Arizona Law and A&O Shearman Bring Corporate Governance Expertise to Shanghai

July 8, 2025
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This past June, faculty from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law partnered with global law firm A&O Shearman to deliver an executive education training session on corporate governance in Shanghai. With the participation of the Shanghai Pudong Legal Service Industry Association, Arizona Law and A&O Shearman led the three-day “U.S. Corporate Governance Legal Practice Training Program” which brought together nearly 70 senior legal and financial professionals from top Chinese and international law firms, financial institutions, and multinational corporations including HSBC, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Jefferies, and CLP Power. 

Held in Shanghai’s Pudong district, a major center for China’s financial and legal industries, the program explored key legal and business dimensions of corporate governance. Special emphasis was placed on the professional responsibilities of lawyers advising corporate clients, with comparative discussions of U.S. and Chinese legal frameworks and practical strategies for navigating cross-border regulatory challenges.

The idea for the program was conceived by Robert Mundheim, long-time professor at Arizona Law, Of Counsel at A&O Shearman, and one of the nation’s foremost authorities on corporate law. He was joined by fellow Arizona Law faculty member Barak Orbach, who holds the professorship named in Mundheim’s honor—the Robert H. Mundheim Professor of Law and Business.

“This program represents years of vision and relationship-building,” Orbach said. “Bob’s leadership brought A&O Shearman to the table, and the result was a high-impact, high-prestige initiative. For Arizona Law, it’s a clear demonstration of our ability to lead in global legal education.”

In addition to Robert Mundheim and Barak Orbach, the program featured a distinguished lineup of legal experts, including:

  • John Cannon, A&O Shearman’s global co-head of compensation, employment, and governance;
  • Simon Lorne, senior advisor at Millennium Management and former vice chairman and chief legal officer of the firm;
  • Lorna Chen, A&O Shearman’s Greater China co-managing partner and regional co-head of funds and asset management; and 
  • Jane Jiang, director of Shanghai Lang Yue Law Firm, A&O Shearman’s joint operation partner in China.

The speakers emphasized the critical role of robust governance frameworks in promoting cross-border compliance and sustainable business growth, with active audience engagement highlighting the depth of interest in the subject matter.

Participants received executive certificates from Arizona Law, many of which are now proudly displayed in top-tier firms across Pudong.

“This is a model for how academic institutions and leading firms can work together to deliver real value and build lasting connections,” said John Cannon. “Programs like this help lay the groundwork for stronger, more connected legal and business communities worldwide.”