(SHANGHAI) Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP today officially dedicated its new office in Shanghai, China. The office is Katten’s first in China and represents both American and European companies with business interests in China, as well as Chinese companies that are doing business in the United States.

“Katten is currently very active in the Chinese market, and this new office in Shanghai represents a big step in the growth of our firm internationally,” said Vincent A. F. Sergi, national managing partner at Katten. “We hope that this will serve as a catalyst for further expansion of our China practice and allow us to broaden our connections in the Asian market.”

Katten marked the dedication of its Shanghai office with events in Shanghai and Beijing attended by former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, who is Of Counsel to the firm. Also in attendance were Sergi and Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng’s Representative Mr. Li Mingjun, as well as local government and business leaders.

Katten’s attorneys in Shanghai are bilingual and have the background and expertise to handle multicultural and multijurisdictional legal issues in the United States, Europe and China. Katten attorneys not only serve as legal counsel, they also advise clients on business decisions such as identifying and evaluating potential partners and transactions in China.

The broad range of legal services Katten offers includes foreign direct investment in China; outbound investment by Chinese investors; cross-border mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors in China; private equity, venture capital and capital markets; customs and international trade; intellectual property, technology transfer, and cross-border licensing and franchising; and litigation and arbitration.

“I will always remain passionate and committed to promoting stronger business and cultural ties with China. I believe that it is essential for American businesses to recognize the growing prominence of China in the world economy and the wide-ranging opportunities here,” said Daley. “Katten understands this period. The firm’s entrepreneurial spirit has been an important component of its continued growth and success.”

Daley, who served as Chicago’s mayor for 22 years, has long been a strong advocate for fostering connections between China and the United States and has traveled extensively throughout China promoting the importance of cultural and economic partnerships. He hosted many government, business and civic leaders during his time in office including Chinese President Hu Jintao in January of 2011. Daley currently serves as co-chair of President Barack Obama’s 100,000 Strong Initiative, which aims to increase dramatically the number and diversity of American students studying in China as a means to enhance people-to-people ties between China and the United States.

While in China for the Katten Shanghai office dedication, Daley spoke at the 2012 Boao Forum in Haikou and received the honorary position of Special Advisor to the Municipality of Wuhan in the Hubei Province during a special ceremony in Wuhan.

“Having an office in Shanghai provides a physical presence that allows Katten to further enhance the services the firm is able to provide our clients here,” said Feng Xue, chair of Katten’s Asia-China Practice and managing partner of the Shanghai office.

Xue has worked with major international law firms in the United States and China and specializes in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, securities regulation, general corporate transactions and in representing Chinese companies in their acquisition and expansion efforts overseas. He sits on the boards of directors of several Chinese companies and serves as general counsel to dozens of private equity funds and technology companies doing business in China.

Katten’s new office is located at 1717 Nanjing Road West in Shanghai’s JingAn District.