As anyone who has read our column knows, Kinney Recruiting has been heavily involved in the Asia legal markets for almost 15 years.
In that time, we have seen a lot of cycles. Currently, we believe we are approaching the nadir of our current cycle in the US (though not as quickly as we would like). Just as was the case in 2009, it appears that the legal hiring is picking up in Asia more quickly than it is in the West. Just today, the Chinese government rang the starting bell for a new bull market in stocks. Already, over the past couple of months, we have begun to see intensified hiring in Hong Kong due to Hong Kong capital markets needs. Now, certain clients of ours are starting to clamor for private equity M&A attorneys.
We currently have openings (serious ones) for PE M&A attorneys at the 4 to 7 year level for the first time in a while. Mandarin fluency is required and preference will be given to US JDs. For non-Mandarin native private equity M&A attorneys, Singapore is an option, though Commonwealth attorneys (UK LLBs) are preferred. We have also seen a need for US capital markets associates at all levels. While the junior positions are often overrun with CVs due to the avalanche of H1B lottery refugees who need to leave the United States this summer, we can make sure the decision-makers give your resume a look. US law firms in China have historically taken on much of the on-the-ground FCPA / white-collar internal investigations work for multi-national companies doing business in China and it is unsurprising that there are real needs for Mandarin-native US-licensed white-collar litigation attorneys in Shanghai and Beijing.
We are involved in filling all of these positions, so please do get in touch with us if you hope to be considered.