SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International law firm Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that Joseph Chan has joined its Shanghai office as a partner, effective November 1, 2010.

Mr. Chan’s practice encompasses the full life cycle of private equity funds, from offshore and RMB fund formation and portfolio investments to M&A and capital markets. Prior to joining Sidley, a team under his leadership garnered the coveted “Corporate Counsel of the Year” and “Investor Counsel of the Year” awards from Top Capital in 2009 and 2010. He has represented strategic buyers, funds, portfolio companies and investment banks in a variety of financings and acquisitions.

“I am delighted to join Sidley, a firm with a mature and market-leading platform in Greater China. Sidley offers a compelling strategic fit to my practice and the clients I serve,” Mr. Chan said. He is also recognized by Chambers and IFLR as one of the leading corporate lawyers in Asia.

“Sidley already has well-recognized practices in investment funds, Hong Kong IPOs and debt capital markets, and the addition of Joseph to our team will considerably strengthen those practices in Greater China, especially our Shanghai office,” said Thomas W. Albrecht, Managing Partner for Sidley’s Asia Pacific offices. “Our clients are expanding their presence and investment in China. We anticipate that our funds clients will remain active in fund formation, acquisitions and exit strategies in the years to come. Joseph’s addition enhances our ability to serve those clients.”

Sidley has one of the largest fund formation practices of any international law firm and is a market leader with a large team of fund formation lawyers working seamlessly in Asia Pacific, the United States and Europe.

Effie Vasilopoulos, partner and head of Sidley’s Investment Funds Practice in Asia, said, “We foresee enormous growth in the demand for services relating to the China market as new regulations and policy developments continue to shape opportunities for both foreign and domestic fund clients. We are delighted to have such an experienced and prominent partner join our ranks in China.”

Mr. Chan received his J.D. from George Washington University Law School, his B.S. Econ. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chan is fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese Chinese.

In Asia Pacific, Sidley has been awarded numerous honors, including being named “Most Innovative U.S. Law Firm 2010” by IFLR and being recognized as one of the top investment funds practices in the region by Chambers and Asia Pacific Legal 500. A long-established team of over 20 legal professionals is dedicated to investment funds, collaborating with each other from offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.

Sidley Austin LLP is one of the world’s largest full-service law firms, with approximately 1600 lawyers practicing in 17 U.S. and international cities, including Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. Sidley is recognized for service and responsiveness. Sidley received the most first-tier national rankings of any U.S. law firm in the inaugural U.S.News–Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings for 2010. BTI, a Boston-based research and consulting firm, has named Sidley as one of only two firms to have been in the top ten of the BTI Client Service rankings every year since the inception of those rankings in 2001, and as number one in three of those years.

For purposes of the New York State Bar rules, this press release may be considered Attorney Advertising and the headquarters of the firm are Sidley Austin LLP 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, 212.839.5300 and Sidley Austin LLP One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.853.7000. Prior results described herein do not guarantee a similar outcome.