WSG 2014 Asia Pacific Regional Meeting Ends Successfully in Shanghai

On April 4, the World Services Group (“WSG”) 2014 Asia Pacific Regional Meeting ended successfully at Pudong Shangri-la Hotel in Shanghai. WSG is a global membership network whose members are among the top providers of professional business services such as legal services, accounting, investment and finance. Members are selected based on strict objective standards, including being among the leading local, national and international business in their service area, having the highest professional reputation within the professional community and having unparalleled depth of practical experience in their region. WSG has more than 130 member firms from 115 countries all over the world. As the only member from China, Dacheng co-hosted this year’s Asia Pacific Annual Meeting with WSG, with the Shanghai office acting as the meeting organizer. Since Dacheng joined WSG in 2009, in-depth cooperation has taken place between Dacheng and members from the UK, Australia and South Africa. The ability to work globally and efficiently is greatly appreciated by clients Dacheng has serviced.

On the night of April 3, to welcome guests from around the world, Dacheng Shanghai office arranged a tour along the Huangpu River on a dragon boat, where a generous buffet was served. The reception was hosted by Mr. Huang Zhengdong, Dacheng senior partner and member of the WSG Asia Pacific Regional Council. Mr. Zou Zhiqiang, head of the Shanghai office, delivered a welcoming speech to all delegates on behalf of Dacheng. Chairman Peng Xuefeng of Dacheng and representatives from the local office were present at the reception. Mr. Sergio Michelse Jaramillo, chairman of WSG, expressed gratitude for the office’s hospitality.

The meeting kicked off the next day at Pudong Shangri-la Hotel. Delegates were first greeted by Mr. Wang Xie, deputy chief of Justice Bureau of Shanghai, a local government regulator of the legal profession. He was followed by Mr. Peng Xuefeng. Peng extended heart-felt thanks to WSG for giving Dacheng the opportunity to host the event as well as colleagues and fellows who had supported the meeting. He said that Dacheng’s 40 branch offices in China would prove capable and excellent partners for WSG members seeking legal services in China. He believed that as China further opened itself up to the outside world, a lot more cooperative opportunities would emerge. He hoped that WSG members could deepen mutual understanding and cooperation by way of this meeting.

At the meeting, Ms. Jiang Ying, managing partner of tax services and business advisory department of Deloitte China, delivered a keynote speech titled “The Renaissance of Professional Firms in 2020 and Beyond”. Deloitte China is also a WSG member and Dacheng’s strategic partner. Senior partner Huang Zhengdong from Dacheng’s Shanghai office acted as moderator for a panel discussion focusing on offshore M&A in China; senior partner Wang Guangming and partner Dai Jianmin participated in panel discussions of “Succession Plan at Law Firms” and “Corporate Governance/Transparency in the Asia Pacific Region” respectively.