Libin Zhang Joins Baker Botts as Partner; Provides Depth, Experience in Corporate and Investment Transactions Involving China

Libin Zhang Joins Baker Botts as Partner; Provides Depth, Experience in Corporate and Investment Transactions Involving China

October 11, 2006

    HONG KONG, Oct. 11 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Chinese
lawyer Libin Zhang has joined Baker Botts as a partner in
its expanding China presence. Prior to joining Baker Botts,
Zhang was legal counsel at ABB (China) Limited.  

    Zhang is a New York-qualified lawyer with nearly 15
years of experience working on cross-border transactions
involving both foreign in-bound investors to China and
Chinese companies investing abroad. Zhang worked for many
years with Baker Botts partner John Kuzmik at White &
Case. 

    "With Baker Botts' global commitment to our
clients, building our China practice team is an essential
objective," said Walt Smith, Managing Partner of Baker
Botts. "Zhang's depth of experience advising on U.S.
and PRC-related transactions will help us maintain the
Baker Botts tradition of providing the highest standard of
service to our clients as we continue to develop the Firm's
practice in Asia." 

    Zhang's ability to work across cultures and
jurisdictions has led to his success in working with both
Western and Chinese clients on significant mergers and
acquisitions, direct investment and large-scale
infrastructure projects.   

    "We could not be more pleased to bring Zhang on
board with our growing China practice," said David
Powers, Partner in Charge of Baker Botts' Hong Kong office,
which opened in 2005 to serve as a regional base for the
firm's Asian operations. "His direct experience with
foreign and Chinese multi-nationals, and in particular his
involvement in the power industry, fits precisely with our
plans in Asia."

    Baker Botts partner John Kuzmik, head of the firm's
China practice, said: "On both a personal and
professional level it will be good to work with Zhang
again. He brings a steady hand to our growing China-focused
resources, a quality which will be increasingly important as
both China's economy and legal system mature."  

    Zhang joins Baker Botts with a strong sense of
identification with the Firm's roots. He is a graduate of
the University of Texas Law School, where he received his
Juris Doctor degree in 1997.  

    "Having graduated from the University of Texas, I
learned to think of Baker Botts as not only the preeminent
global oil and gas firm but as a national U.S.
powerhouse," Zhang said.  "Now that Baker Botts
has lawyers with extensive local experience in China, it
provides an unrivalled practice platform for cross-border
transactions involving China."

    About Baker Botts L.L.P.

    Baker Botts L.L.P., founded in 1840, is a leading
international law firm with offices in Austin, Dallas,
Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Moscow, New York, Riyadh
and Washington. With approximately 700 lawyers, Baker Botts
provides a full range of legal services to regional,
national and international clients.  For more information,
please visit http://www.bakerbotts.com .

    About Baker Botts in Asia and China

    Baker Botts has represented clients involved in major
energy projects in Asia over the course of three decades.
In 2005, the firm enhanced our practice in the region by
establishing an office in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is the
firm's first office in Asia, and it serves as a regional
hub, supporting our work throughout the region. Baker
Botts' China team has extensive specialist experience
addressing the issues which arise in transactions involving
China.  Baker Botts also expects to open an office in
mainland China in the near future. 

    For more information, please contact:

     Michael A. Cinelli
     Public Relations Manager - Firmwide
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail] 

     London, Katie Harrington
     International Client Relations Manager
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail] 

SOURCE  Baker Botts L.L.P.