Jeff Blount is an international transactional lawyer. He began his career at Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. in 1983. His practice primarily involves cross-border mergers and acquisitions; international joint ventures; global infrastructure project development and finance; and foreign investment, commercial and trade transactions. He also has extensive experience with private equity and venture capital financings and transactions; cross-border equipment leasing transactions; international licensing, manufacturing, agency and distribution arrangements; business formations; and workouts and restructuring projects. 

Mr. Blount's international transactional experience covers a wide range of geographic markets, industries and matters. For example, he has:

• advised many American and other international businesses on the strategy, structure, risks, documentation, negotiation and implementation of their investments, acquisitions, financings and other projects in China;
• advised on acquisitions and privatizations of Chinese domestic companies and state-owned enterprises;
• represented developers, investors and lenders in electric power and other energy projects in China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand;
• represented developers, operators and suppliers in telecommunications network, infrastructure and equipment projects in China and other markets in Asia;
• worked on public and privately-funded light rail transportation projects in China, India, Korea and Turkey, and toll road and other transportation projects in China;
• handled commercial real estate transactions for multinational companies and private investors in Thailand, Korea and China;
• worked on private equity, venture capital and other financing transactions in Hong Kong and China;
• represented Asia-based entities in their acquisition and sale of businesses in Asia and Europe;
• advised China investors on projects in the United States; and
• advised multinational entities, private companies, multilateral institutions, sovereign entities, financial institutions and individuals on projects in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and other markets in Asia. 

Mr. Blount's tenure in Asia has corresponded with the period during which there has been rapid growth, market liberalization and transformation of the Chinese economy. As a result, he has had the opportunity to work with many multinational entities, private companies and others on hundreds of acquisition, joint venture, investment, financing, commercial, transactional and other projects and matters throughout China, in industries ranging from automotive, energy and biotechnology to telecommunications, transportation and logistics.

Although his practice is primarily focused on transactional work in China and elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region, throughout his career Mr. Blount has handled many complex acquisitions, dispositions, investments, financing transactions and other projects in the United States and abroad.

Mr. Blount currently serves as co-chair of Fulbright's firm-wide International Department. He also leads the firm's China practice group and is co-chair of the firm's Asia Pacific practice group and co-head of the firm's long-range international strategic planning group.

Mr. Blount is the chief representative and partner-in-charge of the firm’s Beijing location and the partner-in-charge of the firm's Hong Kong location. He moved to Asia in 1994 to assist in the establishment of the firm's Hong Kong location and the development of the firm's practice throughout Asia. Before then, he practiced for 10 years in the firm's Washington, D.C. location and one year in the firm's Houston, Texas location.

• International Bar Association - leadership roles include:
  • Asia Pacific Forum, Co-Vice Chair
  • Asia Pacific Forum, Publications Officer
• International Bar Association - Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law
• American Bar Association - Section of International Law and Practice
• American Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong - leadership roles include:
  • Government Relations Committee, current Chair
  • Board of Governors (1999 - 2004)
  • Vice President (2003 - 2004)
  • Business Briefing Committee, former Chair
  • Energy Committee, former Board liaison

Public policy and business matters in which Mr. Blount has been actively involved with AmCham include its advocacy of China's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001. He also has led various AmCham initiatives relating to China's WTO-related market access developments and rule of law issues affecting international business interests and investments in China.

Recent professional honors and recognition include:

• Asialaw Leading Lawyers (2008) (listed as a leading lawyer in the general corporate practice area)
• Guide to the World's Leading Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyers, IFLR Expert Guides (2008) (ranked as one of the leading practitioners in the field)  
• Chambers Global (2008) (ranked as one of the leading lawyers in China-related Corporate/M&A)
• Chambers Global (2008) (ranked as one of the leading lawyers in Projects & Energy: Asia Pacific)
• Chambers Asia (2008) (ranked as one of the leading Corporate/M&A lawyers in China and Hong Kong)
• Asialaw Leading Lawyers (2007) (listed as a leading lawyer in the general corporate practice area)
• Chambers Global (2007) (ranked as one of the leading Corporate/M&A lawyers in China/Hong Kong)
• Chambers Global (2007) (ranked as one of the leading global practitioners in Projects & Energy: Asia Pacific)
• The Legal Media Group Guide to the World’s Leading Project Finance Lawyers (2006) (ranked as one of the world’s leading practitioners in project finance)
• Asialaw Leading Lawyers (2006) (selected as one of the best Hong Kong-based general corporate lawyers in the Asian legal field)

Selected publications: 

• "Stoking China's Furnace: Implications of the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake for China's Energy Infrastructure," Global Infrastructure Volume II, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., Fall 2008
• Co-authored with Lixin (Lucy) Chen, "Working with China's New Labor Contract Law," Doing Business in China 2008, Practising Law Institute, June 18, 2008
• Co-authored with Joanne Du, "China's Olympic Growth: Opportunities and Challenges Presented by Private Sector Participation in Infrastructure Development," Global Infrastructure Volume I, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., January 2008
• Co-authored with Jeffrey P. Layman, "Regulatory Developments in China Encourage Growth of Renewable Energy Sector," Bloomberg Corporate Law Journal, Spring 2006
• Co-authored with Jeffrey P. Layman, "China's New Renewable Energy Law and Regulations," International Bar Association, Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law, Current Developments, April 2006
• "Developers, Investors Looking to China's Growth Power Market," Houston Business Journal, August 12-18, 2005

Mr. Blount is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences in the United States and internationally. 

Selected speeches and panel presentations:

• "Regulatory and Contracting Issues in Establishing Biomass to Energy Projects in China and Asia Pacific," BiomassWorld 2008, Beijing, September 24, 2008
• "New Focus of International Business: Asia, the Centre Stage - Recent Legal and Regulatory Developments and Enforcement Practices in the Tax Area in Asia," moderator and panelist, International Bar Association, Asia Pacific Forum, Hong Kong, September 19, 2008
• "M&A in China - Due Diligence and Structuring Issues," Courses & Seminars, Hong Kong, September 11, 2008
• "Legal Issues in China: MOFCOM, SAFE and Rules Pertaining to Offshore Transactions," panelist, The Reverse Merger Conference 2008, Los Angeles, California, June 19, 2008
• "China Employment Practices in the Post-Labor Contract Law Era," Doing Business in China 2008, Practising Law Institute, San Francisco, California, June 18, 2008
• "Current Legal Issues and Opportunities for Foreign Investment in China Infrastructure Projects," China Infrastructure Development and Investment Forum, Beijing, China, May 15, 2008
• "Current Issues for Inbound Acquisitions and Investments in China," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. web seminar, May 6, 2008
• "Private Equity: The Sub-prime Crisis and Beyond -- The Regulation of Hedge Funds," moderator and panelist, Law Council of Australia / International Bar Association, Sydney, Australia, April 8, 2008
• "Effective Legal Risk Management for Global Energy Companies," China Offshore Summit 2008, Beijing, China, April 3, 2008
• "Structuring and Negotiating Earnouts in Asia: A Practical Solution or a Trap for the Unwary? China Transactional Perspectives," Asia M&A Forum 2008, International Financial Law Review / Inter-Pacific Bar Association, Hong Kong, China, March 6, 2008
• "The Evolving Landscape for Safe Consumer Products: Guidance for Manufacturers, Importers and Retailers in Current and Prospective Regulatory Requirements and Best Practices -- China Legal and Regulatory Developments," Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. web seminar, November 7, 2007  
• "Working Effectively with China's Government Regulators and Other Current Issues for U.S. Businesses in China 2007," Dallas, Texas, October 24, 2007
• "China Arbitration Conference 2007," moderator and panelist, Beijing, China, October 9, 2007  
• "Ethics - The Core Value of Leadership," super panelist, 2007 Directors' Forum, Hong Kong Ethics Development Centre, Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong, China, September 14, 2007 
• "Doing Business in China: What U.S. Companies Need to Know Now," National Constitution Center Audio Conferences, September 11, 2007
• "Current Developments and Issues Affecting Cross-Border M&A Transactions in China: Current Practical Issues," LexOmnibus seminar, Hong Kong, China, September 4, 2007
• "Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions in China: Understanding China's Regulatory Framework and Executing Due Diligence in a Challenging Environment," Boardroom Forum on China, The Economist/Corporate Board Member, New York, New York, June 13, 2007
• "Wind Farm Location Selection: Resource or Economics Driven?" panelist, 3rd Annual China Power & Alternative Energy Summit 2007, Beijing, China, May 18, 2007
• "Seeking an Optimal Energy Mix in the Power Sector," panelist, 3rd Annual China Power & Alternative Energy Summit 2007, Beijing, China, May 17, 2007
• "Establishing and Perfecting the Petroleum Corporation's Legal Risk Management Mechanism," China Offshore Summit 2007, Beijing, China, April 3, 2007
• "Focus China: What Do Global General Counsel Need to Know?" Fourth General Counsel Roundtable: Evolving Roles, Global Risks, The Economist/Corporate Board Member, New York, New York, November 29, 2006
• "Current Developments and Issues Affecting Cross-Border M&A Transactions in China and other Asian Markets," Association of Corporate Counsel America, Houston Chapter, Houston, Texas, September 27, 2006
• "Doing Business in China Today: Recent Regulatory and Legal Developments Affecting U.S. Businesses in China and Lessons Learned," Austin and Houston, Texas, August 23 and 24, 2006
• "Clean Development Mechanism Projects [under the Kyoto Protocol] in China: Opportunities and Challenges," World Renewable Energy Summit 2006, Beijing, China, May 16, 2006
• "Riding the Dragon: A China Symposium on Lessons Learned and Recent Regulatory Developments," Washington, D.C., April 27, 2006
• "Financing Renewable Energy Projects in China: Renewable Energy in the Context of China’s Foreign Investment and Power Sector Reforms," International Project Finance Association, Washington, D.C., April 26, 2006
• "Chinese Foreign Acquisitions and Acquisitions of Chinese Entities," Conference on Economics, Energy, Investment and Risk in China, Petroleum Economist, London, England, October 24, 2005
• "China: Midstream or Mainstream? Recent Legal Developments Affecting Investment in China," Houston, Texas, October 4, 2005
• "The Long Reach of China’s National Oil Companies," Houston, Texas, October 4, 2005
• "China at a Critical Juncture, 2004 and Beyond: Current Legal, Regulatory and WTO Developments in China," Houston, Texas, October 5, 2004
• "Current Business Potential and Pitfalls in China Investment and Finance," Los Angeles, California, September 29, 2003

1983 - J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
1979 - A.B., cum laude, Princeton University 

At Princeton, Mr. Blount majored in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and received the Woodrow Wilson School's R.W. van de Velde Award.

He was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1983 and is admitted as a registered foreign lawyer in Hong Kong.

• Hong Kong Trade and Industry Advisory Board - appointed member (2008 - 2009)
• The American Club Hong Kong - leadership positions include:
  • Board of Governors, current elected member
  • Strategic Development Committee, current Chair

Mr. Blount has also served on the governing or advisory boards of various charitable and other civic organizations in Asia and the United States.