The Legal 500

Within Asset finance, White & Case LLP is a third tier firm,

As part of an Asia-wide practice drawing on strengths in Singapore, Tokyo and Beijing, White & Case’s Hong Kong asset finance team is led by Hallam Chow, who is noted for his aircraft finance experience. In 2010, Chow advised Nomura on a sharia-compliant sukuk issuance of $100m to finance the purchase of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft and an Airbus A320-232, leased to Norwegian Air Shuttle and Wizz Air Hungary respectively. Clients include China Development Bank and Jumbo Power Link.

Within Banking and finance, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case is recommended for leveraged finance and investment grade lending, with eminent figure John Hartley (‘constructive’, ‘innovative’, ‘efficient’, ‘wealth of experience’) to the fore. He acted for the lead arrangers on the $75m acquisition financing provided to MMI Precision Technologies for its acquisition of Intri-Plex Technologies. The firm has successfully targeted commercial banks such as Standard Chartered and PRC banks including China Development Bank and Bank of China. PRC-outbound lending is now a big chunk of the overall practice.

Within Capital markets (debt), White & Case LLP is a third tier firm,

White & Case is recommended for high-yield debt, with genuine high-yield specialist Anna-Marie Slot (‘bright’, ‘accessible’, ‘gets things done’) to the fore. The practice largely acts for underwriters and is regarded as a ‘go-to’ firm by clients who commend the ‘integrated’ international network.

Within Corporate (including M&A), tier 5

White & Case’s loss of Seung Chong and Jeremy Leifer to Proskauer Rose LLP is a considerable blow and the firm will have to work hard to restore its reputation in corporate and M&A; it has sought to do so with the hire of Virginia Tam from Jones Day. Even so, it continues to work on headline deals including Nestlé’s acquisition of a 60% stake in Hsu Fu Chi.

Within Investment funds, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

Providing ‘quality advice on difficult and in-depth issues’, White & Case has a ‘very strong commitment’ to funds work. Its broad practice advises on hedge, sovereign wealth and private equity funds. ‘Available around the clock’, Sharon Hartline has a ‘very strong work ethic and client focus’ and provides clients with a ‘seamless formation and management’ of funds. The team represented PAG (Pacific Alliance Group) on an Asia-focused special situations fund, and also advised Australian-based private equity firm CHAMP in the formation of CHAMP Buyout III. Clients rate the firm’s global reach and ‘unique expertise’ in advising on cross-jurisdictional matters. Anthony Wong is recommended.

Within Projects and energy, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case has a strong reputation in Asia for its projects expertise, and fields a one-partner practice in Hong Kong, led by Hallam Chow. It has experience advising on clean energy and renewables projects, oil and gas, and outbound development work from China. Chow is advising Saudi Aramco in a joint venture with Sinopec to develop a refinery project in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Elsewhere, Chow represented China Development Bank in two financings for telecoms-related projects, and is currently advising Asian Development Bank on a loan to China WindPower Group, for wind power projects in China.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

White & Case fields a ‘good restructuring team’, with John Hartley and Beijing-based Baldwin Cheng singled out for their experience. The firm assists lenders in non-contentious cases, and recently advised a global investment bank on the restructuring of financing for a China-based advertising company.

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