King & Wood Mallesons has been awarded Best Legal Firm at this year’s prestigious China Global Outbound Investment Summit in Beijing.
The award comes just four months after the firm was created through the combination of the leading firms in China and Australia.
The award recognised King & Wood Mallesons’ contribution to China global outbound investment and M&A, which in 2011 grew 12%. The continued appetite for foreign direct investment from China at a time of economic uncertainty and the firm’s track record means it has become a go-to for many of the largest and fastest growing businesses in China. Its clients include major State Owned Enterprises and private Chinese investors with a particular focus on energy and resources, financial services and infrastructure.
Receiving the award on behalf of King & Wood Mallesons, Dirk Walker, a Beijing-based partner said, “This is a tremendous honour for the firm and an endorsement of our strategy to support Chinese outbound and inbound investment. Cross-border investment from and to China is key to our combination and this award is evidence that the market and our clients recognise the role we play. King & Wood Mallesons is helping clients by facilitating investment throughout the region and beyond which will continue to drive economic growth.”
In announcing the award, the Summit organisers highlighted King & Wood Mallesons’ ability to provide integrated services to Chinese outbound investors as: the first and only Asia-based international powerhouse law firm; and the only firm in the world licensed to practise PRC, Australian, Hong Kong and English law. The firm’s strategy is closely aligned with China’s "Go Global" strategy with a platform designed to support capital flows between the PRC and the Asia Pacific region as well as Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The annual Summit is run by the China Enterprise Forum with support from SASAC (State-Owned Assets Administration and Supervision Commission of State Council) and MOFCOM (Ministry of Commerce).
King & Wood Mallesons’ combination took effect on 1 March 2012. The firm has a total of 1,800 lawyers across the Asia Pacific region including 1,000 in Greater China.
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