News / 08-12-2020 / Ince bolsters Chinese presence with W&H Law Firm strategic cooperation deal

8 December 2020, London: International legal and professional services firm, Ince, has today announced it is entering into a strategic cooperation with China based W&H Law Firm. 

The strategic cooperation deal acts as a formalisation of this working relationship and has been designed to allow both firms to offer expert legal advice, to the increasing number of Chinese enterprises who are investing overseas. Existing Ince clients will also benefit from access to an extensive network of trusted local lawyers, with a deep knowledge of the Chinese market and PRC law.

W&H Law Firm was set up in 1995 and has since grown to become one of China’s top 10 largest law firms, with over 2,000 practicing lawyers across over 30 offices in the majority  of key cities in China including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as 4 offices overseas including Tokyo, Sydney, Silicon Valley and Hanoi.

The strategic cooperation will allow Ince’s expert international lawyers to assist W&H Law Firm clients on international legal matters, whilst W&H Law Firm is a full-service PRC law firm, whose legal capabilities will be available to Ince clients. Both firms have worked together on numerous occasions previously, on complex issues such as cross-border transactions and disputes, as well as cases concerning projects within Greater China. 

Commenting on the deal, Adrian Biles, Chief Executive of The Ince Group said:

“Entering into a strategic cooperation with W&H Law Firm, marks a significant chapter in the growth of our business. Ince has recognised the importance of Asia for a number of years, with its existing presence in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore - and has today taken a further step in strengthening our global footprint.” 

“The full service offering of the firm is greatly enhanced by this strategic cooperation agreement which will allow Ince to bring to its client base the wealth of experience of one of China’s top 10 law firms.”

Ince has shown a strong commitment to developing its offering across the APAC region, including the hiring of multi-lingual expert litigator, Bonita Chan, seasoned commercial litigator, Zhao Rong Ooi as Partners in Hong Kong and the strengthening of its Singapore offer with four partner hires, by Ince's Singapore member firm Incisive law. 

Paul Ho, Ince’s Head of Greater China, said:

“During the past few years in China, I have been assessing local legal firms to identify the right fit for Ince to enter into a strategic cooperation with. In W&H Law Firm, we have found a firm with the same values, ethos and a commitment to high-quality service to clients that closely align with our own. Ince has long held a strong relationship with W&H Law Firm and we look forward to building on that for many years to come.”

Zhang Xiaowei, Founder and Chairman of W&H Law Firm, said:

“We are excited to enter into a strategic cooperation with Ince and to build on our already excellent working relationships. Ince offers a high-level of international expertise that is often sought after by our clients and we look forward to continuing to support Ince and their clients on local matters relating to China.” 

The new deal comes in a celebratory year for both firms, with Ince Shanghai celebrating its 20th year and W&H celebrating 25 years of operations.  
 

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2020年12月8日，伦敦：提供国际法律和专业服务的英士律师事务所于今日宣布与中国的炜衡律师事务所开展战略合作。

本次的战略合作进一步巩固了两所之间的工作关系，旨在使两家律所能为日益增长的在海外进行投资的中国企业提供专业的法律建议。英士的现有客户也能够接触到更多深谙中国市场和中国法律、且值得信赖的本地律师，并且从中受益。

炜衡律师事务所组建于1995年，现已发展成为中国规模最大的十家律师事务所之一，拥有2000多名执业律师，在北京、上海等30多个中国的主要城市设立了办公室，还设立了东京、悉尼、硅谷和河内四个海外办公室。

此次战略合作将使英士专业的国际律师有机会就国际法律事务为炜衡律师事务所的客户提供协助，与此同时，炜衡作为一家提供全方位法律服务的中国律师事务所，也将运用自身专业的法律能力为英士律师事务所的客户提供帮助。两家律所此前就已在多个复杂的跨境交易、争议解决以及其他涉及在大中华地区的项目中携手合作数次。

英士集团的首席执行官Adrian Biles对本次的战略合作这样评论：

“与炜衡律师事务所开展战略合作，标志着英士律师事务所业务发展的重要一章。多年来，英士始终认识到亚洲的重要性，在北京、上海、香港和新加坡设立了办公室/网络，今天的合作又是我们在全球布局中迈出的坚实一步。”

“这一战略合作极大地加强了本所的服务全面性，使英士律师事务所能够与客户分享来自中国十大律所之一的丰富经验。”

英士一直致力于在亚太地区拓展业务，包括聘请多语种专业诉讼律师陈宝仪和经验丰富的商业诉讼律师黄昭荣为香港合伙人，以及在英士集团的新加坡成员事务所Incisive Law聘请了四位合伙人。

英士大中华区负责人何保罗评价道：

“在过去的几年里，我一直在考虑与国内律师事务所的合作，以选择最适合英士的战略合作伙伴。在炜衡律师事务所，我们终于找到了一家与我们有着同样的价值观和态度，与我们一样致力于为客户提供高质量服务的事务所。英士与炜衡长期保持着良好的合作关系，我们期待能够在未来继续加强这种合作关系。”

炜衡律师事务所创始人兼全国管委会主席张小炜说道：

“我们很高兴与英士建立战略合作，并进一步发展我们之间良好的工作关系。英士提供的高水平国际专业知识正是我们的客户所需求的，我们也同样期待继续为英士及其客户提供与中国相关的本地事务支持和协助。”

今年是英士上海成立20周年和炜衡成立25周年。此次合作协议的签订，为两家律所都增添了新的纪念意义。