Feb. 14 – Chris Devonshire-Ellis, the founding partner of Dezan Shira & Associates, has been named as one of the ten “China Leading Lights” by Accountancy Age Magazine for 2011.

The magazine, owned by the UK business-to-business publisher Incisive Media, has provided the citation in recognition of the development of the practice in China and Chris’ role in educating and advising foreign investors about China legal and tax issues. Dezan Shira & Associates has operated in China for some 19 years.

The plaudits represent something of a rehabilitation for Chris following controversy three years ago concerning disputes over who said what during meetings held with the Chairman of China’s Banking Regulator which influenced major movements of the RMB/US$ position, resulting in Chris having to issue an apology for “breach of etiquette.” Still based however in Beijing, he has subsequently remained lower key in China while concentrating on developing the firm’s practice in India. That development has seen the practice establish five Indian offices in addition to the ten it possesses in China.

The magazine also names Chris Liu, managing partner at Deloitte; Albert Ng, managing partner at Ernst & Young; Carlson Tong, managing partner at KPMG; Yang Jiantao, managing partner at Crowe Horwarth; and Liu Yinting, director-general of the Regulatory Department at China’s Ministry of Finance, among other recipients of the accolade.