International law firm CMS has opened an office in Hong Kong. As such, we are responding to growing business volumes and meeting the need for client proximity and cross-border advice. This is the 61st international CMS office and second opened in 2016, after Tehran in February.
The firm has been advising on the growing Chinese investments in other countries for a number of years now. Many of the strongest Chinese companies with promising international strategies for future growth are located in Hong Kong and the neighbouring province of Guangdong.
Cornelius Brandi, Executive Chairman of CMS, comments, “We look for markets that offer the greatest business potential for us. Geographic expansion is often a part of our clients’ growth strategy. So, we move primarily into regions where we expect that there will be future opportunities for them.”
“We see huge opportunities for the future throughout the entire South-East Asia region. The obvious success of our offices in Shanghai and Beijing, along with the success of our legal services in the region over many years, makes opening an office in Hong Kong a natural development,” says Leonid Zubarev, Senior Partner and Head of Chinese Desk of CMS Russia. “Asia-Pacific region, including China and Hong Kong in particular, are a focal point for international investors.”
The Hong Kong office will initially focus on dispute resolution and mergers and acquisitions. Hong Kong has long since been one of the key global arbitration locations and attracts clients from all over the world who use Hong Kong as a dispute resolution hub. As a neutral, independent and reliable location with a stable legal system, Hong Kong, in particular, has become indispensable for handling disputes connected with China. Consolidating the firm’s expertise in Hong Kong is therefore a logical step for CMS as a leading law firm for international arbitration. The services offered by the Hong Kong office will be gradually extended. CMS intends to establish a Banking & Finance practice in the office in 2017, for example.
Nicolas Wiegand, who has been advising international client from Asia-Pacific region for many years, heads the Hong Kong office. Wiegand also frequently acts as an arbitrator in the region, in addition to representing clients. He is a member of numerous arbitration panels, including the panel of arbitrators at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (HKIAC), the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC).
Alongside Nicolas Wiegand, the local CMS team will include German, Chinese and Russian lawyers. The entire team is thoroughly acquainted with the conditions and structures in Hong Kong and Asia.
The new CMS office enjoys a prime location in the Central district of Hong Kong Island. CMS occupies the entire 27th floor of an office building on Queen's Road Central.
05/09/2016
International law firm CMS has opened an office in Hong Kong. As such, we are responding to growing business volumes and meeting the need for client proximity and cross-border advice. This is the 61st international CMS office and second opened in 2016, after Tehran in February.
The firm has been advising on the growing Chinese investments in other countries for a number of years now. Many of the strongest Chinese companies with promising international strategies for future growth are located in Hong Kong and the neighbouring province of Guangdong.
Cornelius Brandi, Executive Chairman of CMS, comments, “We look for markets that offer the greatest business potential for us. Geographic expansion is often a part of our clients’ growth strategy. So, we move primarily into regions where we expect that there will be future opportunities for them.”
“We see huge opportunities for the future throughout the entire South-East Asia region. The obvious success of our offices in Shanghai and Beijing, along with the success of our legal services in the region over many years, makes opening an office in Hong Kong a natural development,” says Leonid Zubarev, Senior Partner and Head of Chinese Desk of CMS Russia. “Asia-Pacific region, including China and Hong Kong in particular, are a focal point for international investors.”
The Hong Kong office will initially focus on dispute resolution and mergers and acquisitions. Hong Kong has long since been one of the key global arbitration locations and attracts clients from all over the world who use Hong Kong as a dispute resolution hub. As a neutral, independent and reliable location with a stable legal system, Hong Kong, in particular, has become indispensable for handling disputes connected with China. Consolidating the firm’s expertise in Hong Kong is therefore a logical step for CMS as a leading law firm for international arbitration. The services offered by the Hong Kong office will be gradually extended. CMS intends to establish a Banking & Finance practice in the office in 2017, for example.
Nicolas Wiegand, who has been advising international client from Asia-Pacific region for many years, heads the Hong Kong office. Wiegand also frequently acts as an arbitrator in the region, in addition to representing clients. He is a member of numerous arbitration panels, including the panel of arbitrators at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (HKIAC), the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC).
Alongside Nicolas Wiegand, the local CMS team will include German, Chinese and Russian lawyers. The entire team is thoroughly acquainted with the conditions and structures in Hong Kong and Asia.
The new CMS office enjoys a prime location in the Central district of Hong Kong Island. CMS occupies the entire 27th floor of an office building on Queen's Road Central.