China’s W&H Law Firm and Russian peer Better Chance have entered a comprehensive strategic co-operation, enhancing their international influence.
W&H, which has 46 locations including four overseas offices, intends to follow China’s national strategy to provide higher-level legal services for the country and global development, said Zhang Xiaowei, chairman of the management committee and senior partner of W&H.
Established in 2022, Better Chance has a clientele that includes major Russian enterprises, state-owned entities and international financial institutions. Better Chance’s global managing partner Victoria Bortkevicha was formerly the managing partner of the Moscow office of Clifford Chance.
“In our future work, we aim to find the most effective solutions for our clients in the new economic realities. Entering into an agreement with one of the largest players in the Chinese legal market perfectly meets our goals,” said Bortkevicha. Earlier this year, Better Chance entered into a similar agreement with one of the oldest and most reputable law firms in the Middle East.
Trade between China and Russia has been gradually increasing due to the Russia-Ukraine war. According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, from January to November 2023, trade volume between the two countries reached USD218.18 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 26.7%. This marked the first time in history that the trade volume between China and Russia surpassed USD200 billion.
