Paul Hastings Strengthens Private Equity and M&A Practice with Addition of Guohua (Annie) Wu

December 14, 2009

Beijing (December 14, 2009) Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that Guohua (Annie) Wu, formerly of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago, has recently joined the firm in the Beijing office, although she will split her time among the firms three Greater China offices.

Ms. Wu focuses on representing global investment and merchant banks, private equity investors and their portfolio companies, and multinational corporations in all aspects of complex business transactions, including those in and involving the Peoples Republic of China. She has extensive experience in leveraged buyouts, going private transactions, asset/stock acquisitions and dispositions, mergers, joint ventures, growth capital investments, private equity fund formation, and securities offerings. She also advises Chinese conglomerates in strategic acquisitions and other forms of investments in the U.S. and worldwide.

Ms. Wu is a native of China with legal training in both China and the U.S. She is licensed to practice law in the State of New York and the State of Illinois, and is a member of the Supreme Court Bar of the United States. Ms. Wu passed the bar in China in 1995, but does not hold a current practicing certificate.

David Livdahl, chair of the firms Beijing office, commented Annie is an excellent addition to our China team. Her extensive experience advising on complex private equity and M&A transactions aligns perfectly with our clients needs. Her appointment, together with our China teams proven success, will allow us to further develop our client base and expand our offerings both in the PRC and globally.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP is a leading global law firm with offices in Asia, Europe, and the United States. We provide innovative legal solutions to financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies. Please visit www.paulhastings.com for more information.