The Legal 500

Clifford Chance LLP

What we say about the firm's legal practice in China

Banking and finance

Within Foreign firms, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance LLP’s ‘excellent individual’ Stephen Harder and Bruce Schulberg are the key Beijing contacts. The practice advised CDB as lender on a $4.1bn financing to Turkmengas, the national gas company of Turkmenistan, the financing being secured by long-term gas supply receivables. Based in Hong Kong, Huw Jenkins heads the Asia banking and finance practice, and Paget Dare Bryan leads the Asia derivatives and structured products practice.

Corporate & M&A

Within Beijing,

On the outbound side, King & Wood’s ‘truly expert team’ has assisted numerous domestic clients investing abroad and tapping overseas resources, technologies, brands and markets, and is noted for its strong relationships with Chinese regulators and strong network of overseas offices and alliance partners. The firm also has a widely praised FDI practice and frequently provides legal services to both multinationals investing in China and to domestic companies receiving investments from foreign entities. Jing Gang led the advice to Beijing Wild Wolf Investment Consulting in its successful acquisition of all the shares of Beijing Globallink Computer Technology and Ourgame Asset from NHN and SeaRainbow Holding. The team, led by corporate law specialist Hu Zaichi, assisted the Centre for Development of Trade and Management of Investment in Europe, a subsidiary of the Chengtong group, in connection with the acquisition of a large development with 13 office buildings, business facilities and apartments in Moscow. Xu Ping specialises in foreign direct investment in China, M&A, and technology transfers, and ex-Clifford Chance LLP Beijing chief representative Rupert Li is highly regarded for cross-border M&A and strategic corporate investments. Li has handled numerous onshore and offshore acquisitions, investments, and listings for large-scale enterprises, including offshore investments, joint venture establishments and M&A transactions; Carolyn Dong specialises in corporate governance, M&A, corporate restructuring, outbound investment, and foreign direct investment in China. Yang Xiaolei and Zhou Ning are also recommended;

Within Foreign firms, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance LLP is known for financial services sector transactions, is particularly active in the mainland China healthcare, consumer goods and retail industries, and saw an increasing prevalence of cross-border, intra-Asia and China outbound M&A activity, focused predominantly within the natural resources, infrastructure and energy sectors. Key matters included advising Temasek on its acquisition of all of the nil-paid rights from Bank of America Corporation to subscribe for 1.79bn H shares of China Construction Bank as part of its RMB61.6bn rights issue, and advising Royal DSM in relation to the formation of a global joint venture with Sinochem Group. Hong Kong-based Asia M&A head Roger Denny is ‘brilliant’; Beijing partner Terence Foo leads the private equity practice in mainland China; and Shanghai partner Emma Davies advises on inbound M&A transactions, and leads the Asian healthcare and life sciences practice.

Dispute resolution

Within Foreign firms, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance LLP’s specialist skills include regulatory, business crime, IP and arbitration. The combined Hong Kong and China group recently acted for FTI Consulting as liquidators of the Moulin Group in the large audit negligence claim brought by Moulin Global Eyecare Holdings and certain subsidiaries against KPMG. It is also acting for LFT, a subsidiary of Li & Fung, in a judicial review of the decision by the Commissioner of Inland Review not to grant unconditional holdover of tax, pending an appeal. In Beijing, Patrick Zheng has significant expertise in international dispute resolution, particularly arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.

Employment

Within Foreign firms Other recommended firms

Intellectual property

Within Foreign firms Other recommended firms

Private equity/venture capital

Within Foreign firms, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Clifford Chance LLP advised a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings (Private) in its $179m acquisition of a stake in New China Life Insurance Company. Beijing partner Terence Foo is recommended; Hong Kong partners Simon Cooke and Andrew Whan are esteemed lawyers.

Projects and energy

Within Foreign firms, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

In Beijing, Clifford Chance LLP’s Bruce Schulberg has extensive experience in project financing, commercial projects work, syndicated financing and NPL-related matters. Key recent matters included advising Chinalco on its proposed $19.5bn strategic partnership with the Rio Tinto group which, if completed, would have been the largest outbound investment ever undertaken by a Chinese company.

TMT

Within Foreign firms Other recommended firms


Further information on Clifford Chance

Please choose from this list to view details of what we say about Clifford Chance in other jurisdictions.

Australia

Offices in Sydney and Perth

Hungary

London

Offices in London E14 and London EC2R

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