Morning Briefing: International firm weighs local partnership in Shanghai

Linklaters is reportedly in talks with at least two local law firms in Shanghai as it considers a move to become the first Magic Circle firm to practice Chinese law. UK publication Legal Business reports that the London-based law firm has met with 10 local Chinese firms but the talks are most advanced with Shanghai Capital Law & Partners and Shanghai Kai-Rong Law Firm. Linklaters’ Asia-Pac managing partner Marc Harvey is leading the process which has been given the codename Project Trident.
 
Two hires for two birds
Bird & Bird in Beijing has boosted its corporate and aviation teams with two hires. John Shi, an internationally renowned M&A specialist joins from DLA Piper, bringing experience in aviation, energy, tech and comms. Meanwhile Shan Lai brings years of corporate experience working in Australia along with 7 years in Beijing. She specialises in representing foreign investors in China.
 
Norton Rose Fulbright hires Baker & McKenzie partner
Anna L. Gavros is to join Norton Rose Fulbright in Hong Kong as technology & innovation partner in Hong Kong. She joins from Baker & McKenzie where she has been a partner since 2012. Her appointment will enable the practice to grow its North Asia technology and innovation business, focusing on opportunities in Hong Kong and China.
 
‘Celebrity lawyer’ accused of fraud
A former law firm name-partner who appears on US cable channel CNN and has a reputation as a ‘celebrity lawyer’ is being accused of a multi-million dollar fraud. Paul Callan is alleged to have defrauded Callan, Koster, Brady & Nagler by not revealing a lucrative civil case that he took on before leaving the firm. In a lawsuit filed with the Manhattan Supreme Court the law firm alleges that he deliberately withheld details of the case and is claiming U$3 million. The lawsuit also names Martin Edelman and law firm Edelman & Edelman. The New York Law Journal reports that the defendants’ lawyer Clifford Robert of Robert & Robert responded to the lawsuit: "The complaint is not merely false and utterly baseless, it is a shameful attempt to smear the reputations of two of New York's most respected attorneys, Paul Callan and Martin Edelman."