The Legal 500

Within Foreign firms, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer appointed a new banking partner in Hong Kong, Howard Lam, who joined from Linklaters. Lam specialises in banking, project finance lending, cross-border debt restructuring and other complex financing transactions. The team advised HSBC as lender on the granting of a $135m term loan facility to Zhen Hua Engineering, a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Group. It also advised Nomura as borrower on a $275m term and revolving facility with HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank and ANZ as mandated lead managers. Also in Hong Kong, David Winfield and Andrew Heathcote are recommended.

Within Foreign firms, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer saw its Hong Kong managing partner Kay Ian Ng leave for Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, its Beijing managing partner Antony Dapiran exit for Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP’s new Hong Kong practice and Beijing head Christopher Wong join Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Nonetheless, peers and clients still regard the firm as a ‘top-flight M&A shop’. Hong Kong-based China chairman Teresa Ko’s experience includes advising Anheuser-Busch Inbev on the sale of its stake in Tsingtao Brewery to Japan’s Asahi Brewery for $667m; and Beijing managing partner Melissa Thomas acted for BNP Paribas and International Finance Corporation on their proposed investments in one of the first joint venture fund management companies to be established in China.

Within Foreign firms, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer regularly receives high-profile instructions, such as recently acting for a global British power systems and services company on an internal investigation into wrongdoing by a number of employees. Other highlights included completing an internal investigation for a leading green energy supplier in China after the HKSE received a complaint alleging corruption against the CEO and his brother. Hong Kong-based Richard Chalk heads the practice, and Peter Yuen divides his time between Hong Kong and Beijing.

Within Foreign firms, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s team is based in Hong Kong but much of its advice is focused on mainland China. Its expertise covers a range of industry sectors, including financial services; it is advising Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) on its Asia trade mark portfolio and on IP enforcement. Other mandates included advising a leading US fashion design house on managing its Asia trade mark portfolio. Connie Carnabuci heads the group.

Within Legal market overview,

By extending their Hong Kong capabilities, the US firms made further traction into China’s legal market. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Hong Kong managing partner Kay Ian Ng joined Sullivan & Cromwell LLP; Antony Dapiran exited for Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP’s new Hong Kong practice; and Christopher Wong joined Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.

Within Foreign firms, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is experienced in private equity-related M&A and fund raising transactions. The ‘exceptionally talented’ Asia managing partner Robert Ashworth is recommended, his private equity experience including pre-IPO investments for Warburg Pincus.

Within Foreign firms, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Hong Kong office supports the offices in Beijing and Shanghai on project financings and infrastructure transactions, the practice covering sectors such as oil and gas, water, electricity, mining, and renewable energy, as well as the development of airports, roads, tunnels, railways and ports. The team advised AES as developer in relation to the EPC contracts for a coal-fired power project in Vietnam. Hong Kong partners David Winfield and Andrew Heathcote are recommended.

Within Foreign firms, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s full-service TMT practice operates out of Hong Kong and mainland China, and is particularly renowned for complex commercial and regulatory work as well as M&A and contentious issues. Led by practice head Connie Carnabuci, the group acted for Imagi International Holdings on its acquisition of Toon Express, and advised AXA on its regional business process outsourcing to Genpact. Further highlights included acting for Reed Elsevier on the IP and IT aspects of its acquisition of China Business Information (CBI), and advising China Unicom on its agreement with Telefónica to enhance its existing strategic alliance.