In a press release sent out yesterday…
Goodwin Procter LLP announced that they are opening an office in Hong Kong, their first outside of the U.S.
It will be led by partners Yash Rana and Brian McDaniel, who represent VC and PE firms that are raising funds and investing in Asian companies.
Goodwin Procter has registered to practice as a foreign law firm in Hong Kong and will move to permanent office space in the Bank of China building in January 2009. The firm plans to explore additional opportunities for office locations in Asia as part of its long-term global strategy.
“An Asian presence is an integral part our strategic growth,” said Regina M. Pisa, chairman and managing partner of Goodwin Procter. “Our strategy is driven by client needs and market demand. Our plan for both national and international expansion is to focus and build upon our strengths in key industries and practices.”
“This global team will initially focus on our clients who are investing in India, China and other Asian centers of commerce,” added Pisa. “Goodwin Procter has established a reputation on teaming with our clients on growth equity deals, in the clean technology, life sciences and real estate sectors.”
Rana, a partner in Goodwin Procter’s Private Equity Group, who will relocate to Hong Kong from New York, has a broad-based transactional practice, with particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions and private equity. Rana leads Goodwin Procter’s India Practice and has deep experience in representing clients in cross-border transactions, especially investments into India.
McDaniel, a partner in Goodwin Procter’s Private Investment Funds Practice, will relocate to Hong Kong from Silicon Valley. McDaniel specializes in the formation and operation of private equity and venture capital funds investing in China, India and other Asian countries. He has extensive experience in international fund structures and represents many clients based in Asia.
Partner Information
Yash Rana, born and raised in Bombay, India, is a partner in Goodwin Procter’s Private Equity and Mergers and Acquisitions Group and head of its India Practice. His practice includes representing strategic and financial clients in cross border mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyout transactions, early and late stage venture capital and growth equity investments, PIPEs, joint ventures and other corporate transactions. He has extensive knowledge of the communications industry, including communications services, fiber builders and related construction services. He has represented clients in such diverse industries as media, financial services, consumer goods, manufacturing, energy, cleantech and technology, including software, internet services, video and internet game development, online advertising, electronic trading platforms and hardware.
Rana, a Registered Foreign Lawyer in Hong Kong, will relocate to Hong Kong to open the firm’s first international office as its Resident Partner. The Hong Kong office of Goodwin Procter is focused on representing the firm’s private equity and venture capital clients making investments in China and India and across Asia.
Rana has over 10 years of experience advising companies, sponsors and promoters in mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions. Rana has also represented major investment banks in offerings and as financial advisors to companies engaged in mergers and acquisitions.
Rana is admitted to practice in New York and is a Registered Foreign Lawyer in Hong Kong. He earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School and his B.A. from Knox College.
Brian McDaniel is a partner in the firm’s Business Law Department and a member of the Private Investment Funds Practice. McDaniel joined Goodwin Procter in 2007 and is a Registered Foreign Lawyer in Hong Kong. He specializes in all aspects of the formation and operation of domestic and international venture capital and other private equity funds with a particular focus on issues involving partnerships, limited liability companies, the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. He has extensive experience in international fund structures and represents many clients based in China, India and other Asian countries.
Among other Goodwin Procter clients, he has represented Axiom Asia Private Capital, DT Capital, Sequoia Capital, and Softbank China Venture Capital.
He is a frequent speaker at conferences on issues involving venture capital and other private equity funds, including the Annual Private Equity CFO Conference. While attending law school, he was the Executive Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology. Prior to joining Goodwin Procter in 2007, McDaniel was an associate in the fund services practice at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Before entering law school, he worked with NASA mission controllers at the Johnson Space Center. He is admitted to practice in California.
He earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.S. from Texas A&M University.
