The Legal 500

Within Foreign firms, Mayer Brown is a second tier firm,

Mayer Brown JSM has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and its reputation is particularly well founded in areas of asset finance, asset-backed lending, construction and real estate finance, derivatives, project finance and structured finance. Highlights included acting on behalf of ICBC Financial Leasing in its headline cross-border vessel leasing transaction in respect of a container vessel under construction by Hyundai Heavy Industries, which, on delivery, will be subject to a long-term time charter to COSCO Container Lines. Hang Seng Bank was advised as the mandated coordinating arranger on Hong Kong’s first ever Renminbi syndicated loan, a $50m-equivalent multi-currency term loan facility for China Automation Group. Alastair MacAulay, Allan Yu and Keith Cheung are well-known practitioners in Hong Kong, the PRC and the rest of Asia; also in Hong Kong Joe Tam and Irene Lau are best known for their PRC-related work.

Within Foreign firms, Mayer Brown is a third tier firm,

Mayer Brown JSM acted as lead international counsel for ION Geophysical Corporation in its formation of a joint venture with a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation and the simultaneous sale by ION of shares of ION common stock. In Beijing, Ian Lewis is ‘one of the best legal advisors I have ever had’. Beijing-based Xiangyang Ge is also ‘top-notch’. Shanghai-based Andy Yeo and Hong Kong lawyers Hannah Ha and Jeckle Chiu are key figures.

Within Foreign firms, tier 5

Mayer Brown JSM’s China team handles general commercial litigation, as well as arbitration and matters relating to employment, product liability, securities and white-collar and civil fraud.

Within Foreign firms Other recommended firms

Within Foreign firms, Mayer Brown is a third tier firm,

Mayer Brown JSM’s Beijing-based projects head Xiang Yang Ge is focused on the oil and gas industry, as well as the mining, renewable energy, climate change and environmental sectors. The team represented a major Chinese mining company in its proposed acquisition of an Australian public company. In Hong Kong, Kevin Owen advises on procurement methods for large-scale infrastructure projects.

Within Foreign firms, Mayer Brown is a first tier firm,

Key to Mayer Brown JSM’s excellent reputation is the ‘responsive, commercial and accurate’ service it provides. It is ‘strong in the conveyancing area’, and lead partner Billy Ho, based in Shanghai, ‘has a good understanding of customer needs and works effectively to meet their satisfaction’. The firm has been instructed by Swire Properties in relation to a joint venture with Sino-Ocean development, which will comprise a shopping centre, hotel, apartments and an office tower. It is also advising Sun Hung Kai Properties on its joint venture development Lake Dragon Project in Guangzhou, comprising apartments integrated with a golf course. It is also working with the client on the Liedecun Project, an integrated complex that includes a shopping mall, offices, a hotel and apartments.

Within Foreign firms, Mayer Brown is a third tier firm,

Julie Zhang leads the tax practice at Mayer Brown JSM and has advised numerous multinationals regarding foreign direct investments in China, as well as large SOEs regarding their outbound investment projects. Other experience includes assisting in the defence of Chinese clients in US anti-dumping investigations regarding the impact of VAT refunds. Clients include investment banks and private equity houses.