Kai Wang on the Evolving Role of Law Firms in China Deal Making

Kai Wang, Chair of Carlsmith's Greater China Practice Group in our Honolulu office, coauthored an article on the evolving role of law firms in China deal making that was published on Jan. 25, 2018 in Law 360. Wang examines the emergence of "Red Circle" firms, or elite Chinese law firms, and their ability to compete for lead counsel roles on multinational corporation ventures. She also identifies the need for business lawyers to recruit, hire and retain attorneys with a high level of empathy to successfully navigate cultural differences and establish genuine partnerships with their Chinese clients. 

"The 'empathic lawyer' might have been an oxymoron years ago, but it is now the gold standard in elite legal practices," Wang stated. "The best deal lawyers in China have an insider's perspective on local history, judicial systems, regulatory structure, national policy goals, consumer preferences, and a deep understanding of the relationship dynamics between or among the various parties and the internal corporate culture of a given client."

Read the full article at Law360.com or download the PDF.