Winston & Strawn has added to its Shanghai base with the hire of former DLA Piper partner Bertrand Theaud.

Theaud will focus on corporate law, in particular M&A and private equity.

Theaud has experience of domestic and cross-border deals for French and other foreign clients in a number of industries, with a particular focus on the retail and chemical sectors.

He has also assisted foreign investors on legal aspects of projects in China, including setting up and restructuring joint ventures, merging foreign-invested and Chinese domestic companies, establishing holding companies, implementing sales networks, and protecting intellectual property.

"We are excited to have Bertrand join Winston," said David Hall-Jones, the managing partner of the US firm's Asian offices. "He brings a range of experience in the M&A market that complements Winston's preeminent corporate practices."

Theaud said: "I'm very pleased to join Winston. The firm's expansive corporate platform is a natural fit for my own general corporate and M&A practice."

Winston's Shanghai launch was approved in October 2009 by China's Ministry of Justice, and the firm now has 14 offices throughout America, Asia and Europe.

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