The Legal 500

Within Foreign firms, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters’ track record has, in recent years, been supported by its growing strength in advising on a number of significant outbound regional and global strategic investments by Chinese financial institutions, corporations and Chinese state owned enterprises. The practice advised on the $3.5bn Project Baha Mar, a casino resort project financing, the first truly limited recourse project financing wholly provided by PRC lenders. The practice also advised Industrial and Commercial Bank of China as arranger and lender in connection with a $2.5bn term loan agreement for Sonangol Finance. Hong Kong-based Trevor Clark co-heads the Asian banking and projects practice; also in Hong Kong, David Irvine is a highly regarded LBO and structured lending lawyer. Beijing-based projects partner Thomas Ng is a Beijing-based projects partner, and in 2011, the firm relocated ‘brilliant and commercially prudent lawyer’ James Douglass to Beijing. Douglass is a senior project finance, energy and infrastructure expert. Beijing counsel Xiaohui Ji specialises in PRC-related and Sinosure-covered financing.

Within Foreign firms, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters ‘represents very good value for money’. The practice experienced some movement, with Robert Cleaver relocating to Hong Kong from London, Andrew Mackie returning to London from Hong Kong, former Beijing office head Paul Chow leaving for Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP’s Hong Kong office and Teresa Ma moving to Shanghai to head the office. The practice acted as legal counsel to Credit Suisse in relation to Shenzhen Development Bank’s independent directors’ proposed acquisition of 90.75% of the shares held by Ping An Insurance (Group) in Ping An Bank. Hong Kong-based Keith Johnson heads up the M&A practice in Asia; Johnson is ‘one of my favourite lawyers worldwide. He is experienced, astute, non-nonsense and creative’. Also in Hong Kong, Christopher Kelly, Betty Yap and Samantha Thompson are key lawyers; Shanghai-based Simon Poh is an M&A specialist and Jian Fang is well regarded.

Within Foreign firms, tier 4

Linklaters’ team is based out of Hong Kong and is recommended for finance-related disputes. Marc Harvey heads the practice, which includes renowned practitioners Tom Lidstrom and Melvin Sng.

Within Foreign firms, Linklaters LLP is a third tier firm,

Linklaters has a growing presence in China and is building up a broad client base within the financial services industry, often handling work with a cross-border element through its impressive regional network. The team also offers specialist advice on all aspects of executive incentive arrangements such as share options and trust arrangements. Recent work includes acting for RBS in its divestment of customers and employees in China to DBS Bank. May Qian and Richard Gu are key contacts in Shanghai.

Within Legal market overview,

Additionally, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP recruited Paul Chow, Linklaters’ former Beijing head; Linklaters’ Hong Kong outpost was also hit when Celia Lam joined Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP similarly launched a Hong Kong law practice when it hired Norton Rose LLP’s China corporate finance head, Freeman Chan. In November 2011, UK firms Barlow Lyde & Gilbert and Clyde & Co are due to complete their global merger, the newly combined firm retaining the name of Clyde & Co. Both firms are already present in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and the union is expected to boost the firm’s presence in the region.

Within Foreign firms, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters’ highlights included advising Lone Star on its off-market sale of a stake in Korea Exchange Bank to Hana Financial Group. Hong Kong-based Asia private equity head Christopher Kelly is recommended, and Betty Yap specialises in M&A and FDI transactions in China. Also in Hong Kong, Edward Smith heads up the investment management group in Asia and counsel Peggy Wang specialises in private equity.

Within Foreign firms, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters recently relocated oil and gas expert James Douglass to Beijing. Highlights included acting for a group of five lenders on a project finance basis, that represented these banks’ first limited resource project financing in India. In natural resources, the practice advised in connection with Minmetals Resources’ unsolicited $6.5bn cash offer for Equinox Minerals. On the infrastructure side, the team acted in connection with the Project Baha Mar $3.5bn casino resort project financing, the first truly limited recourse project financing wholly provided by PRC lenders. In Hong Kong, Stuart Salt co-heads the global energy group, Christopher Kelly is experienced in both listings and M&A deals in the mining sector, Trevor Clark is a project finance specialist, and Robert Cleaver specialises in equity offerings and M&A transactions. In Beijing, Thomas Ng is noted for projects, energy and outbound transactions for Chinese corporations and banks. Hong Kong banking and finance specialist David Irvine is a key contact for infrastructure matters.