Seyfarth Shaw is to formally open an office in Shanghai in the summer, marking its debut into Asia.

The US firm has appointed former DLA Piper corporate partner Wan Li as managing partner of the new office – it's second outside of the US alongside London.

Focusing on corporate, employment and energy and resources work, the new base will be located in Jing An Kerry Centre Tower II, Shanghai's Jing An business district.

"Opening our Shanghai office is part of aligning our international services with the needs of our clients," said J. Stephen Poor, Seyfarth's chairman and managing partner.

"In speaking with our clients during the last 12 months, there has been overwhelming feedback for us to open an office in Shanghai to support our clients in some of our core practice areas. We are delighted to open the Shanghai office to help us better serve our clients in China."

Wan has 20 years of experience working on corporate transactions relating to Greater China, with a focus on the infrastructure, natural resources and energy sectors.

He joined DLA in 2010 from Australian firm Minter Ellison, where he was also head of the Shanghai office.

Chair of Seyfarth's international practice Darren Gardner, who is leading the firm's global expansion, said Wan was a strategic hire for the firm given his experience in the market. He added that the firm also planned to grow the team.

"We are very pleased to welcome Wan Li to the firm. He is an experienced and highly-respected member of the Chinese legal community who we have known and worked closely with for mutual clients over a long period of time. 

"We are very much looking forward to building out our team around him, especially in the employment and corporate practice areas."

In addition to its base in London, Seyfarth Shaw currently has 10 offices in the US located in Atlanta, Boston and Chicago; Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Sacramento, San Francisco and Washington DC.

It launched its London office in 2011 with the appointment of Norton Rose global employment head Peter Talibart, hired to develop the firm's employment practice in Europe and the Middle East.