DLA Piper has advised SMG Group on an agreement to manage one of the world's largest convention and exhibition centers, the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center.

SMG is a worldwide entertainment, convention and venue management company based in Pennsylvania, US. SMG has extensive experience managing public facilities around the world, such as convention and exhibition centers, stadiums, performing arts theaters, recreational and equestrian centers and more. In its first footprint in China since consulting during the Beijing Olympics, SMG has secured the management contract for the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, the first phase of which is slated to open in 2019.

The cooperation will see SMG operating and managing a world class exhibition and convention center. The project is invested by China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone Holdings Company Limited and Overseas Chinese Town, and is strongly supported by the Shenzhen Government. The construction of the exhibition and convention center started in September 2016. Once completed, it will provide 4.3 million square feet of exhibition space and another 500,000 square feet of flexible meeting space in phase one. Phase two will call for an additional one million square feet of exhibition space and three new hotels, industrial marts and other key developments in the convention center district, adding another landmark to the booming city of Shenzhen, neighboring Hong Kong and Macau.

The DLA Piper team was led by Corporate partner Gloria Liu, and included associate Jean Jiang and legal assistant Yuxiang Zhang.