International law firm Steptoe & Johnson has announced the new opening of its Beijing, China office.

Steptoe advises companies doing business in and from China on a wide range of matters, including international trade, market access, export control, antitrust, and compliance with U.S. and European environmental, product safety, and other regulations. The Beijing office will help Steptoe expand its work in these areas and better serve its clients, the company said.

The firm’s International Trade and Investment practice helps companies seeking to enter and expand their business in the Chinese market. The firm currently advises the Government of China on matters before the World Trade Organization. Led by Edward Krauland, the firm’s International Regulation and Compliance practice advises clients on sensitive regulatory issues, including U.S. and European export control rules.

Steptoe also maintains an internationally recognized anti-corruption practice under the direction of Lucinda Low and Patrick Norton, who counsel clients subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and various anti-corruption laws around the world including throughout Asia. The practice also represents clients in internal investigations, enforcement actions, and collateral proceedings, including before the World Bank and other institutions.

Serving as managing partner of the Beijing office is Eric Emerson, a partner in Steptoe’s International Trade and Investment practice. Emerson has been with Steptoe for 18 years and advises companies on all types of international trade issues, including U.S. trade litigation and access to U.S. markets.

Joining Emerson in the China practice is Susan Munro, a new partner who recently joined Steptoe from the Shanghai office of a major international law firm. Munro has spent more than ten years advising financial institutions, multinational companies, and investment funds on business and investment issues. Her experience includes advising clients on market entry and exit strategies, acquisitions, and regulatory matters. She also has conducted numerous FCPA and earnings management investigations and represented clients in arbitrations and cross-border litigation. Munro is a solicitor qualified in England & Wales and is a non-practicing barrister called to the Bar of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

Another key member of the firm’s China practice is Ying Huang, who has spent seven years as a Foreign Legal Consultant in Steptoe’s Washington, D.C. office, and has played an important role in the firm’s market access initiatives.