60 W. Randolph Street, #200
Chicago, IL 60601
USA
Tel: (1)(312) 762 9352
Fax: (1)(312) 762 9281
Email: chicago@lehmanlaw.com
Our Origins of the Chicago Liaison Office.
The Chicago liaison office of LEHMAN, LEE & XU had its beginnings in the tumultuous events of June 4, 1989 otherwise know as the "Tiananmen Square Incident." Edward Lehman, one of the firm's founders and a Chicago native was working for a prominent international commercial law in Beijing prior to the events culminating at Tiananmen Square. When Mr. Lehman’s firm ordered him, along with all the other foreign attorneys to relocate to Hong Kong because the firm could no longer guarantee his safety, Mr. Lehman instead chose to remain in mainland China. The decision to leave such a prominent law firm was difficult however Mr. Lehman, who had studied Chinese language and culture starting in 1974, wished to remain in China a country that had become his adopted homeland.
In the aftermath of Tiananmen Square, all the international law firms retreated from mainland China to run their "China practices" from the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong, New York, London, Chicago or elsewhere, Mr. Lehman, however was the only foreign attorney to remain behind in mainland China full-time. While working for a Chinese state-run law firm, he still maintained his license to practice law in his home State of Illinois while at the same time establishing Lehman & Associates, a Illinois professional corporation referred to simply as the L&A Law Firm.
From its beginnings in Chicago, came one of China’s oldest and largest private law firms: LEHMAN, LEE & XU. The Illinois professional corporation L&A Law Firm changed it's name to LEHMAN, LEE & XU to reflect the addition of partners Jason Lee and Jia Xu. Together, all three partners brought together years of collective legal expertise in the then emerging private legal market in Beijing. This fledgling law firm would become the 8th private law firm established in the People's Republic of China.
The three founders LEHMAN, LEE & XU were exceedingly active as attorneys and represented some of the largest companies doing business in China, including Bank of China and Legend Computers( later LENOVO) and played an important role in the development of a number of major Chinese corporations, including Haier, Hisense, Qingdao Beer and Sina, as well as several Chinese airlines, Chinese insurance companies, and general businesses. While LEHMAN, LEE & XU remains firmly a China focused law firm, the firm has never forgotten its roots in the great city of Chicago. Mr. Lehman's family has been involved in the practice of law in Chicago for nearly a century and has been active for a number of generations in the Union League Club of Chicago, an organization which promotes good citizenship and supports cultural institutions and the beautification of the city.
Mr. Lehman has been fortunate enough to help shape the viewpoints of the City of Chicago on China. Mr. Lehman accompanied Mayor Harold Washington on his trip to China to open the Sister City relationship between the City of Chicago and the City of Shenyang. Mr. Lehman has also accompanied current Mayor Richard M. Daley on various occasions, as the mayor and his delegation traveled to China to meet Chinese governmental officials.
Today, the Chicago Liaison office of LEHMAN, LEE & XU offers expertise in every area of Chinese law through its strong access to close to 500 lawyers" in greater China. The continual development of a broad base of practice areas has enabled the firm to attract an outstanding group of clients including Fortune 500 companies, diplomatic missions, multi-national corporations, major financial institutions, and a wide range of publicly traded corporations and closely held businesses. As part of the firm’s commitment to excellence, a common characteristic stands out: a focus on practical, cost-effective solutions to China legal problems that add value and emphasize what works for our clients based on the highest professional standards.
