What we say about the firm's legal practice in China
Banking and finance
Within Foreign firms, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,
White & Case LLP represented the joint mandated lead arrangers and joint mandated bookrunners in an acquisition financing provided to MMI Precision Technologies to facilitate its acquisition of Intri-Plex Technologies and advised Deutsche Bank (Hong Kong) in a $260m pre-IPO financing, comprised of a term loan plus warrants, to Karvin. The practice also acted for China Development Bank Corporation (CDB) on two loans, together valued at over $20bn, to Venezuela’s Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela, one of the largest that CDB has extended to any one country or lender. Xiaoming Li is the Beijing-based China practice head; also in Beijing, Baldwin Cheng, Steve Payne and Xiaogang (Sean) Wang are key practitioners. Hong Kong-based Asia banking, capital markets and restructuring head John Hartley is recommended.
Corporate & M&A
Within Foreign firms, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,
White & Case LLP advised Industrial and Commercial Bank of China on its groundbreaking acquisition of an 80% interest in The Bank of East Asia (USA) National Association, which, subject to regulatory approvals, means that ICBC will become the first Chinese bank to own a commercial bank in the US. The practice also acted for GMR Group in the headline $1.2bn sale of its 50% stake in the global power generation company InterGen, marking the largest cross-border M&A transaction between India and China to date. Shanghai partner John Leary is ‘a strong lawyer’. In Beijing, overall China practice head Xiaoming Li and Vivian Tsoi are recommended.
Dispute resolution
Within Foreign firms Other recommended firms
Intellectual property
Within Foreign firms Other recommended firms
Projects and energy
Within Foreign firms, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,
White & Case LLP represented China Development Bank Corporation on two loans, together valued at over $20bn, to Venezuela’s Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela, marking one of the largest that CDB has extended to any one country or lender. The practice also acted for a PRC state-owned oil company in connection with the acquisition of a project in Russia, including the acquisition of gas fields. Beijing-based Xiaoming Li and Steve Payne are recommended. In Hong Kong, Hallam Chow is a key contact.
TMT
Within Foreign firms, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,
The team at White & Case LLP has ‘good strength in depth’. A recent highlight was representing China Development Bank (CDB) in relation to two $350m Sinosure-backed senior secured term loan facilities to the Aircel Group in India, the proceeds of which will be used to procure telecoms equipment and services from ZTE and Huawei Technologies. Beijing-based Xiaoming Li led the deal. In the Shanghai office, John Leary is noted for his extensive work on behalf of long-term client Publicis Groupe, which instructed the firm on its expansion into Greater China.