Eversheds has turned to Norton Rose for the new head of its Paris-based China practice.

Norton Rose Beijing corporate partner Virginie Deslandres joined Eversheds' Paris office this month, and will act as the cross-border coordinator of the firm's China practice in Europe, working across a number of the firm's Asian and European offices.

A French national with more than 25 years experience in China, Deslandres specialises in advising French and European companies across Asia, with particular experience advising on market entry strategy, cross-border M&A, joint ventures and corporate restructuring.

She is a former vice-president of the French Chamber of Commerce in China, having also founded the European Chamber in Beijing.

Eversheds European managing partner Michael Brown commented: "For a number of years a growing part of the Paris office's activity has involved Asian and China matters.

"Virginie is one of Europe's best-known lawyers for matters concerning European and French investment in China. She has extensive knowledge and expertise of the Chinese world and assisting clients in increasingly complex multi-jurisdictional matters involving China."

The hire comes after a number of recent departures from Norton Rose's Paris office, including a four-lawyer team led by French corporate head Herve Castelnau who joined Jones Day in September.

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