41ST FLOOR, ONE EXCHANGE SQUARE, 8 CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL HONG KONG
- Tel:
- Work +852 2522 7886
- Fax:
- Fax +852 2522 7006
- Web:
- www.lw.com
- Email:
What we say about the firm's legal practice in Hong Kong
Banking and finance
Within Banking and finance, Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,
Latham & Watkins LLP is principally known for project finance, although its practice is considerably broader. Clients highlight the ‘outstanding service’, ‘quick response times’ and ‘sensible business acumen’, with David Miles applauded for his ‘commitment’ and ‘in-depth knowledge’. Joseph Bevash recently led the team that advised the lenders on the $3.89bn financing for the development of the power and mining facilities forming part of the Hongsa Mine-Mouth Power Project in Lao PDR.
Capital markets (equity)
Within Capital markets (equity), Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,
Latham & Watkins LLP has a fine mix of both issuer and underwriter representations. With six Hong Kong corporate partners, it is not without firepower and while it covers most industries, it has a particularly strong record in the financial institutions space. Recent highlights include advising the underwriters on the $8.9bn rights offering of Bank of China. Clients commend the team’s ‘outstanding language capabilities’ which enable it to ‘work well with local Chinese clients’. Stanley Chow and Michael Liu are the senior partners. The loss of David Zhang to Kirkland & Ellis International LLP is a big blow to its ability to do SEC-registered deals.
Corporate (including M&A)
Within Corporate (including M&A), Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,
Latham & Watkins LLP is eminent in cross-border and multi-jurisdictional transactions involving Greater China. In 2010, the firm represented Repsol in the $17.8bn sale of a significant interest in Repsol Brasil to Sinopec. Kenneth Chan, Cathy Yeung, Simon Berry, Michael Liu and Stanley Chow are all highly recommended.
Dispute resolution
Within Dispute resolution, tier 5
Latham & Watkins LLP’s Simon Powell is a ‘standout’ practitioner, who is ‘friendly’, ‘persistent’ and has ‘excellent legal knowledge’. Although known as a strong litigator, he currently has a principle focus on arbitration.
Dispute resolution International arbitration
Within Dispute resolution International arbitration, Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,
Latham & Watkins LLP’s dispute resolution practice is now principally focused on international arbitration and Hong Kong stalwart Simon Powell has made significant progress since joining the firm from Jones Day. Investment, trade and shareholder disputes across Asia dominate.
Legal market overview
Within Legal market overview,
In August 2011, Kirkland & Ellis International LLP made the biggest splash by hiring seven partners from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Allen & Overy and Latham & Watkins LLP. These include leading M&A partner Nicholas Norris and eminent capital markets partner Dominic Tsun.
Private equity
Within Private equity, Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,
Latham & Watkins LLP works regularly with global client Carlyle and Primavera Capital. Tim Gardner recently advised Primavera on the privatisation of NYSE-listed Chemspec International.
Projects and energy
Within Projects and energy, Latham & Watkins LLP is a second tier firm,
Latham & Watkins LLP features a ‘good team’ in the project finance space.
Regulatory
Within Regulatory, tier 5
Also recommended are: Simon Berry at Latham & Watkins LLP, who advises financial institutions on banking and broker regulations and listings; the growing regulatory capability at Norton Rose Hong Kong, which was boosted by the arrival of Charlotte Robins from Clifford Chance in 2011; and James Wood at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, who has regulatory experience in the funds sector.
Restructuring and insolvency
Within Restructuring and insolvency, tier 4
Latham & Watkins LLP significantly increased its capabilities with the arrival of Simon Powell (‘one of the best insolvency lawyers in Hong Kong’), from Jones Day in mid 2010. Powell brings a wealth of experience in domestic and multi-jurisdictional matters, and is advising Australian company Mount Gibson Mining on a claim against Pioneer Iron & Steel Group, which is currently in liquidation. Providing a ‘professional yet personal approach’, the team ‘utilises strong industry knowledge and expertise to deliver good results’. Recent clients include Tatung and KPMG, and it is advising Retail Holdings Limited and Phoenix Advisors on the liquidation of Akai.
Further information on Latham & Watkins LLP
Please choose from this list to view details of what we say about Latham & Watkins LLP in other jurisdictions.
United Arab Emirates
Offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Investment funds : Investment funds
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
Belgium
Offices in Brussels
China
Offices in Shanghai and Beijing
- Banking and finance : Foreign firms
- Corporate & M&A : Foreign firms
- Private equity/venture capital : Foreign firms
- Projects and energy : Foreign firms
Germany
Offices in Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Munich
- Antitrust : Antitrust
- Banking and finance : Bank lending
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Large deals
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Employment : Employment
- Information technology and outsourcing : Information technology and outsourcing
- Insolvency and restructuring : Restructuring
- Media : Media: Press and publishing
- Private equity : Private equity
- Real estate and construction : Real estate
- Tax : Tax
Spain
Offices in Madrid and Barcelona
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Capital markets (US law) : Capital markets (US law)
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- EU and competition : EU and competition
- Tax : Tax
France
Offices in Paris
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Dispute resolution : Commercial litigation
- Dispute resolution : International arbitration
- EU competition and distribution : EU competition and distribution
- Employment : Employment
- IT, telecoms and the internet : IT, telecoms and the internet
- Insolvency : Insolvency
- Mergers and acquisitions : Mergers and acquisitions
- Private equity : Private equity
- Tax : Tax
Hong Kong
Offices in Hong Kong
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets (equity) : Capital markets (equity)
- Corporate (including M&A) : Corporate (including M&A)
- Dispute resolution : Dispute resolution
- Dispute resolution International arbitration : Dispute resolution International arbitration
- Private equity : Private equity
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
- Regulatory : Regulatory
- Restructuring and insolvency : Restructuring and insolvency
Indonesia
India
Italy
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Debt
- Capital markets : Equity
- Corporate and M&A: Milan and Rome : Corporate and M&A: Milan and Rome
- EU, regulatory and competition law : EU, regulatory and competition law
- Energy : Energy
- Real estate : Real estate
- Restructuring and insolvency : Restructuring and insolvency
Japan
Offices in Tokyo
- Banking and finance : International firms and joint ventures
- Corporate and M&A : International firms and joint ventures
- Projects and energy : International firms and joint ventures
London
Offices in London
- Corporate and commercial : Overview
- Corporate and commercial : Commercial contracts
- Corporate and commercial : Corporate tax
- Corporate and commercial : EU and competition
- Corporate and commercial : Equity capital markets: UK capability
- Corporate and commercial : Equity capital markets: US capability
- Corporate and commercial : M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, 250m+
- Corporate and commercial : M&A: US law capability
- Corporate and commercial : Private equity: transactions
- Crime, fraud and licensing : Fraud: civil
- Dispute resolution : Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Dispute resolution : Commercial litigation
- Dispute resolution : International arbitration
- Dispute resolution : Public international law
- Finance : Overview
- Finance : Acquisition finance
- Finance : Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans
- Finance : Corporate restructuring and insolvency
- Finance : Debt capital markets
- Finance : Derivatives and structured products
- Finance : Emerging markets
- Finance : High yield
- Finance : Islamic finance
- Human resources : Employment
- Human resources : Pensions
- Insurance : Insurance and reinsurance litigation
- Projects, energy and natural resources : Mining and minerals
- Projects, energy and natural resources : Oil and gas
- Projects, energy and natural resources : Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Overview
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : IT and telecoms
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Intellectual property
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Media and entertainment
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
Philippines
Qatar
Offices in Doha
Russia
Offices in Moscow
Singapore
Offices in Singapore
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Foreign firms
- Capital markets : Foreign firms
- Corporate and M&A : Foreign firms
- Projects and energy : Foreign firms
- Restructuring and insolvency : Foreign firms
Saudi Arabia
Offices in Riyadh
- Legal market overview : Legal market overview
- Banking and finance : Banking and finance
- Capital markets : Capital markets
- Corporate and M&A : Corporate and M&A
- Projects and energy : Projects and energy
United States
Offices in Chicago, Washington DC, Silicon Valley, Costa Mesa, Newark, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, and Boston
- Finance : Asset finance and leasing
- Finance : Bank lending (including other sources of financing)
- Finance : Capital markets: debt offerings
- Finance : Capital markets: equity offerings
- Finance : Capital markets: global offerings
- Finance : Capital markets: high-yield debt offerings
- Finance : Corporate restructuring
- Finance : Financial services: regulatory
- Finance : Project finance
- Finance : Structured finance
- Industry focus : Energy: transaction and regulatory
- Industry focus : Environment: litigation
- Industry focus : Environment: transaction and regulatory
- Industry focus : Healthcare and life sciences
- Industry focus : Insurance: advice to policyholders
- Intellectual property : Overview
- Intellectual property : Copyright
- Intellectual property : Patent litigation: full coverage
- Intellectual property : Trademarks: litigation
- Investment fund formation and management : Private equity funds
- Investment fund formation and management : Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
- Litigation : International arbitration
- Litigation : Product liability and mass tort defense: consumer products (including tobacco)
- Litigation : Product liability and mass tort defense: toxic tort
- Litigation : Securities: shareholder litigation
- Litigation : Supreme Court and appellate
- Litigation : Trade secrets
- Litigation : White-collar criminal defense
- Media, technology and telecoms : Technology: data protection and privacy
- Media, technology and telecoms : Technology: outsourcing
- Media, technology and telecoms : Technology: transactions
- Media, technology and telecoms : Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory
- Media, technology and telecoms : Telecoms and broadcast: transactional
- Mergers, acquisitions and buyouts : Antitrust
- Mergers, acquisitions and buyouts : M&A: mega-deals ($5bn+)
- Mergers, acquisitions and buyouts : Private equity buyouts
- Mergers, acquisitions and buyouts : Venture capital and emerging companies
- Real estate and construction : Land use/zoning
- Real estate and construction : Real estate
- Tax : Domestic tax: Central
- Tax : Domestic tax: East Coast
- Tax : Domestic tax: West Coast
- Tax : Employee benefits and executive compensation
- Tax : International
- Tax : Tax controversy