BEIJING – September 17, 2012 – Morrison & Foerster is pleased to announce that Thomas Yunlong Man has joined the firm's Beijing office as a partner.
Mr. Man brings a broad range of experience that includes extensive advisory work on both inbound and outbound transactions for U.S. and PRC clients. His addition—together with corporate partner Melody He-Chen's arrival and the promotion of Gregory Wang to partner earlier this year—enhances the firm's support for international and Chinese clients in executing their most complex transactions.
Mr. Man regularly counsels Chinese and international clients on corporate matters that include mergers & acquisitions, private equity, corporate strategy, anti-monopoly law, and investigations, particularly concerning potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and related issues.
"Lawyers with PRC backgrounds and U.S. practice experience are highly valued in China and still something of a rarity," said Paul D. McKenzie, Managing Partner of Morrison & Foerster's Beijing office. "Thomas is bilingual and bicultural, and works with equal ease with Chinese, U.S. and European clients. Importantly, he has handled large transactions across China's business landscape, including many involving government ownership. He will be a tremendous asset to our clients."
"I am delighted to join Morrison & Foerster," said Mr. Man, "MoFo's China practice is well-established, sophisticated, and highly accomplished in many areas relevant to my work, particularly cross-border M&A and antitrust matters. I can't think of a better place to advance my practice."
Mr. Man's notable engagements include representation of:
- a leading semiconductor manufacturer in its acquisition of a state-owned enterprise and establishment of its first wafer production facility in Chengdu, China (awarded Deal of the Year in the M&A category by China Business Law Journal);
- a major Chinese national chemical company in its bid for Rationpharm GmbH and Mepha in an auction sale;
- a major Chinese national petroleum company in its long-term natural gas purchase and transportation transaction with Russian energy giant Gazprom;
- a top U.S. chemical company in its $120 million acquisition of a privately held Chinese company;
- a consortium of Chinese companies in a real estate development project in St. Petersburg, Russia (initial investment totaling $1.25 billion);
- a Chinese state-owned oil company in its proposed acquisition of an oil exploration technology company headquartered in Europe with operations in more than 20 jurisdictions;
- a privately-held Chinese company in its acquisition of a London-listed Dutch company with metal mining assets in Kazakhstan.
Mr. Man was previously a partner in the Beijing office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.
Mr. Man received his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington. He also holds a Masters in Western History from Peking University and a Ph.D. in U.S. constitutional history from Johns Hopkins University. He received a Bachelor's degree in History from Shandong Normal University.
Mr. Man joins the approximately 70 legal professionals in Morrison & Foerster's three China offices. Morrison & Foerster was among the first U.S. law firms to establish an office or become locally qualified to practice in each of China's major business centers, Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Having handled major matters in greater China for nearly 30 years, the firm is ranked by Chambers Asia for private equity, venture capital, and mergers and acquisitions in China, and by Legal 500 Asia-Pacific for multiple practices in China and Hong Kong, including Technology and Telecoms and Capital Markets. Global Finance magazine selected Morrison & Foerster as the "Best Legal Adviser in Asia" for the second consecutive year in a row, and Asialaw Leading Lawyers recognizes our partners as leading lawyers in China in the areas of Mergers & Acquisitions, Venture Capital & Private Equity, Corporate Finance, and Telecommunications.