Grandall Legal Group Receives Top Ratings at 2009 ALB China Law Awards

April 27, 2009 - China - On April 24th, 2009 at the Westin Bund Center, Shanghai, the 2009 ALB China Law Awards were held.  The occasion provided an opportunity to recognize China’s top dealmakers and top deals of 2008 (1st of January – December 31st 2008).  Surveying the entire legal market within Mainland China and with over 400 attendees, including leading members of China’s business and legal communities, the event was not to be missed.  The black tie five course dinner prompted the onset of the awards ceremony.  In particular, the work of Grandall Legal Group left a tremendous impression as the Firm was awarded the award for Insurance Law Firm of the Year under the Firm of the Year Categories.  The award was the product of extensive research completed by the ALB Team, which was judge by an independent panel prior to the ceremony.  The judges considered the size, complexity and breadth of innovation of the work done by Grandall Legal Group.  The accomplishments were deemed notable and the award for Insurance Law Firm of the Year was then presented.  In particular, the work of Dr. Zhan Hao, who leads the insurance practice at Grandall, was praised for his wide range of advice on corporate insurance matters.  Overall, Grandall’s insurance department was deemed to hold its strength in non-contentious corporate advice and in providing services to insurance industry clients.

That was not all though. The work of Grandall Legal Group also ranked as a finalist in a number of esteemed categories.  In regard to Grandall’s work for Guangdong Nuclear Power, both Grandall and Clifford Chance ranked as Finalists for Energy and Resource Deal of the Year.  The deal was viewed as one of the largest JV’s in China to date and one the highest valued contracts signed in the history of the French nuclear power industry.  Additionally, Grandall’s work for Guangdong Nuclear Power also reached finalist status in the category of Project Finance Deal of the Year.  Alongside Baker and McKenzie, Grandall ranked as a finalist under the category of Equity Market Deal of the Year for their work on the IPO for China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock IPO.  The IPO concerned an offering of approximately US $2 Billion in A and H share listings.  Of notable personal accomplishment, Wang Weidong of Grandall Legal Group’s Beijing Office was deemed as one of the finalists for China Deal Maker of the Year.

The notable accomplishments of the Shanghai office of Grandall Legal Group were also given attention as the Office was placed as a finalist for Shanghai Law Firm of the Year.  The office was admired for increasing its international profile, its diverse practice areas and for establishing a strategic alliance with leading Sichuan Firm, Sifangda.  Finally, Grandall Legal Group, as a whole, achieved finalist status in the category of China Law Firm of the Year, placing Grandall alongside notable Chinese firms such as King and Wood and Jun He.

Once again the annual ALB China Law Awards were a complete success, providing an opportunity for China’s hardest working professionals to be recognized and allowing, once again, for the extraordinary work of Grandall Legal Group to be highlighted.