Lester Ross, partner-in-charge of WilmerHale’s Beijing office, was one of two attorneys given the China Pioneer Award by the American Chamber of Commerce in the People’s Republic of China (AmCham China). The AmCham China Pioneer Award honors corporate leaders who made early and significant contributions to economic expansion and the business environment across China. Ross received the award alongside Tim Stratford, managing partner of Covington & Burling’s Beijing office, at AmCham China’s 2015 Annual General Meeting on November 19.

“For them, coming to China was not just a career, but a calling: a calling to make a difference as both a witness and participant in the ongoing legal and judicial reforms in China,” said AmCham China Chairman James Zimmerman. “At the same time, they were also paving the way for American business that relied upon a stable and predictable legal system to operate. They set the stage for AmCham member companies to capture the commercial opportunities in China.”

Ross serves as vice-chair of AmCham’s Board of Governors and chair of its Policy Committee and Insurance Forum. AmCham China is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization whose membership comprises more than 3,800 individuals from more than 1,000 companies operating across China. The chamber's mission is to help American companies succeed in China through advocacy, information sharing, networking and business support services. 

Ross represents foreign companies in their strategic expansion in China through direct investments and mergers and acquisitions in industries ranging from agriculture to water services. He has extensive experience representing foreign banks and corporations, including Chinese entities, in their strategic expansion in the United States, particularly focusing on M&A and regulatory clearances and compliance. He has also represented clients in trade, dispute resolution and regulatory matters in China.