From new business to new additions, Aliant offices across the globe are certainly busy! Check out recent news from some of our offices:
Austria
The Austrian office welcomes Lorelei Adele Helml, born on 23 February 2023. Congratulations to Julia and Friedrich Helml!
China
Greetings from the Far East. As we are coming out of lockdowns, elimination of travel restrictions, and resurgence of nightlife, we are pleased to announce Aliant China is expanding. We have added 3 new associates: Jasmine Liu and Chauncey Shao, Sabrina Zhao whom will focus on our growing corporate practice and work with myself and John Tan, our IP partner. We have renewed our lease in Pudong, Shanghai for another 5 years, which is a testament of our commitment to the practice and the community in which we serve. With this renewal, we are the longest surviving office tenant in the Ramada Tower, having seen a lot of companies come and go through Covid times. This year, we will be attending INTA in Singapore with our team of IP legal beagles for those who are trademark oriented and Peter Pang will be chalking up the miles with stops planned for Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Vienna, Madrid, San Diego, LA, Austin, Sydney, Dubai, Amsterdam , Krakow, Helsinki and a few other places. Latest client success: we are now in the electric Bike business, having garnered all legal representation of a Chula Vista, CA electric bicycle company with commercial issues in China. No divorces, no new babies or significant others we are aware of.
France
Last month, Thomas Vidal and Linda Keklik, Contracts associate lawyer, took oath at the Paris Court of Appeal. Holder of a Second Year of Master’s Degree in International and Comparative Business Law (Hô-Chi-Minh City) from Toulouse Capitole University, Thomas Vidal worked at Corteva Agriscience. Linda Keklik holds a Master 2 in European Law from Picardie Jules Verne University.
We are also happy to have Romain Picard joining us as corporate M&A partner. Romain was formerly an associate at Dentons in Paris. He is professionally qualified in Paris and New York state (USA). He assists clients in various fields (pharmaceutical and health industries, aeronautics, media and new technologies) in their strategic external growth transactions as well as their internal corporate restructuring. Romain is also specialized in foreign investment control in France and regularly advises foreign investors in their strategic investment in sensitive fields in France. Romain also assists his clients on their daily corporate matters as well as commercial contracts negotiation. Romain is a lecturer in M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) at Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne and at Cy Cergy Paris University.
Finally, our office was appointed again by Orange to conduct a “massive” audit of contracts and won a court decision in a construction matter.
Hungary
2022 was a year of many inspiring new tasks of which the design and implementation of a complex wealth plan for an UHNWI represented the greatest professional challenge for me.
After the Client approached me, our work started with the analysis of his situation and the identification of his concerns that needed to be put to rest. Due to the complexity of his estate, the key pillars of the structure I recommended were a trust registered in Hungary and an asset management foundation to maximize the protection both for his cash and for corporate assets. When the foundation deed was completed, we implemented extensive measures to protect the privacy of the wealth management guidelines of the foundation and the identity of the beneficiaries.
On a personal level, the greatest achievement of last year was entering the Cross Fit Open and achieving an inspiring position in my age group. I immensely enjoy the challenge and the motivation I get from this sport while at the same time it relaxes me after a day of intense mental work.
Italy
Claudia closed two deals for two US clients: one concerned the acquisition of a house with a large terrace in a nice neighborhood in Rome for a couple from Boston, and the other the purchase of a second home from the XV century near Rome for a couple from Minneapolis. In both cases, Claudia not only acted as a legal advisor, making sure that all legal requirements in terms of zoning and ownership were met, but in both cases she had a full mandate to identify the property and attend the deed of sale in lieu of the clients. Other services offered to the clients concerned immigration issue (Italian citizenship by descent) and tax planning (moving to Italy benefitting from the special tax regime).
Elisa is interviewing her clients in order to verify the implementation of the so called “mobility plan” (i.e. a corporate plan educating employees towards a more sustainable mobility in their commuting to and from the work place). The mobility plan is one of the possible actions concerning the “ESG factors” pursuant to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive entered into force on 5 January 2023 (deriving from the ONLU Agenda 2030). While the CSRD applies only to large companies (over 250 employees and or 20 million net asset or turnover), such companies may have to certify their entire value chain; thus, they may demand to their suppliers information showing some degree of compliance as well.
Francesca is assisting heirs (wife and children) from the death of person due to infected blood transfusions (HIV). In order to receive a damage compensation, she is engaged in collecting evidence (through medical opinions that the death occurred due to the HIV and the inflected blood).
Michele, Alessandro and Tatiana have put together a list of contacts with the name of the target companies, the CEO’s and other contacts across the globe (with a focus on Europe and Italy) to which the Aliant guide book on E-payments may be sent. Once completed, we will share it with all lawyers to increase our cross-selling opportunities.
Poland
Congratulations to Malgorzata Krzyzowska, Partner and Head of Central Europe Practice on her promotion to Vice-President of Foreign Affairs Committee Supreme Bar Council at Naczelna Rada Adwokacka.
The Polish Bar Council is a body of the professional self-government of advocates practicing the profession of public trust; The NRA supervises the proper performance of the advocate’s service – within the limits of the public interest and for its protection.
Singapore
Aliant’s Singapore firm moved into new offices in the heart of the Singapore CBD in January 2023. The new office, at Havelock II, is a stone’s throw away from the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the State Courts. Apart from the obvious, other highlights in the building include Singapore’s best soy lattes and an amazing selection of craft beers.Aliant’s Singapore team would like to invite all Aliant lawyers travelling through Singapore to stop by for coffee, beer or both.
