The Legal 500

Baker & McKenzie’s Alex Chiang recently advised Coland Pharmaceutical on the first IPO by a foreign pharmaceutical company on the Taiwan Stock Exchange; while Nicole Chu has been assisting Convoy Financial Services on an issuance of Taiwan Depository Receipts (TDRs). On the debt side, team head Wen-Yen Kang acted as local counsel to Solar Applied Materials Technology on its global offering of $15m convertible bonds. James Hsiao is also recommended.

Jack Huang’s team at Jones Day has a well-established reputation in debt and equity capital markets work. The team advised Tainan Enterprises, Julie’s International and FX Hotels Group on their respective IPOs; and also acted for Neo Solar Power in relation to a $300m offering of global depository receipts (GDRs). Chung-Ping Lui is a leading practitioner.

LCS & Partners has a strong track record in capital markets and securities work, acting for major domestic and international issuers. The firm is legal counsel to the Securities Investment Trust & Consulting Association (SITCA), and the Taiwan Securities Association (TSA). Amy Chin is recommended.

At Lee and Li, Abe Sung heads the largest capital markets and securities practice group in the country. His team was instructed by a significant number of foreign issuers for their IPOs on the GreTai Securities Market in 2011, including JP Nelson, Redwood, Kino and Kee Song. Chao-Tung Chang assisted China Steel Corporation with an issuance of 38.1 million GDRs worth $751.1m.

Tsar & Tsai Law Firm advised An-Shin Food Services on its IPO on the GreTai Securities Market; and acted for Wistron in its issuance of $280m convertible bonds. Jackie Lin, Janice Lin and James Cheng are the leading practitioners.

Based in the firm’s Hong Kong office, James Lin’s five-lawyer team at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has an excellent record advising Taiwanese companies on securities offerings. Work highlights in 2011 included assisting ASE Corporation on its RMB-denominated bond offering in the country.

Christina Yang is the key capital markets practitioner at K&L Gates. The team acts for financial institutions on securities and regulatory issues, and can also draw on the firm’s tax department to advise on the Taiwanese tax implications of transactions and financial instruments.

Lin & Partners continued to assist Credit Suisse’s Hong Kong branch with its issuance of offshore structured products in Taiwan; and Société Générale on obtaining the bank’s first regulatory approval from the Trust Association for similar products targeting non-professional investors.

Best known for the strength of its banking and finance offering, Russin & Vecchi (International Legal Counsellors) also wins a considerable number of instructions on securities and capital market matters. The team recently advised AU Optronics on its $800m Rule144A/Reg S offering. Echo Hsu and Miao-Er Hsiung are the key practitioners.

Working from its Asia platform in Hong Kong, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is an active presence in Taiwan, and regularly advises local and international clients on international securities offerings.

Formosan Brothers Attorneys at Law has particular expertise in international stock listings and bond issues. Among its recent work highlights, it advised a local financial institution on its public offering of subordinated debentures for NTD$2bn; and assisted a local underwriter with the due diligence process of an IPO applicant company.

The team at PricewaterhouseCoopers Taiwan handles debt and equity offerings, and is able to draw on the firm’s extensive global resources.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP’s William Chua advises corporate and financial institutions on capital markets matters from the firm’s Hong Kong office.