The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has gone some way to re-establishing its finance credentials in Asia, with the arrival of leveraged finance specialist David Winfield and debt capital markets and structured finance expert Andrew Heathcote in 2010. While much of the practice previously centred on borrowers, the firm has successfully achieved a greater swathe of instructions from leading banks. The firm further enhanced its standing by hiring former Linklaters banking counsel and Mandarin speaker Howard Lam as a partner in 2011.

Within Capital markets (debt), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has carved out its own share of the RMB bond market on behalf of both issuers and underwriters. Andrew Heathcote is the key partner with Calvin Lai on the US securities side.

Within Capital markets (equity), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Rocked by the departure of heavy-hitters Christopher Wong and Ng Kay Ian, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer will have to work especially hard to preserve its exalted reputation for equity capital markets (ECM). The transfer of senior figure Stephen Revell from the London office will help and he links up with China chairman and Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) veteran Teresa Ko (‘the best in Hong Kong’). US securities partner Calvin Lai is also highly recommended. The firm continues to haul in the landmark deals including advising Samsonite on its $1.25bn Hong Kong IPO. Grace Huang is regarded as a ‘cornerstone’ and ‘fantastic’ partner, being ‘very present on her deals’.

Within Corporate (including M&A), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has a strong emphasis on North Asia, particularly in the PRC. It has had considerable success in acting for PRC entities on outbound M&A. This includes advising China’s Lenovo on its landmark joint venture with NEC, and representing Zhejiang Geely on its $1.8bn acquisition of Volvo. The firm is also a leader in public M&A involving Chinese institutions. Asia managing partner Robert Ashworth and China chairman Teresa Ko have magnificent reputations.

Within Dispute resolution, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Though without the volume of Hong Kong litigation that its main Magic Circle rivals benefit from, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is clearly a quality outfit and is clearly in the process of building a much more substantial platform in Hong Kong and Asia. ‘Talented man’ Richard Chalk has an immense amount of Asia experience, while Peter Yuen is having considerable success in Hong Kong and PRC disputes, and is helping to develop the firm’s world-leading arbitration expertise in the region. The firm recently acted for a PRC businessman against a well-known US company in an HKIAC arbitration relating to a dispute over a purchase agreement.

Within Dispute resolution International arbitration, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has global credibility including in investor-state disputes in Asia. Peter Yuen is particularly well reputed in connection with PRC-related arbitrations.

Within Intellectual property, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer handles patent, trade mark and copyright matters as well as IP aspects of commercial dealings. Recent work includes trade mark and branding advice relating to the launch of the Tesco/Legou co-branded credit card with Bank of Communications; and managing KKR’s Asia trade mark portfolio. Connie Carnabuci is an ‘excellent IP transactional lawyer’, and Peter Yuen is recommended for contentious work. New clients include Dyson, Japan Tobacco International and Blackstone.

Within Private equity, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s prestigious private equity client roster is illustrative of its strong presence in this sector, including a series of deals for Warburg Pincus and other international private equity houses, but has also completed a number of transactions for PRC-based funds. Asia managing partner Robert Ashworth now has a particularly strong focus on private equity.

Within Regulatory, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer continues to build its regulatory capabilities, with Royce Miller at the helm of the practice. Clients include private equity firms, fund managers, banks and insurance companies. Although a standalone practice, the team benefits substantially from the firm’s strength in other areas, often providing regulatory advice as part of major corporate transactions. Highlights for Miller included providing regulatory assistance to AIA on its $20.5bn IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and advising a sovereign wealth fund on insider dealing issues.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer continues to establish a practice, following a period of substantial change. David Winfield and Andrew Heathcote are both active in the arena and advise several Chinese companies. Howard Lam’s arrival from Linklaters in May 2011 has also boosted the team’s profile in the area.

Within Structured finance and securitisation, tier 4

‘One to watch’, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer fields a depth of experience across its ranks despite its relatively new team; both David Winfield and Andrew Heathcote relocated to Hong Kong from London in early 2010. The team recently advised on three receivables financing transactions, as well as advising an international investment bank on an equity derivatives transaction. HSBC remains a key client.

Within TMT, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

Clients would ‘strongly recommend’ Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for TMT work, where the lawyers provide an ‘excellent level of service and appropriateness of advice’. The firm recently advised Imagi International Holdings on its acquisition of Toon Express Group (the manager and owner of various animation characters); and represented Vodafone on an agreement to sell its entire 3.2% interest in China Mobile. Department head Connie Carnabuci and counsel Mark Parsons offer ‘technical expertise combined with the advantage of being very nice to work with, no matter how difficult the circumstance’.