Yi Zhang becomes first Chinese partner at law firm O'Melveny & Myers

Yi Zhang, a highly regarded lawyer and China specialist, whose practice focuses on international infrastructure, cross border investments and financing transactions, was recently promoted to partner on the back outstanding performance with projects relating to China.

"Yi Zhang's deep knowledge and experience with innovative and pioneering transactions in China offer a clear advantage to our clients," comments Howard Chao, partner and head of O'Melveney & Myers' Asia Practice. "The move also reinforces our position as the top international law firm in China."

Yi Zhang recently represented British Petroleum in connection with its bidding preparations for the West-East pipeline project and a Morgan Stanley-led consortium in connection with its groundbreaking non-performing loans (NPL) transaction with the China Huarong Asset Management Company.

Yi Zhang has a colourful CV. Born in Wuhan, China, he spent part of his undergraduate degree at Thames Valley University in London and two years at Demontfort University in Leicester. He received a BA in English from Shanghai International Studies University in 1982 and an MA in Political Science from the University of Virginia in 1986.

In 1985-1986 he worked for Congresswoman Pat Shroeder and Senator Max Baucus as Congressional Fellow. Prior to going to law school in 1990, he was assistant director of the Institute of American Studies at China's leading think tank, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He has been at O'Melveny's since 1999.