It’s that time of year again….
KWM dominates 2014 China Law Awards (??)
By
ALB
http://www.legalbusinessonline.com/news/kwm-dominates-2014-china-law-awards-??/65223
King & Wood Mallesons was the biggest winner at the annual ALB China Law Awards after picking up nine gongs, including Managing Partner of the Year and China Law Firm of the Year, with Zhong Lun receiving five awards.
The awards were handed out at a gala ceremony at the Park Hyatt Beijing on April 24. King & Wood Mallesons also won the China Deal Maker of the Year award and the Firm of the Year for Antitrust, Banking, International Arbitration and Intellectual Property. “We are lucky to win these many awards, and are proud to have worked hard enough to earn them,” said Zhu Nongfan, Beijing partner at KWM.
Zhong Lun’s haul included the Beijing Law Firm of the Year award. “We are grateful to win this important award. And we didn’t win it by chance. It is a result of the joint effort of all Zhong Lun people,” said Zhu Maoyuan, a partner at Zhong Lun.
JunHe, meanwhile, received four awards, validating its prowess in the areas of tax, employment and M&A/PE. Of the international firms, Clifford Chance picked up two high-profile awards in the form of the International Law Firm of the Year and International Dealmaker of the Year awards.
At the in-house end, Alibaba Group won the Innovative In-House Team of the Year prize as well as the China Private-Owned Company In-House Team of the Year award.
“The winners all deserve it. And for those firms and in-house teams that did not win, their achievements and reputation are also highly regarded by the whole industry,” commented Hong Yuwen, General Legal Counsel of the China National Aviation Fuel Logistics Corp, and a member of the judging panel.
More than 250 representatives from top law firms, companies and financial institutions in China and beyond attended the event, where awards were given out in 39 categories.
The guest of honour was Professor Wan Meng, Dean of the Law School at Beijing Foreign University. “To each of the selected nominees, you honour all of us for the work you have done,” he said. “We recognise you with much pride and appreciation for the profound contribution you make, especially as what you do allows China to move closer to the reality of being a global partner kin a global community.”
“The awards highlight the expertise demonstrated by the legal industry as China continues to expand its leadership in the global economy,” said Andrew Smart, Managing Director of Thomson Reuters’ Legal Media Group. “The ALB China Law Awards honours these accomplishments and provides for a well-earned evening of celebration and networking. Congratulations are due to the finalists and winners for their outstanding contributions to the Chinese economy.”
The full list of winners of the 2014 ALB China Law Awards can be found here.
