oil producer, and was the world's most valuable company by market value as of September 28th 2010...
, and the Bank of China
Bank of China
Bank of China Limited is one of the big four state-owned commercial banks of the People's Republic of China. It was founded in 1912 by the Government of the Republic of China, to replace the Government Bank of Imperial China. It is the oldest bank in China...
.
King & Wood advised on the largest IPO in Chinese history for PetroChina, allowing the company to temporarily become the highest valued company in the world at over $1 trillion.
External links
- King & Wood's website
- King & Wood's China Legal Blog
- http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bw/2008-03/10/content_6521062.htm