My White & Case story
Shanghai Partner Vivian Tsoi’s White & Case career has spanned multiple offices and continents, but the consistent theme is one of close-knit teams and continual progress.
Vivian joined White & Case in 2000, having graduated in San Francisco and spent the first years of her career at a law firm in Hawaii.
She decided to become a lawyer at an early age following the aspirations of her grandfather.
“It’s a typical Chinese story,” she says: “My grandfather wanted all his grandchildren to be doctors or lawyers and, at the age of seven, that’s what I decided I’d become.”
Vivian was born in Hong Kong before moving to Jakarta at five, Tokyo from the age of 10, and the US at 16, a globe-trotting journey that continued when she joined the Firm.
She says: “I was initially recruited as a junior associate for the Tokyo office, but asked if I could stay in California initially for family reasons.
“The Tokyo partners were really accommodating and agreed for me to start with a two-year secondment to the Palo Alto office, although I ended up staying for the next five years.”
Vivian was then asked if she would consider moving to China as the Firm looked to grow its office in Beijing.
Again, what started out as a short-term move developed into something much longer lasting.
“It was a very small team with only one partner and what I loved is that it was like being part of a start-up, much like it had been in Palo Alto.”
“The idea was for it to be another two-year secondment, but I’m now in my 16th year,” she explains. “I couldn’t have moved to Beijing at a more exciting time. It was a very small team with only one partner and what I loved is that it was like being part of a start-up, much like it had been in Palo Alto.
“2007 and 2008 were amazing years for Beijing in the build up to the 2008 Olympic Games, which was widely seen as China’s coming out party.
“And, while it is now expected for China to be a hotbed for inbound and outbound investment, at the time it was completely new.
“In many ways we were watching history unfold in front of our eyes and actually contributing to it.
“Back then, the Chinese regulatory agencies didn’t have an existing regime for approving cross-border transactions, so we often sat down with our clients and the government ministries to shape the legal regime that would govern these big deals in the future.
“The difference between now and then is incredible and it’s been a privilege to be part of that story.”
Several other global law firms had a presence in China at the time, but the Firm used its international network and commitment to the Chinese market as the foundations for future success.
Vivian explains: “From the beginning, White & Case always invested time and resources into China and had no shortage of overseas partners who were keen to have conversations with Chinese corporates and global investors about the opportunities that could open up.
“As a result, when those clients did decide to explore investment opportunities, they often approached us for help, so we got to work on many of the biggest deals in the market.”
Vivian moved from Beijing to Singapore on secondment in 2015 before moving to Shanghai the following year.
She says: “What I love about working at the Firm is the international opportunities it has given me and the flexibility it has shown in allowing me to switch things up, move around and occasionally change my mind.
“Another thing I like about the Firm is the lasting relationships I’ve built.
“I work with colleagues overseas every day and, as an example, earlier today I worked on a deal with a partner in New York that I’d met in my third year at the Firm.
“I’ve also built close relationships with my clients, who really value the understanding we have of their businesses.”
Alongside her work as partner, Vivian is a member of several of the Firm’s global committees, including the Partnership Committee, Global Women’s Initiative Committee, New Partner Development Committee, Global Alumni Committee and the Asia-Pacific Diversity Steering Committee.
She says: “I’m passionate about being on these committees, because I’ve always wanted to pay it forward and play a role in helping ensure that everyone has the opportunities and experiences that I’ve consistently had at White & Case.
“As a large international firm, we have the resources to support our people on every step of their legal career, including diversity and career progression. It’s always fascinating to work with the committees to help make the Firm a better place to work and to ensure we change with the times.”
“I’m most proud of helping the Firm develop its strategy in China and to understand the nuances of the Chinese market.”
Looking back at her White & Case career so far, Vivian says: “I’m most proud of helping the Firm develop its strategy in China and to understand the nuances of the Chinese market.
“It is amazing to see where we’ve come from, including the deals we’ve worked on and the people we’ve recruited and promoted. The Firm must take great credit for recognizing the opportunity of China and having the patience to build our offering and become market leaders.
“I’m delighted to have been part of the journey and I’m looking forward to us continuing to develop our relationships with clients, particularly as we help them negotiate the complex geo-political environment facing the Chinese market.
“I’m also really pleased that we’re continuing to put client focus at the heart of our strategy, because I believe that the more we understand our clients, the more we’ll be able to become their closest advisors and build even more meaningful, lasting relationships.”
