The Legal 500

Within Foreign firms, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Particularly well known for its financial services practice in China, Allen & Overy LLP ‘protects client interests while ensuring that the transaction moves on smoothly’. The firm has continued to advise on significant deals across global loans, pre-IPO financings, asset finance, project finance, real estate finance, restructuring and China inbound and outbound investment. Recently, the team acted on numerous syndicated transactions, and it has developed a reputation in China for advising on the loan market’s more complex financing structures. Key matters included a $340m export credit financing, marking the first Sinosure-covered facility for a mining project in Russia and the first Russian mining facility without sovereign guarantee. The group also advised International Finance Corporation on the project financing for the development and construction of a 201MW wind farm. Matthias Voss and Yvonne Ho, and counsel Cindy Lo, in Beijing are recommended. Counsels Matthew Bisley and Kathleen Wong are based in Shanghai, and Beijing-based PRC regulatory head Jane Jiang was promoted to partner.

Within Foreign firms, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP is particularly strong in the FIG, energy and natural resources, life sciences, industrials, real estate and TMT sectors. The practice advised China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation on its first acquisition of overseas upstream assets. The Hong Kong practice gained partner Chris Swift, who relocated back from Tokyo, and Gary McLean moved from London to Hong Kong to head the Asia Pacific corporate team. Shanghai and Beijing-based Victor Ho, Shanghai partner Richard Kim and Shanghai managing partner Ji Zou are recommended. Peter Thorp moved to the Paris office, and Hong Kong-based Joseph Tse assumed management responsibilities for Beijing and Shanghai.

Within Foreign firms, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘very capable’ group acts for a number of international companies and has recently increased its remit of Chinese clients. Recent highlights include acting for an international bank in bringing a claim under the Germany-Sri Lanka Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) against Sri Lanka for failing to observe obligations in an oil hedging agreement between the bank and a state-owned oil company. It is also acting for an international bank in relation to a dispute arising from a credit agreement; the intended borrower was a Thai-listed company. Other active areas include contentious regulatory investigations and tax disputes. Peter Thorp is the Beijing and Shanghai managing partner.

Within Foreign firms, Allen & Overy LLP is a third tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP advises multinational and domestic clients and has recently experienced an increase in cross-border advice due to the firm’s strong international network. Victor Ho regularly advises on employment issues in the context of M&A and other general corporate matters and recently acted for DBS regarding RBS’ wind-down of its retail and commercial businesses previously carried on in China. Managing partner Ji Zou has experience covering corporate and employment matters in the US and China, and Susana Ng, who has a strong litigation background, was recently promoted to consultant.

Within Foreign firms, Allen & Overy LLP is a third tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s IP practice is led by Benjamin Bai, who ‘has a good grasp of the law and gives pragmatic advice’. Bai joined the team in January 2011 along with counsel Helen Cheng and Beijing-based associate Jessica Zhu; all came from Jones Day. The group appears to have hit the ground running, with clients reporting a ‘much better than average service’.

Within Foreign firms, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP witnessed growth in Renminbi PE funds and has an RMB funds team led by Shanghai managing partner Ji Zou. Highlights included advising JPMorgan on its pre-IPO investment in a high-tech company. Also in Shanghai, Richard Kim is recommended. Beijing-based Matthias Voss is noted for private equity and pre-IPO investments, particularly in the PRC real estate arena. Victor Ho is a partner in the Shanghai and Beijing offices.

Within Foreign firms, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP ‘has significant China and industry depth’. The practice acted for China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation on the Sasan power project, a landmark financing of an Indian UMPP by Chinese banks. It also advised the Export-Import Bank of China on a Bahamas resort project, considered to be the most important resort development in the Caribbean region in recent years. Based in the Hong Kong and Beijing offices, Joseph Tse is the senior partner for Greater China. Beijing-based PRC energy head Matthias Voss has ‘strong sector knowledge’, and Yvonne Ho is experienced in a range of finance transactions. Also in Beijing, Cindy Lo was promoted to counsel. Lo regularly advises Chinese and foreign banks on outbound and cross-border financings. Shanghai-based counsel Matthew Bisley is experienced in energy finance transactions. Bisley ‘has the ability to communicate and put forward constructive advice’.

Within Foreign firms, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP is ‘totally dedicated to great service’ and provides the full spectrum of real estate advice, including financing, M&A, pre-IPO structuring, fund structuring and REITS. Recent highlights include advising WP on its proposed acquisition of an interest in commercial real estate projects developed by CentraLand. The collaboration involved share swaps, warrants and compliance with PRC laws and regulations in relation to the development, construction, operation and management of several large commercial real estate projects in China. Shanghai-based practice head Richard Kim is ‘an excellent advisor’. The Shanghai office also includes Ji Zou, while Matthias Voss, Victor Ho and Yvonne Ho are key figures in Beijing.

Within Foreign firms, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s combined Hong Kong and mainland practice includes managing partner Ji Zou, Richard Kim and Victor Ho in Shanghai. The firm regularly advises Thompson Reuters and is assisting with its proposed acquisition of two PRC software and media businesses. Additionally, it is acting for True Corporation, a leading telecoms operator in Thailand, on its Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) agreement and mobile network lease with CAT Telecom. It also advised Huawei on a cooperation agreement with wireless technology company Option.