Baker & McKenzie and FenXun Partners celebrated the one-year anniversary of their Joint Operation in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) on 20 May. Government representatives, members and friends of the firms, as well as client representatives joined the celebratory symposium in Shanghai. The Firm's Global Chairman Eduardo Leite was also present. 

Welcoming the guests, Danian Zhang, Baker & McKenzie's Chief Representative in Shanghai, said, "Today marks an important milestone for both Baker & McKenzie and FenXun Partners, as we come together to celebrate the success we have had in the past 12 months. As the first firms to operate under the Joint Operation model, our clients have benefited from our collaborative service offerings to meet their dedicated Chinese and international legal and business needs. Our own lawyers have also benefited from the sharing of knowledge and best practices between the two firms, which had made them better lawyers. As we reflect on our successes, I'd like to thank the Ministry of Justice, Shanghai Bureau of Justice and the Pudong New Area Bureau of Justice for their vote of confidence, our clients for their continued patronage and our lawyers for their commitment to excellence in serving our clients' needs."

Wang Xie, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Bureau of Justice, said, "On behalf of the Shanghai Bureau of Justice, I congratulate Baker & McKenzie FenXun (FTZ) Joint Operation Office.  The Joint Operation between Chinese and foreign law firms in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone is groundbreaking. Its provision of 'one-stop-shop' advisory service offers the advantage of globalized economic development and should be strengthened and developed further. The Baker & McKenzie FenXun (FTZ) Joint Operation Office, as the first joint operation in China and in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, should serve as a model and continue exploring. I wish Baker & McKenzie and FenXun Partners success in their cooperation."

Speaking from Shanghai, Eduardo Leite, Chairman of Baker & McKenzie said, "We are proud to have been a part of China's growth story for the last four decades, and we look forward to continue bringing our global capabilities to assist both Chinese and multinational clients as they adapt and grow in these times of change."