James Zimmerman is the Chief Representative and a partner in the Beijing office of the international law firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP. He is the Chairman-Elect 2007 for the American Chamber of Commerce People’s Republic of China, which represents over 2000 US companies and individuals in China.
Mr. Zimmerman has been involved with China-related matters for 18+ years and has lived and worked permanently in Beijing since 1998. Mr. Zimmerman represents multinational clients in a broad range of industries with respect to their joint venture investments, manufacturing investments, liquidation and dissolution of investments, mergers and acquisitions activities, regulatory compliance, customs and trade matters, IP registration and enforcement, and dispute resolution.
He is the author of several books, chapters, and articles concerning China and trade related issues, including the China Law Deskbook (1999, 2005) which is a publication of the American Bar Association. Mr. Zimmerman is recognized as one of Asia’s leading business lawyers in the categories of Chinese Law and Dispute Resolution in the AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers Survey 2002, 2003, and 2006 (published by Euromoney Publications). Mr. Zimmerman is listed in the 2006 edition of The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers for Arbitration. In addition, he is listed as a Leading Individual in the category of Corporate/M&A for foreign law firms in China in the 2004/2005, 2005/2006, and 2006-2007 editions of the AsiaPacific Legal 500: The Guide to Asia's Commercial Law Firms.
Mr. Zimmerman is admitted to the California bar (1988) and a registered foreign lawyer in China since 1998. He is also admitted to the US Court of International Trade (CIT) and has trial experience before the CIT concerning China-related trade cases. Mr. Zimmerman is also on the Panel of Mediators for the US-China Business Mediation Center (jointly operated by CPR Institute of Dispute Resolution and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade), and the panel of arbitrators for the China International Economic & Trade Commission (CIETAC).
Jim has served as the Vice Chairman and Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce China and Co-chair of AmCham’s Legal Committee, and is also the former chair of the China Law Committee for the American Bar Association’s International Section. Jim lives in Beijing with his wife and three daughters who attend the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB). His wife Ellen is active in Beijing community affairs and the PTA of WAB.
