Chris Devonshire-Ellis, Senior Partner - International Practice

China / India / Vietnam 

Chris is the founder of the firm and is one of China's best known business advisors. He has developed his professional career in two areas - legal and marketing fields and now holds several prestigious institute memberships and qualifications in these disciplines.

Previously with Asia Law & Practice in Hong Kong, the local law firm Ng & Shum, and the International Law Firm Mossack Fonseca & Co, Chris established Dezan Shira & Associates in 1992 and has developed the practice from its original base in Shenzhen to the internationally recognized firm it is today with fifteen offices in four seperate jurisdictions - China, Hong Kong, India and Vietnam.

Chris additionally established the popular China Briefing publishing house in 1999 (see www.china-briefing.com) which has also become an internationally important media brand amongst China investors and professionals, with an extensive readership of international subscribers. In 2007, he established the firms offices in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai in India, in addition to the legal / tax magazine www.india-briefing.com and the China-India bilateral website www.2point6billion.com to support Foreign Direct Investment into India. A fourth India office in Calcutta was established in March 2008 in addition to offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, as well as the magazine www.vietnam-briefing.com, again focussing on legal / tax issues for foreign investors.    

He has been a columnist for the highly prestigious Beijing Review, established by Chairman Mao 50 years ago and the business magazine of the Chinese Government, for the past five years. Chris has also authored and published several Regional Business Guides, Technical Guides about China law and tax, including legal guides on establishing Representative Offices, Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprises, Joint Ventures and Mergers & Acquisitions. (see http://shopping.china-briefing.com). His comments regularly appear in international publications such as Dow Jones, Reuters, Time, Wall Street Journal, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The South China Morning Post, China Daily, Shanghai Daily and a host of other internationally recognized publications.

He is a sought after speaker internationally and is a member of the China Exploration and Research Society, the Royal Overseas League, the Capital Club and American Club in Beijing.

Chris' main practice areas include the development of the firms capabilities internationally, advising international clients' on their global development strategy, and in China, corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions advice, due diligence, and compliance issues relating to China investments.