While several foreign law firms have recently adjusted or scaled back their footprints in China due to a slowdown in transactional practices litigation powerhouse Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan is celebrating a decade in mainland China. The firm emphasizes that this milestone serves not as a ceremonial nod but as a mark of its dedication to fighting and winning for its clients. Following the launch of its Hong Kong office in 2013 the firm established its Shanghai representative office in 2016 and subsequently expanded its regional footprint by opening a Beijing representative office in 2022.
Xiao Liu(刘骁), Head of China Practice and Chief Representative of the Beijing office, noted that unlike full-service foreign law firms focused on non-contentious transactions Quinn Emanuel strictly adheres to a litigation-only model. Mr. Liu emphasized that the dynamic global rise of Chinese companies has generated an urgent need for world-class representation in their legal disputes. As Chinese companies have expanded across international markets cross-border disputes have become more common and more complex thereby driving the sustained business growth of the firm in China.
Over the past decade the strategic mindset of Chinese enterprises in handling offshore disputes has undergone a fundamental transformation. Dr. Haiyan Tang (唐海燕), Chief Representative and Managing Partner of the Shanghai office, pointed out that Chinese companies have proactively shifted their approach to global commercial competition. The core partner team including Yixuan Zhu (朱怡轩), John Rhie, and Samuel G. Williamson emphasized that Chinese clients require the best trial lawyers in the world who also understand Chinese business culture and sensitivities. Consequently the firm positions itself as the crucial bridge between those business realities and the international legal system.
Drawing on a decade of litigation and arbitration work from its offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong the firm recently released a comprehensive whitepaper identifying five critical shifts that are reshaping cross-border litigation for Chinese corporates. Mike Carlinsky and Bill Burck, Global Co-Managing Partners of Quinn Emanuel, affirmed that the firm will continue to leverage its regional teams and strategic insights to deepen its long-term commitment to the Chinese market.
