Robert Woll to Join WILMERHALE Beijing Office as Co-Partner in Charge

Robert Woll to Join WILMERHALE Beijing Office as Co-Partner in Charge

March 14, 2007

Office Expansion Brings Private Equity and Venture Capital
Expertise to China Practice


    WASHINGTON, March 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- WilmerHale
announces the expansion of its China practice with the
addition of Robert Woll as Co-Partner in Charge of its
Beijing office alongside Lester Ross.  Lauded by Chambers
Global 2007 for his "vast knowledge of the venture
capital business," Mr. Woll is "one of the
highest profile corporate lawyers in the region."  In
his relocation to Beijing from Hong Kong, "Bob will
build upon the widely respected capabilities of WilmerHale
in bringing sophisticated private equity, venture capital
and M&A expertise to our clients in a critical region
of the world," said William Perlstein, WilmerHale's
Co-Managing Partner.

    Mr. Woll has world-class expertise in mergers and
acquisitions, private equity transactions, joint ventures
and corporate governance issues.  He advises a wide range
of private equity, VC and real estate investment funds,
working extensively on the organization and marketing of
these funds to global investors and on their investment
activities in China and elsewhere in Asia.  He advises
private equity clients on the full life cycle of their
activities, from the formation and operation of private
investment funds and other investment vehicles to
downstream investments and exit strategies, often acting
for portfolio companies upon exit.  As a result of his
considerable skill, Mr. Woll is ranked by Chambers in the
"top tier" for private equity in China/Hong
Kong.

     "Bob's experience is vital to the needs of our
clients and the unique demands of the China market,"
said Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky, Senior International
Partner at the firm and the former US Trade Representative,
"His addition expands the firm's already considerable
China capabilities and unique combination of superlative
corporate, regulatory, public policy and government
relations expertise." Les Ross, Co-Partner in Charge
of the Beijing office, added, "With the important
addition of Bob Woll to our Beijing office, we will further
enhance our corporate and regulatory expertise.  We are
delighted that he has decided to join us."

    Prior to joining WilmerHale, Mr. Woll was former
managing partner of the Hong Kong office of Morrison &
Foerster. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Princeton
University and holds a JD degree from Stanford University,
where he was an editor of the Law Review.  Mr. Woll is a
member of the New York and California bars and is admitted
as a solicitor in Hong Kong.  He is fluent in Mandarin.

    WilmerHale's China practice offers a unique combination
of premier in-country corporate and regulatory expertise,
with prominent public policy and government affairs
capabilities.  The firm represents Fortune 100 and other
multinational companies, as well as VC and other investment
funds and their portfolio companies, across a broad range of
industries in all aspects of their business dealings in
China: devising and implementing sophisticated strategic
approaches at the intersection of law, regulation and
government policy; mergers and acquisitions, financings,
and real estate and other corporate transactions; advising
on a broad range of complex regulatory issues; negotiating
approvals for precedent-setting foreign investment
transactions; and assisting with the protection and
enforcement of intellectual property rights.  The team also
advises Chinese entities on their outbound commercial and
trade relations, particularly in obtaining regulatory
approvals, the structuring of transactions, and defending
against trade actions.

    About Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP 
 
    WilmerHale is nationally and internationally recognized
for its premier practices in antitrust and competition;
aviation; bankruptcy; civil and criminal trial and
appellate litigation (including white collar defense);
communications; corporate (including public offerings,
public company counseling, start-up companies, venture
capital, mergers and acquisitions, and licensing); defense
and national security; FDA; financial institutions;
intellectual property counseling and litigation;
international arbitration; life sciences; securities
regulation, enforcement and litigation; tax; and trade. 
With a staunch commitment to professionalism, excellence,
integrity and public service, the firm is also renowned as
a national leader in pro bono representation. The firm has
more than 1,100 lawyers and offices in Baltimore, Beijing,
Berlin, Boston, Brussels, London, New York, Palo Alto,
Waltham and Washington, DC. For more information, please
visit http://www.wilmerhale.com .


    For more information, please contact:

     Kristin Brown
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]