Linklaters hires a partner each in Spain and China, bolsters its global dispute resolution offering

Linklaters hires a partner each in Spain and China, bolsters its global dispute resolution offering

Magic circle firm adds Alex Ferreres and Ellen Zhang as partners in Madrid and Beijing respectively from local rivals at a time when dispute resolution activity has gathered pace globally

Linklaters, a member of the Magic Circle of elite London headquartered law firms, has strengthened its dispute resolution offering internationally by hiring a partner each for its Spanish office and its Chinese partner firm Zhao Sheng Law Firm.

While Alex Ferreres moves to Linklaters in Madrid from Uría Menéndez, Ellen Zhang has joined Zhao Sheng Law Firm in Beijing from Fangda Partners.

Ferreres is an experienced hand in national and international commercial litigation and specialises in class actions.

Ranked Band 1 by the legal directory Chambers and Partners for dispute resolution, Ferreres practice focuses on contractual liability and tort. He has taken part in the defence of car makers, and tobacco and pharmaceutical companies in some of the most important product liability cases in Spain. He had been with Uría Menéndez as a partner since 2006.

Borja Fernández de Trocóniz, head of Linklaters' dispute resolution team in Spain termed Ferreres' arrival as a key reinforcement for the firm's practice at a time of great activity.

"His experience and international profile fit with our practice and with his incorporation we add a recognised specialist in class actions," Borja said.

With Ferreres joining Linklaters, its count of partners in the Madrid office has gone up to 21 partners. Linklarters' Madrid office houses over 130 lawyers. The firm's Madrid team covers most aspects of business law with core capabilities in corporate law, finance law and dispute resolution.

Of the 21 partners, Ferreres is the firm's fifth new partner in Madrid since 2022 following the return of M&A specialist Sebastián Albella from Latham & Watkins and the promotion of corporate, real estate and capital markets specialists Esteban Arza, Gabriel Cabello and Pablo Medina.

"We remain committed to our internal talent, but when the opportunity arises to recruit the best lawyers in the market and incorporate them into our teams, we will do so," José Giménez, managing partner of Linklaters in Spain, said and added that in such a demanding and competitive market, additions such as Alex Ferreres confirm the good momentum of the firm's practice. Linklaters has a significant presence in Spain.

Ellen Zhang, a dual qualified lawyer in the People's Republic of China and New York, has moved to Zhao Sheng in Beijing from a role as a counsel at Fangda Partners. Previously, she worked at Kobre & Kim in New York.

Zhang brings with her experience advising Chinese and international corporations on complex commercial and financial disputes, cross-border investigations and regulatory compliance.

Jelita Pandjaitan, Linklaters' Asia head of dispute resolution, hailed Zhang as a fantastic addition to their team and said that with her arrival, Linklaters can now expand its coverage of the important China market.

"She is well-placed to guide clients in litigation, arbitration and investigations of all kinds in support of their strategic objectives," Pandjaitan added.

Dirk Meeus and David Broadley, co-heads of Allen & Overy's global corporate practice, said Cao has brought with her a wealth of experience advising multinational and Chinese companies on all types of competition law matters in China, including merger control, FDI reviews, regulatory compliance and investigation.

"Her arrival reflects our commitment to build a seamless global antitrust and regulatory capability in the regulatory capitals of US, Europe and China," they added.

Zhang's arrival at Zhao Sheng has coincided with the reported departure of Vivian Cao, Zhao Sheng's antitrust partner to Shanghai Lang Yue Law Firm, the China ally of Allen & Overy. She had joined the firm in 2019 from Fangda Partners.