Formerly the managing partner of Perkins Coie’s Hong Kong office, Mr. McKenzie joins Morrison & Foerster’s China Practice as part of the firm’s ongoing growth in greater China.

---

Hong Kong, April 18, 2005 – Morrison & Foerster is pleased to announce that Paul McKenzie has joined as a lateral partner in the firm’s China Practice.  Mr. McKenzie was previously managing partner of Perkins Coie’s Hong Kong office and a member of that firm’s China practice where he advised multinational clients in relation to mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, technology licensing, resource development and other transactions involving the People’s Republic of China.  Mr. McKenzie speaks Mandarin and has more than 12 years’ China practice experience.  He will initially be based in Morrison & Foerster’s Hong Kong office, and later in the summer will be relocating back to Beijing where he previously resided between 1993 and 1997.  Also joining Morrison & Foerster from Perkins Coie’s China practice is associate Wesley Chiu.  Mr. McKenzie and Mr. Chiu join a group of 35 lawyers and other professionals in the firm’s Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong offices.

"We are delighted to have Paul join the firm," noted Steven Toronto, managing partner of the firm’s Beijing office. "Paul brings with him a wealth of experience in China and his expertise in relation to M&A, restructuring and PRC regulatory matters complements the existing transactional practice of the firm’s Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing offices and permits the firm to continue to expand its representation of US and other multinational companies doing business in China."

Paul McKenzie said, "I’m honored to become part of Morrison & Foerster’s dynamic China team.  The talent to be found in the firm’s offices in China, as well as in Tokyo, Singapore, the US, and Europe, will enhance my ability to support clients operating in China’s increasingly complex legal and business environment.  I also look forward to assisting the firm to continue to grow its transactional practice in the PRC." 

Keith Wetmore, Chair of Morrison & Foerster, added, "Paul has more than a decade of experience in corporate transactions and regulatory compliance in the People’s Republic of China.  He provides strategic and legal advice for Asian, Chinese and US Fortune 500 companies."  Mr. Wetmore continued, "His Chinese language skills and thorough understanding of the PRC’s business environment complements the capabilities of our team of 35 bilingual and internationally trained lawyers in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong."

Mr. McKenzie received his LL.B from the University of Toronto in 1989. He is admitted to practice in Hong Kong (1998) and British Columbia, Canada (1990).