The Legal 500 > Baker & McKenzie > Taipei, TAIWAN

Baker & McKenzie

15TH FLOOR, HUNG TAI CENTER, 168 TUN HWA NORTH ROAD, TAIPEI 105, TAIWAN

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Taiwan : Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s key strengths include cross-border syndicated loan agreements and shipping and aircraft financing, as well as banking regulatory work. It recently advised DBS Bank on the establishment of operations in Taiwan. Justin Liang leads the 17-lawyer team. Other leading practitioners include Bee Leay Teo, Wayne Yang and Murray Bowler.

Taiwan : Capital markets

Within Capital markets, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

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.

Taiwan : Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Michael Wong and Kevin Wang co-head ‘afirst-class outfit’ at Baker & McKenzie, assisted by the ‘very insightful’ Henry Chang and the up-and-coming Enzo Pan, who is ‘sound and responsive’. Despite limited transactional activity in the Taiwanese market during the last 12 months, the team had a hand in landmark deals such as the $2.4bn acquisition of CNS cable TV by Want-Want.

Taiwan : Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

With ten partners in Taipei, Baker & McKenzie has a standout litigation practice that has the necessary resources to handle large and complex cases, particularly IP, construction and government procurement matters. The team successfully represented pharmaceutical company Genovate in a patent infringement case, obtaining the first compensation for an improper injunction awarded in Taiwan. David Liou leads the team.

Taiwan : Employment

Within Employment, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Seraphim Mar’s three-partner team at Baker & McKenzie has been busy handling termination cases and employment issues arising out of M&A transactions. The team recently acted for Standard Chartered Bank in the successful negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement with the bank’s corporate union. Howard Shiu was promoted to the partnership.

Taiwan : Insurance

Within Insurance, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Highlights for Tiffany Huang’s insurance team at Baker & McKenzie in 2011 included advising Ruentex Group on its $2.16bn acquisition of Nan Shan (AIG’s Taiwanese life insurance unit). The team was also instructed on a number of product liability claims. Other key clients include Allianz Taiwan Life Insurance, MassMutual and MetLife.

Taiwan : Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Despite the departure of the widely respected Stacey Lee and Joy Pan, Grace Shao’s team at Baker & McKenzie remains robust. Best known for its IP litigation capabilities, the practice group provides one of the most comprehensive services in the country, handling non-contentious matters including trade mark and patent portfolio management and copyright work. A recent highlight was successfully representing Genovate Technology in a patent infringement case against a Japanese pharmaceutical company. Its client list also includes Koninklijke Philips Electronics, Nokia Corporation and Abbott Laboratories.

Taiwan : Projects and energy

Within Projects and energy, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s experience spans infrastructure, energy and natural resources. Tiffany Huang’s ‘excellent’ team regularly advises foreign corporations in complex construction disputes, and has particular expertise in the transportation sector. 2011 saw the firm’s focus shift towards projects in the renewable energy sector, which has proved resilient during the market downturn. Recent work also includes representing clients in government procurement disputes, and in civil and commercial litigation and arbitration proceedings.

Taiwan : Real estate and construction

Within Real estate and construction, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Remington Huang and David Liou co-head the real estate and construction practice at Baker & McKenzie. The team recently provided legal and tax advice to Hong Kong-based Sino Land, in relation to the NT$250m acquisition of irrigated agricultural land; and advised GTM Development on the purchase and leaseback of a building worth NT$2.5bn.

Taiwan : Shipping

Within Shipping, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Henry Chang’s maritime and aviation practice at Baker & McKenzie is particularly renowned for its international asset financing capabilities. The team regularly advises Taiwanese banks and shipping companies on vessel financing deals worldwide.

Taiwan : TMT

Within TMT, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie recently lost lead partner Stacey Lee to parliament (the Legislative Yuan), leaving the ‘super’ Henry Chang at the helm of the TMT practice. The ‘very efficient’ team is praised for its ‘impressive strength in depth’, and attracted some significant new instructions in 2011. Recent highlights include assisting EverSol with solar panel supply agreements, and MediaTek with its acquisition of wi-fi chipset manufacturer Ralink Technology. The team is also experienced in data privacy compliance projects.

Taiwan : Tax

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie advises multinational corporate clients on the tax aspects of M&A deals and tax restructuring matters, as well as assisting high-net-worth individuals with cross-border estate planning and tax compliance issues. It has particular expertise in US tax regularisation. Michael Wong heads the team, and Dennis Lee is also recommended.

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