Founding and managing recruitment firm with offices in Hong Kong and India, partnering with experienced recruiters to serve law firms, financial firms and corporate legal departments around the globe. 

Overseeing strategy and management of non-IT projects across the region including special projects for senior management. Collaboration and coordination with APAC and global teams. Reason for leaving: Redundancy due to COVID. Achievements include:

·         Conducting strategy review for China and ASEAN businesses and coordinating regional component of global strategy project.

·         Project managing 6 properties projects around the region simultaneously, achieving 30-50% reductions in office costs in multiple locations. 

·         Conducting review of secretarial utilisation across the region, resulting in anticipated savings of 30%.

·         Conducting review of billing and debtor processes in our largest practice, leading to 30% increase in monthly billing value and significant reductions in debtor days. 

Leadership of all aspects of China operations (including Hong Kong) for one of the world’s premier law firms and the Linklaters Zhao Sheng Joint Operation, with a total headcount of more than 500. Responsible for P&L plus strategy, finance, business development, marketing, human resources, IT and office management. Collaborate and coordinate with APAC and global teams. Major achievements included: 

·         Successfully establishing Joint Operation with start-up Zhao Sheng, after leading major project which defined commercial strategy and involved sensitive interactions with multiple regulatory bodies and integration of IT systems. Working closely with risk team to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation. 

·         Leading JO through rapid growth period in which headcount increased 8x, revenue 3x and profit 11x in 12 months.

·         Increasing Linklaters China revenue 30% to US$200m via strategic initiatives on IPOs and China outbound M&A. Doubling profit to US$75m with a 39% margin, above firmwide average. 

·         Opening Beijing branch of Zhao Sheng, overcoming significant regulatory and technical obstacles.

·         Negotiating renewal of Shanghai office lease, reducing cost by 2% despite market increasing 10%.

·         Directing transformation project in Asia, identifying opportunities to reduce business team costs by 10% via headcount rationalisation and shared services.

·         Stabilising team following departure of National Managing Partner and key associates, before leading successful search for multiple replacement partners. 

·         Designing structured approach to key client relationships as part of strategic relationship project.