Head of Sonnenschein's Asia Pacific Practice Relocates to Silicon Valley
June 11, 2007
Move underscores law firm’s commitment to growing business in Asia as part of new strategic plan; technology industry to play important role in expansion
(Menlo Park, Calif., June 11, 2007)—Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP announced today that Yabo Lin, chair of its rapidly expanding Asia Pacific practice, is relocating to the law firm’s recently opened Silicon Valley office in Menlo Park, Calif. The move is spurred by the increased volume of cross-border legal work related to Asia that the firm is handling for clients in the technology, securities, manufacturing and other industries. Lin has been based in Sonnenschein’s Kansas City, Mo., office since joining the firm in 2005.
“The Asian market is increasingly important to our clients across industries, but especially those in the technology sector -- whether members of the venture capital community that are investing ever more heavily in China-based companies or technology and other corporations that are moving operations to Asia or buying companies in the region,” stated Lin. “The decision to move to Silicon Valley is driven by a desire for our Asia Pacific practice to better serve the legal needs of our clients located there and nationally.”
“Having strong capabilities in China and throughout Asia is critical to achieving the firm’s strategic objectives,” noted Elliott Portnoy, Sonnenschein chairman. “Yabo’s relocation to our new Silicon Valley office will accelerate the development of the Asia Pacific practice and help position us to become one of the leading law firms doing business in the region.”
Lin has counseled clients on domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, securities matters, venture capital and licensing transactions exceeding $5 billion in value. Born and raised in China, he was a licensed attorney in China before coming to the United States. Among his numerous China-related projects, he assists U.S. companies in the venture capital, investment banking, high tech and manufacturing business sectors, providing counsel in matters involving their acquisitions, funding, licensing, joint ventures, operations, intellectual property issues and cross-border disputes in China.
Lin serves on the six-member board of the American Bar Association’s Asia Rule of Law Initiative Council. In 2006, he received the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s Trailblazer Award, the highest honor given by the organization, for “making substantial and lasting contributions to the Asian-Pacific American community.” Lin also is an adjunct professor at Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangdong, China, and an advisor to the government of Guangdong Province.
Sonnenschein’s Asia Pacific practice currently numbers 20 attorneys, many of whom have lived and practiced law in Asian countries. They regularly counsel Asian, European and U.S. clients in a wide range of both inbound and outbound business dealings in China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, India and other parts of the Asia Pacific region.
At Sonnenschein, we are committed to providing the highest-quality legal and counseling services for all of our clients, all of the time. They include many of the world’s most admired businesses , nonprofits and individuals. Through integrated, inter-office teamwork, we help them to prosper and grow. For more information, visit www.sonnenschein.com.
Media Contact:
Linda Butler
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
(312) 876-3453
LButler@sonnenschein.com
