Dentons, the global law firm, today announced that it has appointed five new Global Vice Chairs, representing each of its regions. Working closely with Global Chairman Joe Andrew, the Global Vice Chairs will be key in advancing significant client-facing and strategic initiatives for the Firm. These new positions, which are an extension of each leader's role on the Firm's Global Board, are effective immediately with all serving through December 31, 2016.

In announcing the new Global Vice Chairs, Andrew said, "As the largest law firm in the world with ambitions to continue to improve the quality of service to clients by having more lawyers with more experience in more places, we have created the position of Global Vice Chair to extend our leadership reach."

"With no one global headquarters and no dominant national culture, our governance structure supports our polycentric nature, guaranteeing an active role for all regions in the policy-making and operations of the Firm, and drawing from best practices and different perspectives around the world," noted Elliott Portnoy, Global Chief Executive Officer.

Dentons' new Global Vice Chairs are:

• Jana Cohen Barbe — Based in Chicago, Barbe served as Chair of the US Real Estate Practice for more than a decade and is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential women in real estate law and a foremost authority on tax advantaged investing. She is also a leading voice for women’s professional advancement in business and in the legal profession.
• Evan Z. Lazar — Co-Chairman of the Global Real Estate group and Chairman of the Board of the Europe Region, Lazar, who is based in Prague, is widely recognized as one of the leading real estate and property investment lawyers in Europe.
• Richard Macklin — Former Head of the Firm's United Kingdom, Middle East and Africa Region M&A practice, Macklin is a partner in the Corporate practice and acts for some of the world's largest multinational groups and funds in the development of their domestic and international strategies. Currently based in London, he has also worked in the Firm's New York, Brussels and Paris offices.
• Jinquan Xiao — Considered one of China’s most distinguished experts in the fields of investment and mergers and acquisitions and based in the Firm's Beijing office, Xiao is experienced in providing strategic project schemes for large corporations, restructuring state-owned enterprises, mergers and acquisitions, reform of assets and debts, analyzing legal risks for investment and international financing.

Once the Firm's pending combinations in Australia, Latin America and Singapore are effective, each new region will designate a global vice chair who will join those named above.

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