The Legal 500

Clients are ‘very satisfied’ with the level of service provided by Baker & McKenzie, which excels in its response times, technical skills and ability to meet tight deadlines. The nine-partner department is led by Angela Lee, who specialises in land and planning law, real estate development, sales and acquisitions, leasing and real estate finance. Her team is advising DB Trustees (Hong Kong) on the RMB10.48bn Hui Xian REIT, which is the first RMB-denominated REIT IPO in Hong Kong. The ‘very experienced’ Edmond Chan gives ‘useful, practical advice and understands his clients’ needs’.

Delivering ‘consistently accurate and reliable advice’, Deacons is ‘professional and prompt in its response’. The firm handles a range of real estate transactions, involving property management, stamp duty, compulsory sales, town planning, development and redevelopment, and terms of land grants. Lilian Chiang heads up the real estate group and maintains a top reputation in Hong Kong; she has ‘excellent commercial acumen, expert knowledge and always puts her clients’ interests as a priority’.

Mayer Brown JSM has a sizeable real estate team, well equipped to handle all manner of property-related transactions. The group recently acted for Swire Properties in the purchase and partial sale of the PCCW Tower in Quarry Bay and advised CSI Properties in the partial sale of Hong Kong’s AXA Centre. Andrew MacGeoch is recommended for hospitality and leisure-related developments, and Keith Cheung is skilled in real estate finance matters. Other clients of the firm include Kerry Properties, Citigroup Property Investors and ING Real Estate Investment Management.

Highly regarded for conveyancing work, Woo Kwan Lee & Lo’s 24-strong practice handles a variety of real estate development projects and tenancy matters, including property litigation. It recently acted for a vendor group in its HK$875m sale of a 92,000sq ft bare site in the New Territories. The firm also continues to advise Hong Kong Housing Society on real estate matters relating to elderly housing projects. Ma Ho Fai and Rita Tsang are recommended.

The ‘professional’ six-partner team at Allen & Overy acts for investors, lenders and occupiers on conveyancing, leasing and real estate M&A transactions. The group recently asssisted HSBC NF on property aspects of the sale of Metropolis Holding China, the owner of Metropolis Tower in Beijing. Well-respected practice head Simon Reid-Kay advised on the real estate issues relating to the proposed purchase of the holding company of the PCCW Tower in Quarry Bay.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s real estate group handles various developments, acquisitions and financing transactions, often involving aspects of debt, equity and multiple jurisdictions. Michelle Taylor specialises in finance and recently advised Standard Chartered Bank on the acquisition, by Ascendas China Commercial Fund, of Cross Tower, a major commercial real estate asset in Shanghai. Another noteworthy practitioner is Michael Haworth, who represents foreign investors on property acquisitions, loan portfolio acquisitions and secured lending transactions throughout Asia.

The ‘knowledgeable and timely’ team at Paul Hastings LLP acts for international and Greater China-based companies such as Deutsche Bank, HSBC and Sino-Ocean Land. The firm recently advised Mapletree Investments on the headline $2.4bn acquisition of Festival Walk, a shopping and commercial complex in Hong Kong, from Swire Properties. John Cahill, Derek Roth and Vivian Lam are the key contacts.

Known for its expertise in the leisure and gaming industries, Clifford Chance handles a range of real estate transactions, and is particularly skilled in the area of real estate finance. Noteworthy practitioners include property specialist Clara Tang, Huw Jenkins, who has handled a number of casino financings in Macau, and Amy Ho, who focuses on China real estate, advising multinational corporations and international funds on their real estate investments in the PRC.

With ‘strong knowledge of the real estate industry’, DLA Piper’s four-partner practice group is led by property and hotel sector specialist Susheela Rivers and Joseph Christian, who focuses on institutional clients’ real estate investments in Asia. The firm advises Tesco on all its real estate acquisition work in China, including a £170m investor deal involving the establishment of a joint venture to develop three shopping malls in China, each of which includes a Tesco hypermarket as the main tenant.

Gallant Y. T. Ho & Co handles conveyancing and land-related matters for major real estate developers in Hong Kong and is on MTR Corporation’s property panel. Besides the two main divisions to its real estate department - commercial projects and general conveyancing - the firm also has a New Territories practice, focusing on powers under the New Territories Ordinance and land entitlement rights. Amanda Liu is recommended.

Jones Day not only deals with real estate M&A work, but also pre-IPO debt/equity investments, high-yield issuances and mezzanine financings. Christine Kim is recommended and focuses on private equity transactions across the region, as well as representing foreign entities in real estate-related business opportunities.

Kennedys is particularly experienced at handling property transactions in the insurance and retail sectors. Practice head Nigel Bacon specialises in real estate development, joint ventures, finance and landlord and tenant work across Asia, and acts for most of the top insurers and many well-known international retail brand names. The group recently acted for an international clothing retailer on its establishment in Hong Kong and the opening of multiple stores.

Linklaters is well known for its real estate finance abilities, but also reports a number of corporate real estate transactions, IPOs and leasings among its recent work highlights. Promoted to counsel in 2011, Joyce Mok is recommended for her dedication to real estate and regularly assists investors on real estate interests in Asia.

Hogan Lovells handles a range of real estate matters involving finance, acquisitions and property litigation. The team continues to advise longstanding client MTR Corporation on a number of Hong Kong projects, and also recently represented ANZ on a $263m property financing. Consultant Jason Choi, formerly a partner of Mayer Brown JSM, is recommended.

Ian Devereux is head of real estate at Stephenson Harwood, which handles transactions relating to industrial, commercial, retail and residential properties. Recent work includes advising on the establishment of a joint venture between Kerry Properties and Shangri-La Asia for the acquisition, holding and development of land in Liaoning Province, China. The firm also represents local expatriates on their personal investments in the luxury property sector.