The Legal 500

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

Baker & McKenzie has ‘a strong aircraft finance team - they always ensure a smooth delivery’. The practice is led by the ‘clever and experienced’ Andrew Lockhart in Hong Kong and Shanghai-based Harvey Lau, who ‘really understands what airlines need’. The team represented Shanghai Commercial Bank as equity investor in leveraged leases of two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft leased to Cathay Pacific, valued at HK$706m, and acted for Thai Airways on the expiry of a lease end purchase of a Boeing B747 worth $38.9m. Clients praise the team’s ‘extensive understanding of the industry’.

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

Baker & McKenzie’s relationships with Asian financial institutions, such as ICBC, China Construction Bank and CITIC Capital, helped the practice weather the financial downturn. Andrew Lockhart and Barry Cheng head the practice, with Stephen Eno also recommended. The ‘very efficient and responsive’ team represented Standard Chartered Bank in a $200m pre-funded syndicated term loan facility to Zoomlion Overseas Investment Management, and advised a syndicate of lenders led by Bank of China in a $600m term loan facility for Huawei Technology.

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

Baker & McKenzie is stronger in equity, having seen its debt work dry up even more than others. The team is ‘reliable and professional’, and ‘always gives precise and appropriate advice with a positive attitude’. Milton Cheng advised Pacific Andes International on a HK$566.4m rights issue. Key figures include Elsa Chan and CY Leung.

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

Baker & McKenzie boasts a very strong non-contentious practice, with David Smith advising the authorities in a high value project on the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) development. Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation instructed the team on the planning and design of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. The non-contentious practice is complemented by a steady flow of contentious work, with Andrew Aglionby frequently advising employers in arbitration proceedings. Disputes arising from energy sector projects is another focus of the broad practice.

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

Baker & McKenzie ‘provides a good service in terms of identifying key issues and giving quick responses - it is a firm we can trust for its advice’. The practice acted for the offerers, China Netcom and its parent, on the proposed privatisation of PCCW, and represented Hutchison Ports on the acquisition of three European container terminals. Practice head Yuk Tong Cheung is ‘a very experienced lawyer in advisory and M&A for mainland China and Hong Kong corporates, having worked in the industry for a long time’. Nancy Leigh and Dorothea Koo are key contacts.

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

Baker & McKenzie’s highly praised practice has seen a ‘very active’ year. The team, headed by Gary Seib, is renowned for its cross-border work, with PRC work being one particular focus. Cynthia Tang is recommended for litigation and regulatory work, and Andrew Aglionby is renowned for his construction disputes work, while the practice also covers areas such as restructuring and insurance related litigation. In the arbitration arena, the team acts for several multinational companies on matters relating to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, and the practice co-ordinates dispute resolution for a leading US-listed consulting services group in Asia.

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

Deacons ‘cover almost all domestic HK litigation’, and the broad practice impresses with the ‘strategic’ Daisy Tong, who ‘brought an extremely difficult and bitterly contested case to a satisfactory conclusion’. Robert Clark leads on the insurance side, where the firm is renowned for the substantial litigation undertaken. The team acted in a Court of Final Appeal case on behalf of a major developer, and defended a senior executive of an investment bank in a high profile insider trading trial. Several financial institutions instruct the large 17-partner department.

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

Baker & McKenzie’s high profile employment practice, is driven by the ‘impressive’ PRC employment law expert Andreas Lauffs and the ‘always excellent and spot-on’ Jennifer Van Dale, who has been promoted to partner and whose clients ‘had a terrific experience’ working with her. The group capitalises on the regional network, and is doing very well in China, where the arrival of special counsel Grace Shie from the Washington DC office is an asset. Jennifer Van Dale advised a US listed insurance and financial services organisation on restructuring, bonus and employee retention issues across eleven jurisdictions.

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

Baker & McKenzie render ‘competent’ advice to insurers, banks, finance houses, and government institutions. Insurance regulatory specialist Paul Tan heads the group whose key clients are AIA, Manulife, New York Life and BOC Group Life. One highlight was the advice to a US insurer on the acquisition of a locally incorporated life insurer.

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

Baker & McKenzie provide their clients with ‘practical solutions time and time again’, and in Loke-Khoon Tan, has one of the leading practitioners in Hong Kong. Registrations and enforcement work are key strengths of this versatile practice, that represented Nokia on various injunctions for design patent infringements in China, and acted for a well-known restaurant group in a passing off action, where the team obtained an interlocutory injunction. The practice draws additional expertise from the China team, and acts frequently for an impressive roster of Asian clients on regional matters.

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

Baker & McKenzie focuses primarily on closed-ended funds, especially REITs and ETFs, for Hong Kong and PRC clients. Jason Ng leads the team, which has ‘a very good reputation and high level of expertise’, while Milton Cheng also deserves mention.

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

Baker & McKenzie advised private equity fund ARA Asia Dragon Fund on the acquisition of Nanjing International Finance Centre, valued at RMB1.6bn. Yuk Tong Cheung, Dorothea Koo and Jason Ng are key figures.

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

Baker & McKenzie has expertise across infrastructure, resources and construction. David Smith acted for MTR Corporation in planning a $3bn express rail link. Korea expert Won Lee continues to represent Korea Electric Power on its uranium mining project in Canada, a $15m joint venture with Fission Energy. Clients say the team is ‘responsive, has good industry knowledge and gives appropriate advice’.

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

Baker & McKenzie features a large regional practice and the team is praised for its ‘grasp of the commercial perspective’, with clients being particularly impressed by the ‘able’ Edmond Chan and REIT specialist Milton Cheng. Major REIT deals and hotel-related work kept the practice busy, and the team acted for Champion REIT on the $1.65bn acquisition of the Langham Place Mall & Office Tower. Standard Chartered-Istithmar Asia Real Estate Opportunity Fund and the Hong Kong Urban Renewal Authority are further clients of the ‘first choice team for non-trivial legal activities’.

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

Baker & McKenzie’s cross-practice model draws on expertise in banking, dispute resolution, tax, real estate and insurance. Milton Cheng leads the practice ,while Andrew Lockhart advised ICBC International (formerly ICIC) on the transfer of assets and liabilities to ICBC Asia.

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

Baker & McKenzie represented the creditors of Asia Aluminum in its debt restructuring and negotiating with Chinese and foreign investors, and advised CITIC Ka Wah Bank on the proposed debt restructuring of Egana. This matter has now gone into insolvency, and the firm is acting for the provisional liquidators. Clients value the firm’s ‘geographical reach’. Stephen Eno leads the restructuring side, while litigator Gary Seib is recommended for insolvency.

Within Structured finance and securitisation, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie advises on a range of asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralised debt obligations, led by Barry Cheng. Key clients include Bank of East Asia, Thai Airways, Shanghai Commercial Bank and CITIC Capital. Clients say the team is ‘creative’ and ‘timely’.

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

Baker & McKenzie focuses on cross-border transactions and venture work. The team, headed by Nancy Leigh, has seen an increase in outsourcing and privacy work, and acted for China Network Communications and its subsidiary China Netcom on the proposed privatisation of PCCW. SK Telecom continues to instruct the practice, and AT&T is a client in outsourcing matters.

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

Baker & McKenzie’s range of work is impressive, with Michael Olesnicky and Jacqueline Shek displaying ‘excellent knowledge’ and giving ‘strategic advice’. US tax specialist Richard Weisman’s return from New York and partner hire Steven Sieker have strengthened the team. Tax planning, tax controversy, transfer pricing, M&A, and employment-related taxes are areas of focus and clients find the team ‘far superior to one of the Big 4 professional services firms’.