The Legal 500

Within Asset finance, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie provides a ‘strong service’ and is ‘very experienced’ in aircraft leasing and financing work. The ‘excellent’ Andrew Lockhart advised DBS Bank as lender in two financings in 2010. Lockhart continues to act for Thai Airways. The ‘extremely dedicated and efficient’ Allen Ng is ‘full of energy’, and regularly advises Air China. The ‘knowledgeable and experienced’ Harvey Lau provides support from the Shanghai office.

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

Baker & McKenzie ‘can stand alongside most top-tier firms for banking and finance’ and is particularly recommended for China-outbound and RMB financing deals as well as structured finance. Andrew Lockhart has an ‘excellent understanding of the economic drivers behind the products’, and is ‘commercial and reasonable to deal with’. Thanks in part to the efforts of Barry Cheng, the firm has successfully built a fine portfolio of Chinese bank clients. Export credit deals now form a large part of the practice.

Within Capital markets (debt), Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie is recommended for a broad range of debt products including convertible bonds and MTN programmes. Scott Clemens and Brian Spires are recommended. Perpetual capital, RMB bonds and high-yield debt have also features strongly.

Within Capital markets (equity), tier 4

Baker & McKenzie has a historically potent practice, acting for major PRC issuers. It continues to be active in connection with large rights issues on behalf of clients such as Bank of China and Bank of Communications. Elsa Chan heads the securities practice in Hong Kong, while CY Leung retired in July 2011.

Within Construction, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

The construction group at Baker & McKenzie maintains a solid presence in the Hong Kong market, however it has undergone some substantial changes since 2010. Notably, department head Andrew Aglionby left to join Olswang in London, leaving David Smith as the partner in charge, and disputes lawyer James Kwan arrived from Simmons & Simmons to bolster the contentious practice. Disney remains a key client for the firm; the firm is advising it on the development of Shanghai Disneyland - one of the largest-ever foreign investment projects in Shanghai.

Within Corporate (including M&A), Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie has real regional credibility and is a genuine one-stop-shop in Hong Kong. Clients acknowledge the firm’s ‘excellent knowledge of local best practices’ and ‘practical legal advice’, with Dorothea Koo and Yuk Tong Cheung singled out for particular praise. The firm has a formidable China-facing practice, illustrated by its advice to Disney on its joint venture with Shanghai Shendi in connection with the Shanghai Disneyland project. At a regional level, it represented SEEK on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Asia recruitment website operator Jobs DB. Nancy Leigh is also recommended.

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

Baker & McKenzie remains a credible force in commercial litigation and has successfully developed a standing in compliance and internal investigations, most notably in relation to China and pan-Asia. Much credit for the latter should go to Cynthia Tang, whose regulator experience provides ‘reassurance to management’ and gives her real ‘insight’ into the problems that clients face. Gary Seib heads the commercial litigation side of the practice, which has a notably strong record in insolvency disputes, trusts and estates cases, and judicial review.

Within Dispute resolution International arbitration, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie enhanced its credentials with the hire of genuine arbitration specialist James Kwan from Simmons & Simmons in 2011. He has a fine reputation in CIETAC and Hong Kong arbitrations, while head of the dispute resolution department Gary Seib is also a recognised arbitration expert.

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

Baker & McKenzie delivers ‘quick turnaround times, excellent business knowledge and a range of team members to call upon’. The group features non-contentious lawyer Jennifer Van Dale, who is praised for her ‘wide-ranging experience and knowledge of the law across Asia’, while for contentious instructions and investigations, Susan Kendall is recommended. The team recently advised a major multinational technology company on employee and customer data transfers to the US from across the Asia Pacific.

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

At Baker & McKenzie, Paul Tan leads a team of six other partners in advising on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. Tan, together with the ‘responsive and helpful’ Martin Tam, who has experience in investor protection and data privacy protection matters, is currently advising an insurance company on a Privacy Commissioner Investigation into Octopus, following the selling of personal data of cardholders. Gary Seib handles professional negligence and professional indemnity claims, and the team is appointed to the Solicitors Indemnity Fund’s panel.

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

There is ‘no doubt’ that Baker & McKenzie has a ‘very strong IP presence in Hong Kong’. Led by Loke-Khoon Tan, the team not only assists clients with all aspects of portfolio management and commercial IP, but also offers expertise in anti-piracy, enforcement and IP litigation. High-profile clients include Nokia and Microsoft, and the firm is advising Polo Ralph Lauren on both local and international aspects of trade mark portfolio management, registration and anti-counterfeiting. Life sciences and pharmaceuticals are growth areas for the IP team, for which Isabella Liu is the key driver. Liu was promoted to partner in 2011.

Within Investment funds, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s niche is in the real estate funds arena, where the firm has depth of experience. Practice head Milton Cheng and the ‘very good’ Jason Ng acted for DB Trustees as trustee of the RMB10.48bn Hui Xian REIT, the first RMB-denominated REIT in Hong Kong. In 2011, Ng acted for Gaw Capital Partners in the formation of a private equity real estate fund. Elsewhere, the ‘efficient, professional and proactive’ Martin Tam advises on ETFs and open-end funds, counting BOCI-Prudential Asset Management as a client. The ‘efficient and very responsive team’ provides ‘high-quality and constructive advice’.

Within Private equity, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie has a steady diet of private equity transactions, with clients such as Affinity Equity Partners, Apax, China Investment Corporation (CIC), EQT and Primus Financial. The firm recently advised EQT Greater China II on its secondary buyout of leading Taiwanese TV channel operator Gala TV. Yuk Tong Cheung and Dorothea Koo are the principle partners.

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

Providing ‘excellent service’, Baker & McKenzie attracts praise for the depth of its projects practice, headed up by the recommended David Smith. The team handles both private projects in Hong Kong, and outbound work for Chinese clients, and advises on power, oil and gas, infrastructure and renewables projects, among others. It is advising the MTR Corporation on the $3bn Hong Kong section of the high speed Express Rail Link between Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Smith is also assisting Ocean Park Corporation on its $5.5bn master redevelopment project.

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

Clients are ‘very satisfied’ with the level of service provided by Baker & McKenzie, which excels in its response times, technical skills and ability to meet tight deadlines. The nine-partner department is led by Angela Lee, who specialises in land and planning law, real estate development, sales and acquisitions, leasing and real estate finance. Her team is advising DB Trustees (Hong Kong) on the RMB10.48bn Hui Xian REIT, which is the first RMB-denominated REIT IPO in Hong Kong. The ‘very experienced’ Edmond Chan gives ‘useful, practical advice and understands his clients’ needs’.

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

At Baker & McKenzie, the team provides regulatory advice to a range of institutions across sectors including banking, pensions, wealth management, and investment funds. Milton Cheng advised DB Trustees regarding the Hui Xian REIT, the first RMB-denominated REIT in Hong Kong. Insurance specialist Martin Tam acts for the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers, and also advised BOCI-Prudential Asset Management on the establishment and listing of two ETFs. Cynthia Tang acts in contentious cases and continues to assist a Singaporean bank on inquiries related to previous transactions with an insurance company. Andrew Lockhart is recommended.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie fields a strong team and is noted for its reach throughout the region. Gary Seib and Anthony Poon lead on the insolvency side, and practice head Stephen Eno has a depth of expertise advising on the restructuring of companies and debts. Eno recently advised three syndicated lenders on the restructuring of three syndicated loans aggregating $220m. The team continues to advise the Hong Kong banking creditors of Asia Aluminum in ongoing matters related to its debt restructuring, and Seib is assisting the provisional liquidators of EganaGoldpfeil Group in its insolvency.

Within Structured finance and securitisation, tier 4

Baker & McKenzie advises issuers and banks across a range of matters, including asset-backed securities, collateralised debt, tax-driven licensings and trade receivables. Barry Cheng recently advised Disney on a complex structuring of shareholder loans with regard to a Sino-foreign venture for the development of a new theme park in Shanghai. Practice head Andrew Lockhart counts Thai Airways and DBS Bank as clients. The recommended Allen Ng made partner in 2010.

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

Baker & McKenzie handles projects in the media and entertainment, technology, e-commerce and communications industries. The group, led by Nancy Leigh, is advising Disney on its joint venture with the Shanghai Shendi Group, a state-owned company established for the Shanghai Disneyland project. Other noteworthy individuals include Won Lee, recommended for representing Korean sellers and foreign buyers, and special counsel Anna Gamvros, for her ‘good understanding of the law and business-oriented, practical advice’.

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

Clients ‘would not hesitate to recommend’ Baker & McKenzie for tax and trusts work, where, for some, the five-partner team is ‘head and shoulders above the rest of the Hong Kong pack’. The firm is recognised for its expertise in both corporate tax and personal tax and trusts. Led by the ‘solid’ Michael Olesnicky, the department has a ‘good understanding of the industry and gets to know its clients’ businesses’. For some, Olesnicky is the ‘anchor point’ for the firm’s tax practice, however Steven Sieker also reaps praise as being ‘responsive, easy to work with and willing to discuss practical, business-friendly solutions’. Sieker handles regional tax advisory work, tax and estate planning and contentious matters, and is currently providing ongoing advice to Fortune REIT on tax and trust aspects of the transfer of its listing from Singapore to Hong Kong; this HK$11.5bn deal is the first dual REIT listing in Asia.