New partners for O'Melveny & Myers LLP

O'Melveny & Myers LLP have appointed Patrick Norton and David G. Pierce as partners in the firm's Shanghai office.

Norton joined the O'Melveny & Myers' Shanghai office in June 1999, and focuses on public and private international law and international commercial transactions and arbitration. Prior to O'Melveny & Myers, Norton practiced law for more than 15 years with leading law firms in Washington DC and Atlanta, as well as serving for 10 years with the Legal Advisor's office of the US Department of State. During his time at the US State Department, Norton represented the US in numerous international negotiations, in litigation before the International Court of Justice, and in arbitrations before the Iran/US Claims Tribunal.

Pierce has experienced all facets of transactional law and will be focusing on investment funds, mergers and acquisitions, foreign direct investment and regional corporate transactions. Prior to joining O'Melveny & Myers, he was managing director and president of Richina Capital Partners, a China-focused private equity investment company, based in Shanghai. Before Richina Capital Partners, Pierce was with Glaxo Wellcome plc, the UK-based multinational pharmaceuticals group as legal counsel and later added to the role, line management. 

Commenting on the appointments, Pat Frobes, vice-chair of O'Melveny & Myers worldwide says: "We see a strong trend in China towards larger and more significant projects and cases. The legal business in china is joining the mainstream of the legal world."