Covington & Burling has hired Bird & Bird partner Weishi Li as the firm prepares to open an office in Shanghai later this year.

Li, a native Mandarin speaker who specialises in life sciences and technology, was an intellectual property partner at Bird & Bird but will sit within Covington's corporate practice.

Her experience includes advising private equity and venture capital firms on investments in early-stage technology and biopharmaceutical companies in China. She previously worked with O'Melveny & Myers in Shanghai, focusing on licensing, strategic alliances and joint venture arrangements.