Weil Gotshal & Manges is to open its first branch in mainland China after securing a licence from the Ministry of Justice to launch a practice in Shanghai. The New York firm was granted the licence on 7 July and has hired former Clifford Chance (CC) corporate partner Steven Xiang to head up its Shanghai operation. Xiang has been a partner in CC’s Shanghai office since 2002.

First reported on legalweek.com (16 July).