US Firm Exclusive International Law Member Of China SME Financial Services Strategic Alliance
Written by Sean Hocking
US law firm Pillsbury has been appointed the exclusive international law firm member of the China Small and Medium Enterprises Financial Services Strategic Alliance (CSMESA) and Joseph Chan, Managing Partner of Pillsbury's Shanghai office and co-head of the firm's China practice, has been appointed an advisor of the alliance.
The Pillsbury press release tells us that the ....government-sponsored China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (CASME) is organized CSMESA under the oversight of the influential National Development and Reform Commission, with support from other key Chinese government agencies including the China Securities Regulatory Commission and China Banking Regulatory Commission.
CASME plays a key role in directing the reform of regulatory processes related to small and medium enterprises in China. Mr. Zeng Peiyan, Vice Premier of China, serves as the Chairman of CASME's Advisory Committee.
"We are honored to be chosen by CSMESA as its only international law firm member, particularly as we just opened our mainland China office in Shanghai less than 18 months ago," said Chan. "Affiliation with such an influential organization will allow us to help emerging companies in China take wider advantage of the numerous opportunities opening up in the global marketplace and better understand some of the challenges and legal obstacles they might need to overcome as they begin expanding domestically and abroad. There are reportedly 40 million SMEs in China today. Many of these enterprises are poised for significant growth but encounter difficulties raising capital to finance such growth. With our world-class team boasting deep financing expertise from venture capital to capital markets, we look forward to working with the member companies of CASME in the coming days."
Pillsbury's China practice has more than 50 legal professionals throughout the firm's 14-office global network and focuses on a wide range of areas, including Venture Capital and Private Equity Investments; M&As; Foreign Direct Investments and Joint Ventures; Securities Transactions; Tax; Technology and Intellectual Property Consulting, Prosecution and Litigation; Finance and Banking; International Trade; and Global Sourcing.
