King & Wood Mallesons has hired Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman's former China head, Thomas Shoesmith, as a corporate partner based in Silicon Valley.

Shoesmith specialises in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate finance and commercial transactions involving technology companies, manufacturers, distributors and financial institutions. He also advises on matters related to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

In 2016, Shoesmith advised Beijing-based private equity fund Beijing E-Town Dragon Semiconductor Industry Investment Center on a $300 million acquisition of U.S.-based semiconductor equipment maker Mattson Technology Inc.

Shoesmith leaves Pillsbury after 11 years with the firm, during which he expanded the Shanghai office, where he was based, and opened the Beijing office in 2014. The Shanghai office has three lawyers, led by intellectual property partner Jack Ko. In the Chinese capital, Pillsbury has five lawyers, including corporate partners David Livdahl, who heads the office, and Jenny Sheng; both Livdahl and Sheng also spend time in Shanghai.

Previously, Shoesmith was a partner and Shanghai office head at Thelen until 2008, months before the firm dissolved. Before that, he was a partner at Paul Hastings from 2001 to 2005, during which he opened the Shanghai office for the U.S. firm in 2003; a partner and international practice head at Cooley; and a partner at Baker McKenzie, where he launched the global firm's international practice in Southern California.

King & Wood Mallesons has two other partners in the Silicon Valley office: corporate lawyer Yuji Sun and IP specialist Alex Zhang. In addition, Beijing-based corporate partner Yvonne Cheng and disputes partner Ge Yan also spend time in Silicon Valley.

|

Related Stories:

King & Wood Mallesons Adds US Litigation Partner as Iran Sanctions Restored