Ling is a native Chinese speaker and U.S.-qualified. Her practice will focus on Chinese outbound deals in particular, and other corporate and M&A matters.

She was previously the Chief Legal Officer at the international and investment arm of a top energy company in China, where she focused on outbound investments in the energy and infrastructure industries. Prior to this, Ling worked in a Wall Street law firm.

Commenting on Ling’s arrival, managing partner of A&O's Beijing and Shanghai offices, Richard Kim, said: “We are delighted to have Ling join us. Significant opportunities remain in both the China outbound market and for our multinational clients doing business in China.

“Ling’s experience doing big-ticket outbound M&A in the power, energy and infrastructure sectors plays to A&O’s global sector strengths, and will be particularly useful in winning more China outbound mandates in 2015 and beyond.”

Beijing corporate partner, Victor Ho, added: “This expansion of A&O’s corporate practice in China through Ling’s arrival aims to offer the firm’s clients a greater depth of resources, more Chinese language capability and further integration into the Chinese business community.  

“The A&O corporate team is in a strong position to capitalise on China’s economic growth for the benefit of both our Chinese and international clients.”