The Legal 500

White & Case

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Hong Kong

Asset finance

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.

Banking and finance

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.

Capital markets (debt)

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.

Corporate (including M&A)

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.

Investment funds

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.

Projects and energy

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.

Restructuring and insolvency

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.

TMT

Within TMT Other recommended firms


What we say worldwide

Please choose another White & Case LLP office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

United Arab Emirates

Offices in Abu Dhabi

Belgium

Offices in Brussels

China

Offices in Beijing and Shanghai

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and Dusseldorf

Algeria

Finland

Offices in Helsinki

France

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Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Hungary

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Indonesia

India

Offices in Mumbai

Japan

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Kazakhstan

Offices in Almaty

London

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Philippines

Poland

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Qatar

Offices in Doha

Romania

Offices in Bucharest

Russia

Offices in Moscow

South Africa

Offices in Johannesburg

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

Slovakia

Offices in Bratislava

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Switzerland

Offices in Geneva

Tunisia

Turkey

Offices in Istanbul and Ankara

United States

Offices in Washington DC, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and Palo Alto

Legal Developments in Hong Kong

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
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