Kirkland & Ellis Nabs Latham & Watkins Atty For LA Office
Kirkland & Ellis LLP on Monday said that it has bolstered its litigation practice group in its Los Angeles office with the addition of a former Latham & Watkins LLP attorney who has expertise in antitrust and trade regulation, white collar and securities law, class action, intellectual property and other complex cross-border matters.
Yi-Chin Ho, who represents Chinese companies based abroad and in the U.S. in complex litigation and government investigations, joined the firm as a partner on Monday.
Ho told Law360 on Tuesday that there are several reasons she believes Kirkland & Ellis is a strong firm and a good fit for her practice.
“Kirkland is one of the top litigation firms in the world and the firm offered me a unique opportunity to contribute to the growth of its China-focused litigation practice,” Ho said. “The firm has an incredible and thriving China practice with an existing strong team of talented bilingual and bicultural lawyers. I’m excited to build upon their success.”
She added that the firm’s commitment to empowering young lawyers through entrepreneurialism and collaboration provides her with a phenomenal platform for her practice and clients.
Ho has experience litigating commercial disputes at all stages, such as arbitrations, mediations, court and jury trials and appeals in state and federal courts nationwide, before California’s Supreme Court, the California Court of Appeal and the Ninth Circuit.
Using her expertise in cross-cultural negotiations, Ho leads complex litigation matters to settlement and dispute resolution on behalf of Chinese companies. In addition, she has assisted U.S. companies with foreign direct investment in greater China and also represents Chinese businesses and investors in their cross-border business expansion plans and investment in the U.S.
Ho also regularly serves as outside general counsel for Chinese companies in managing and coordinating global multijurisdictional litigation and corporate matters. She has collaborated with Chinese and Taiwanese government agencies and regulatory authorities in conducting U.S. antitrust training and compliance seminars in Mandarin Chinese for Chinese businesses and their in-house attorneys.
She told Law360 that she will continue to represent Chinese companies on complex cross-border litigation and investigations in a variety of areas, including antitrust, white collar and securities, among other areas, noting that she will continue to represent Chinese companies across various industries, including the automotive, technology, manufacturing, health care and real estate industries, among others.
“Yi-Chin is the total package — she has a strong understanding of Chinese businesses, U.S. law, cross-border investigations, compliance and dispute resolution, and the ability to communicate in fluent English, Mandarin and Taiwanese,” Mark Filip, a Kirkland litigation partner and member of the firm’s global management executive committee, said in a statement.
Ho earned her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
The firm said that Ho is the second litigator to join its Los Angeles office this year, noting that litigation partner Kimberly Branscome relocated to Los Angeles from Washington, D.C., in April.
“Yi-Chin is a dynamic and skilled lawyer with a strong reputation for representing Chinese companies on complex matters both in the United States and overseas,” Jeffrey C. Hammes, who chairs the firm’s global management executive committee, said in a statement. “She will be a great asset to the Los Angeles office and to our global litigation practice.”
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