Dentons Hong Kong > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Dentons Hong Kong Offices

Dentons Hong Kong
SUITE 3201, JARDINE HOUSE
1 CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL
HONG KONG
Hong Kong
Visit website 852 2523 1819 852 2868 0069

Dentons Hong Kong > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: international arbitration Tier 3

A global firm with a significant presence in Greater China, Dentons Hong Kong’s international arbitration practice is a trusted advisor to mainland parties in Hong Kong arbitration, such as SOEs, as well as international clients from Europe and North America. Practice head Keith Brandt has vast experience in both domestic and international arbitration, with a particular focus on the energy, construction and financial services sectors. Although Robert Rhoda principally acts as counsel, he regularly sits as an arbitrator in both ICC and HKIAC proceedings, while Richard Keady also handles a broad range of arbitrations under CIETAC, HKIAC and LCIA rules.

Practice head(s):

Keith Brandt

Other key lawyers:

Richard Keady

Testimonials

‘I consider Dentons to be the law firm of choice for international arbitrations, they have very extensive experience in cross-border arbitration cases. They have their own offices in many countries and regions, and can quickly coordinate local lawyers, resources and experts to provide efficient solutions.’

‘Dentons has a mature arbitration team in Hong Kong, which can provide practical legal advice and strive for the best interests of clients with innovative thinking. The Hong Kong team also has excellent Chinese language skills and is able to respond to various inquiries from customers in a timely manner.’

‘The Dentons Hong Kong team handled such a huge amount of documents in an orderly manner; they were very quick in coordinating expert witnesses from all parties, and they were able to closely follow the essence of the case, and their grasp of details was also very impressive. Their quick reply, accurate judgment and ability to solve the case problems played a vital role in this case.’

‘Robert Rhoda is a knowledgeable and skilled lawyer with a strong reputation and respect in the field of international arbitration. He is able to provide clients with strong legal advice and commercially sound solutions to complex and sensitive legal issues. His confidence in winning the case infected the entire team.’

‘They have a good capability to explain complex issues in such a manner that they are sinking in.’

‘Keith Brandt has a good and convincing personality.’

Key clients

Southwest Pacific Bauxite (HK) Limited

Work highlights

  • Represented Southwest Pacific Bauxite in an HKIAC arbitration arising out of a JV set up to run and operate an aluminium bauxite mining business in the Solomon Islands.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Dentons Hong Kong handles a large volume of cross-border contentious work, particularly disputes around the Greater Bay Area for major Chinese corporates and SOEs. The practice has carved out a notably strong reputation in the field of high-stakes boardroom and shareholder disputes, as well as complex professional indemnity and disciplinary matters. Keith Brandt heads the practice and brings almost four decades of dispute resolution experience in Asia, with his work focusing on commercial litigation in the energy, construction and financial services sectors. Senior consultant Allan Leung is experienced across a spectrum of complex disputes areas including environmental, contentious insolvency, and employment, while Richard Keady brings extensive knowledge of high-value banking and finance disputes.

Practice head(s):

Keith Brandt

Other key lawyers:

Allan Leung; Richard Keady; Robert Rhoda; Jenny Zhuang

Testimonials

‘Breadth and depth: corporate, commercial and shareholder disputes, financial services and regulatory investigations, judicial review, white collar crime, environmental disputes, product liability, cross-border contentious insolvency, fraud and asset recovery, and employment actions.’

‘Allan Leung is one of the most well-established litigators. His advice and strategy is always top-notch, and comes with decades of wisdom and experience.’

‘The Dentons team is very client friendly and easy to work with. They can turn around very high quality legal work on short notice and are generally very responsive to clients.’

‘Richard Keady is knowledgeable and easy to work with at the same time. Nigel Chan is diligent, hardworking, and very client friendly.’

‘Allan Leung and Robert Rhoda are excellent practitioners.’

‘Keith Brandt – top quality legal brain, highly organised, proactive and very well liked by clients.’

Key clients

Abercrombie & Fitch Co

Amazon

BASF

Berpu Technology Co., Limited and Provision Investment Co., Limited

Changchun High & New Technology Industries Development Parent Company

Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Co., Ltd.

China Sonangol International Limited

Dr Martens

Ernst & Young

Hong Kong Competition Commission

Hong Kong Solicitors Indemnity Fund

Huarong International Securities Limited

Jiangsu Shagang Materials Trading Co., Limited

Just Classic Limited

Kim Dotcom and Megaupload Limited

Lane Xang Minerals Limited

Law Society of Hong Kong

Ocean Sino Limited

PBM Asset Management Limited

Virgin Atlantic

Zhenjiang Danyang Zhengtong Investment Fund

Work highlights

  • Acting for the Hong Kong Competition Commission in enforcement proceedings arising out of a bid-rigging agreement between various companies and individuals in relation to a large number of procurement tenders in the air conditioning sector.
  • Defending Berpu Technology Co., Limited and Provision Investment Co., Limited in trust litigation relating to competing claims for ownership of a substantial shareholding in a PRC pharmaceuticals company.
  • Acting for Changchun High & New Technology Industries Development Parent Company in a shareholder dispute.

Hong Kong > Structured finance and securitisation Tier 3

Dentons Hong Kong regularly advises numerous corporates and financial institutions on structured finance products, leveraging its extensive network of offices. The team is also able to tap into the markets of Vietnam and the Philippines, offering advice on cross-border issues within these jurisdictions. Jeff Chen leads the practice, focusing on limited recourse and cross-border financing structures. Man Chiu Lee is another key name, and her experience includes representing issuers and underwriters in IPOs.

Practice head(s):

Jeff Chen

Other key lawyers:

Man Chiu Lee; Ivan Tsang

Key clients

Gaoyou City Construction Investment Development Group

Guangzhou Industrial Investment Fund Management Co., Ltd.

CMB International

Laiwu High-Tech Investment Holdings Co., Ltd.

Work highlights

  • Represented CMB International as the sole dealer advisor in connection with the exchange offer by Huijing Holdings Company Limited of at least a minimum acceptance amount of US$107.4m of its outstanding US$138m 12.50% senior notes due 2022 for 12.50% senior notes due 2023.
  • Represented Gaoyou City Construction Investment Development Group in its global offering under Regulation S of its English law governed €75m 4.6 per cent.
  • Represented Guangzhou Industrial Investment Fund Management Co., Ltd. in connection with the issuance by Higher Key Management Limited of US$41m 6 per cent credit enhanced bonds due 2023.

Hong Kong > Capital markets (equity) Tier 4

Drawing upon ‘extensive knowledge and experience in navigating the complexities of securities laws and regulations’, Dentons Hong Kong is able to provide the ‘most relevant and effective advice’ for issuers and underwriters, including on listings within the automotive, consumer and property sectors. Appreciated for his ‘practical solutions and proactive approach’, Norman Hui leads the Hong Kong ECM team and has been active on a number of HKEX listings, as well as work for listed companies on ongoing transactions and regulatory compliance matters. The vastly experienced Gordon NG leads the overarching corporate finance function, and also has considerable expertise in relation to capital markets matters, including IPOs, pre-IPO financings, privatisations and de-listings. The arrival of Nicholas Chua in August 2023 following a long in-house career in the banking industry, most recently at CIMB Bank, further enhances the team.

Practice head(s):

Gordon Ng; Norman Hui

Other key lawyers:

Nicholas Chua; Rachel Han

Testimonials

‘The team possesses extensive knowledge and experience in navigating the complexities of securities laws and regulations, and is consequently able to  provide the most relevant and effective advice to clients.’

‘Their proactive approach to monitoring changes in securities laws and regulations ensures that we are well-informed and can adapt our strategies accordingly.’

‘Norman Hui’s extensive experience and deep understanding of securities laws and regulations have been instrumental in helping us navigate complex regulatory issues. His ability to provide practical solutions and his proactive approach to addressing potential challenges have been truly valuable to our organisation.‘

 

Key clients

China Securities (International) Corporate Finance Company Limited

Innovation Works Development Fund L.P. and Innovation Works Holding Limited

NWS Holdings Limited

Qiming Managing Directors Fund III, L.P., Qiming Venture Partners III, L.P. and Qiming Venture Partners III Annex Fund, L.P.

Work highlights

  • Hong Kong legal advisers to the sole sponsor, China Securities (International) Corporate Finance Company Limited, for the listing application of a leading PRC manufacturer and sale (by distribution) of electric two-wheeled vehicles in the proposed listing of its shares on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by way of global offering.
  • Advised NWS Holdings Limited on its acquisition of a majority equity interest of a company that operates the Hunan Sui-Yue Expressway with a tailored consideration payment mechanism to guarantee the performance of certain conditions precedent, and the related listing rules implications.
  • Advised NWS Holdings Limited on its acquisitions of 40% equity interest of a company that operates the Guigang-Wuzhou Expressway and related creditor’s rights and dividend receivable from the corresponding sellers, and the related listing rules implications.

Hong Kong > Labour and employment Tier 4

Dentons Hong Kong is a trusted advisor to blue-chip clients across various sectors, including technology, aerospace, and financial institutions, providing guidance on a wide range of employment and HR matters arising from domestic and international operations. Leading the team is Richard Keady, a seasoned practitioner who frequently appears in labour tribunals and high courts. Keady specialises in employment disputes, particularly those stemming from regulated sectors, and also represents licensed individuals and senior officers of major corporations in investigations and disciplinary proceedings. The ‘extremely efficient’ Jenny Zhuang is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Richard Keady

Other key lawyers:

Julianne Doe; Allan Leung; Jenny Zhuang; Linda Ngan

Testimonials

‘This team gives practical advice, and they understand clients’ business and don’t just focus on the law but focus on problem-solving. They always respond very promptly and are always there to help urgently when needed.’

‘Jenny Zhuang, of counsel, is an exceptionally efficient lawyer; she responds within a few hours and always on the same day, and whenever urgent queries arises she is always willing to jump on a call immediately to provide advice and support. She is also very practical, her knowledge of the law is extensive and she can explain complex concepts in very simple terms.’

‘Jenny Zhuang provides red carpet client care.’

‘Practical and easy to work with; good value. ’

‘Richard Keady is accessible and responsive.’

‘Respected practice genuinely doing employment law work.’

‘Jenny Zhuang and her team are experts in Hong Kong Labour Law and guided our office through many complex employment issues. They were always very responsive and thorough, and we trust their advice and guidance.’

‘Jenny Zhuang is very responsive, and I very much enjoyed working with her. Communication was great. Jenny and her team provide guidance and support with very little lead time. She understood our issues very quickly and got us the help we needed so that we could inform our executive management and make decisions with full confidence.’

Key clients

Airbus

Genashtim

Virgin Atlantic

Work highlights

  • Advised Airbus on various corporate and employment matters, such as working hours policies, leave entitlements, and data privacy of the employees.
  • Assisted Virgin Atlantic with the termination of all employees employed in Hong Kong as they decided to shut down and cease all of its Hong Kong operations.
  • Assisted Genashtim with addressing a wide range of employment enquiries, such as risk exposure analysis and review of the terms and conditions on its website.

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms Tier 3

Dentons Hong Kong has impressive strength across the region, with the practice in Singapore led by Herman Jeremiah yielding expertise in SIAC, LCC, and LCIA arbitrations, as well as shareholder and joint venture disputes. Lawrence Teh is the second head of the Singapore-based team, acting as an arbitrator in international disputes. In Hong Kong, Keith Brandt leads the disputes team, that has experience advising Chinese and international parties engaged in arbitration. Robert Rhoda and Richard Keady are key names in the practice, both based in Hong Kong.

Other key lawyers:

Lawrence Teh; Keith Brandt; Robert Rhoda; Richard Keady

Work highlights

Dentons Hong Kong > Firm Profile

The firm: Dentons is the world’s largest global law firm, connecting top-tier talent to the world’s challenges and opportunities across over 80 countries. Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organization by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, our award-winning client service challenges the status quo to advance client interests.

The Hong Kong office provides legal advice and representation to governments and state owned entities, financial institutions, multinational corporations, professional services firms and high net worth individuals in relation to their business needs in Hong Kong, across the Asia Pacific region and globally.

Our Hong Kong team comprises experienced lawyers and leading professionals qualified in seven jurisdictions – Hong Kong, England and Wales, the United States (New York, District of Columbia),  Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.

Our core areas of services include:

  • Banking and finance
  • Capital markets
  • Employment and labour
  • Investment funds and income trusts
  • Arbitration
  • Litigation and rispute Resolution
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Real estate
  • Restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy
  • White-collar and government investigations

Areas of practice
Banking and finance: Dentons’ Hong Kong banking and finance team assists a wide range of commercial banks, investment banks, accounting firms, insurance companies, asset management companies, trust companies, financial companies, funds and other financial institutions, as well as government agencies, with transactions of every size and scope.

Our structured finance and securitisation lawyers represent virtually every banking and financial institution that is active in the financing, purchase and securitisation of financial assets.

As part of Dentons’ ESG Global Solutions, Dentons Hong Kong is also active in the areas of green and sustainable finance.

Capital markets: Dentons Hong Kong is one of the few firms in Hong Kong that has on-the-ground capability to advise on both Hong Kong and US securities laws in IPO and other capital markets transactions.

The Hong Kong equity capital markets team has represented issuers and underwriters in over 60 Hong Kong IPOs, including Main Board and GEM, red chip and H-share projects. The firm’s debt capital markets team has advised clients on the full spectrum of international and domestic debt offerings.

Employment and labour: Dentons’ employment and labour team advises local and foreign clients on a range of employment and HR related matters, including employment contracts and policies, employees’ protection and compensation, restrictive covenants, transfer and secondment of staff, visas and work permits arrangement, redundancy issues, data privacy, discrimination issues and occupational safety and health issues.  We support our clients in every stage of an employment relationship and our employment litigation specialists handle labour disputes brought at the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Labour Tribunal, the District Court and the High Court as well as handling large-scale internal investigations, regulatory reporting and acrimonious terminations.

Investment funds: Dentons Hong Kong offers a full range of services to investors and investee companies, including, on the public fund side, helping local fund houses to establish public funds and international fund clients to obtain regulatory approval for offering fund products to the Hong Kong public, and, on the private fund side, setting up and structuring onshore and/or offshore investment funds. We pride ourselves in being a one-stop shop supporting the entire investment life cycle and investment managers’ value chain. Our team carries unique capabilities advising on regulatory matters in the management or offering of investment products, also in relation to different responsible investment strategies and related environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues for investors and investee companies.

Arbitration: Dentons’ world renounced international arbitration team works seamlessly across offices and regions to assist clients from the onset of a dispute, through to enforcement of an arbitral award.  We are familiar with the major institutional and procedural rules and we know the arbitrators who decide cases.

As a global law firm with a significant presence in mainland China, we find ourselves a go-to firm for both mainland Chinese parties to Hong Kong arbitration (including state owned enterprises) and international clients (typically from the US and Europe).

Our team has also regularly represented clients in arbitrations administered by regional and international arbitration institutions, such as Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), Singapore International Arbitration (SIAC), and Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC).

We have extensive experience in handling jurisdictional challenges against arbitration proceedings, applying for interim relief (such as asset preservation orders in China) in aid of arbitral proceedings, and representing claimants in enforcing Hong Kong and foreign arbitral awards.

Litigation and dispute resolution: Dentons Hong Kong has a strong track record in advising on a broad range of high-value, complex and multi-jurisdictional disputes for clients regionally and globally.

We assist our clients in pursuing, defending and mediating a wide variety of civil and commercial claims in all level of courts and across various jurisdictions and industry sectors.  We also frequently handle applications for injunctive relief and asset freezing, and help our clients implement tracing and enforcement of judgments.  From risk analysis to crisis management, we have a team of seasoned lawyers to provide you with clear advice and quality representations in writing and hearings.

Of particular note is our depth of experience in litigation relating to shareholder disputes, financial investments and fraud, often with cross-border elements.  We regularly handle disputes for international corporations, high net worth individuals and regulatory authorities.

We also have a well-respected practice of acting in professional disputes and disciplinary proceedings for a wide range of professionals including solicitors, accountants, brokers and licensed individuals.

Mergers and acquisitions: Dentons’ Hong Kong mergers and acquisitions team offers a full service to local and international clients, including entity formation, conversion, dissolution and liquidation as well as legal counseling covering all aspects of transactional and operational work in our clients’ businesses.

The firm has represented public and private companies, buyers and sellers, boards of directors, shareholders, investors and owners, partnerships and private individuals, financial services institutions, underwriters, commercial and investment banks on a wide range of matters.  The team also advises on commercial issues including regulatory and compliance and data protection.

Real estate: Dentons’ Asia Pacific real estate group is a diverse team that provides advice with both a global and regional perspective, with experience and familiarity with complex cross-border transactions as well as deep local knowledge in the many jurisdictions in which we practice. The group assists investment banks, private equity funds, financial institutions and developers in acquisitions and dispositions, financings, joint venture and construction transactions.  The group also routinely represents hospitality clients as well institutional landlords and tenants in commercial transactions. Our group focuses on an integrated approach, giving clients the comfort of an unmatched global and regional presence together with a deep understanding of local real estate markets befitting a firm with offices in most, if not all, of the locations where our clients do business.

The group also routinely works with our other related practice groups to provide our clients with seamless access to our experience in project finance, project development and dispute resolution matters.

Restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy: Dentons’ restructuring, Insolvency bankruptcy team provides full-service to a wide range of clients, including companies facing financial distress, debtors and potential debtors, official and ad hoc committees, secured and unsecured creditors. Our lawyers’ experience covers every aspect of bankruptcy, reorganisation and creditors’ rights representation.

Our practice is a leading player in the Hong Kong market, and is well known for both its contentious and non-contentious work. Over the years, we have been involved in many high profile insolvency matters, both in Hong Kong and internationally. We position ourselves at the top end of the market with a focus on challenging and complex work.

White-collar and government investigations: Dentons Hong Kong advises and acts for clients in both contentious and non-contentious regulatory matters, ranging from acting for clients in Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigations to providing compliance advice in relation to requirements of the SFC. Our team also has considerable hands-on experience in the investigation of commercial fraud and white-collar crimes; supporting clients from urgent asset freezing injunction order applications, tracking and recovery of stolen or misappropriated assets, to providing interim relief in aid of overseas legal proceedings.

The size and scale of our practice enables us to deploy large teams for major investigations and litigation, or to call on individual experts to advise on niche areas of law often required by clients within financial services e.g. sanctions, financial crime and national security matters. We are relatively unique in that we work both for and against regulators and our work for the SFC, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong government gives us unparalleled insight which our private sector clients consider invaluable.

The team also has relations with the ICAC, Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB), Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) as well as other external bodies and media contacts in the planning and implementation of internal investigations.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Dispute resolution: Litigation; International Arbitration; Restructuring and Insolvency Keith Brandt
Capital markets; Corporate; Mergers and Acquisitions Gordon Ng
Dispute resolution: Litigation; International Arbitration; Labour And Employment; Restructuring and Insolvency Richard Keady
Structured Finance And Securitisation Jeffrey H Chen
Capital markets; Corporate; Mergers and Acquisitions Rachel Han
Capital markets; Corporate; Mergers and Acquisitions Norman Hui
Capital markets; Corporate; Mergers and Acquisitions Man Chiu Lee
Dispute resolution: Litigation; International Arbitration Robert Rhoda
Investment Funds Vivien Teu
Banking and Finance; Capital Markets Nicholas Chua

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Keith Brandt photo Mr Keith Brandt Keith is Managing Partner and head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution group… View Profile
Jeff Chen photo Mr Jeff Chen Jeff Chen heads the structured finance practice at Dentons Hong Kong LLP… View Profile

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers (globally) : 5,000+
at this office : 40+

Languages

Cantonese
English
Mandarin

Press Releases

China private wealth and Singapore family office specialist Linda Bai joins Dentons Rodyk as the firm’s first partner hire of 2024

11th March 2024 Global law firm Dentons Rodyk has announced its first partner hire of the year with the appointment of China private wealth and Singapore family office specialist Linda Bai as a Partner in the firm’s Private Wealth, Family Office and Tax practices, with a focus on China clients. 

Dentons launches combination with PJS Law in the Philippines

6th February 2024 Dentons has launched its previously announced combination with leading Philippine law firm, PJS Law.

Singapore’s Global Law Firm Dentons Rodyk Unveils New Leadership Appointments

8th January 2024 Singapore’s Global Law Firm Dentons Rodyk announces new leadership appointments for 2024. 

Dentons Rodyk Announces the Admissions of Two Next Gen Leaders to Equity Partnership and Seven Promotions to Partner

8th January 2024 Singapore’s Global Law Firm Dentons Rodyk announces the admission of two new Senior Partners and seven Partners with effect from 1 January 2024.

Singapore’s Global Law Firm Dentons Rodyk Boosts Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice with Partner Alexander Lee

18th December 2023 Singapore, 7 December 2023 – Dentons Rodyk has announced that leading dispute resolution lawyer Alexander Lee has re-joined the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice as a Partner.  He was most recently a Director at Drew & Napier.

Dentons Rodyk’s Annual Thought Leadership Event Explores the Cornerstones of Singapore’s Success

6th November 2023 Singapore, 2 November 2023 – Singapore’s global law firm Dentons Rodyk hosted its annual national thought leadership event, the Dentons Rodyk Dialogue 2023 today, 2 November 2023.

Dentons advised on the global offering of €75 million 4.60 per cent. Credit Enhanced Bonds due 2026 for Gaoyou City Construction Investment Development Group

7th March 2023 Dentons has represented Gaoyou City Construction Investment Development Group, a leading state-owned infrastructure construction company principally engaged in the construction of municipal infrastructure, water facilities, roads, environmental governance-related facilities and shantytown redevelopment projects in Gaoyou City and Suzhou City, in its global offering under Regulation S of its English law governed €75 million 4.60 per cent. Credit Enhanced Bonds due 2026, with the benefit of an irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit issued by Bank of Jiangsu Co., Ltd., Yangzhou Branch, underwritten by China Industrial Securities International, Industrial Bank of Co. Ltd., Hong Kong Branch, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Hong Kong Branch, China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd., Hong Kong Branch, CEB International, Guotai Junan International, Guosen Securities (HK), Central Wealth Securities Investment Limited, CNCB Capital, CITIC Securities, CMBC Capital, China International Capital Corporation and Caitong International.

Dentons Rodyk kicks off 2023 with the introduction of next generation leaders

16th January 2023 Singapore’s Big Five law firm Dentons Rodyk unveiled its new Executive Committee and also announced the admission of two outstanding young individuals into the senior partnership of the firm, with effect from 1 January 2023.

Court of Appeal releases written grounds for upholding decision in US$1.48b environment related claim

9th December 2022 The Singapore Court of Appeal on 2 December 2022, issued its written grounds for upholding the High Court (General Division)’s decision in Ok Tedi Fly River Development Foundation Ltd and others v Ok Tedi Mining Ltd and others [2021] SGHC 205. The appeal was successfully resisted by the Dentons Rodyk team led by Mark Seah, Co-Head of the Litigation Practice and comprised Andrea Gan, Martin See, Alexander Choo and Philip Teh. TSMP Law Corporation’s Mr Adrian Tan and Dr Tang Hang Wu acted for the Appellants.

Mr. Phuc Le rejoined Dentons LuatViet to strengthen its offshore legal services

7th July 2022 Dentons LuatViet is delighted to welcome back Mr. Phuc Le to join our firm as a Special Counsel. He will primarily provide legal services to our clients in the US and Moscow.

Singapore Big Five Law Firm Dentons Rodyk Boosts Corporate Practice with Two Senior Lawyer Hires

4th July 2022 Singapore, 1 July 2022 – Singapore’s Big Five Law Firm Dentons Rodyk are today announcing the arrival of senior corporate lawyers Evelyn Ang and Emily Low. Together with six other lawyers, they join Dentons Rodyk from Big Four accounting firm EY’s Singapore law practice, Atlas Asia Law Corporation (AALC). The news follows Dentons' recently launched combination with leading Vietnamese law firm LuatViet, as the Firm pursues its goal of being the leading pan-ASEAN law firm.

Dentons launches combination with LuatViet in Vietnam

17th June 2022 Dentons has launched its previously announced combination with leading Vietnamese law firm, LuatViet, which has more than 40 legal professionals serving clients from offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Former Deputy Director of Attorney-General’s Chambers Navin Naidu joins Big Five Law Firm Dentons Rodyk

17th June 2022 Big Five Law Firm Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of Attorney-General’s Chambers’ former Deputy Director Navin Naidu to the firm’s White Collar and Government Investigations practice.

How Singapore’s Big Five law firm Dentons Rodyk is embracing the future of work and ditching its traditional office for good

14th April 2022 Visions for the future of work have never been bolder. The COVID-19 pandemic changed notions on how many felt a work environment should be. The world was rushed into accelerating technology adoption, increasing digital connectivity and embracing virtual collaboration. As we usher in a new and dynamic decade, Dentons Rodyk envisions the future of work by ditching its traditional office for good and introducing a permanent hybrid work model.

Dentons secures final victory for ICT on European patent infringement case against ESSITY

18th August 2020

Global law firm Dentons is pleased to announce that the Paris Court of Appeal, the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe and the Barcelona Provincial Court have all issued final decisions dismissing Essity’s claims of patent infringement in regards to Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti’s (ICT) three ply toilet paper. With Dentons’ counsel, ICT successfully demonstrated beyond a doubt that its branded and private label products are produced based on its own proprietary process, and patented under European patent 2 353 859. 

Dentons has been advising Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti S.p.A since 2016. Based in Lucca, ICT is a leader in the category of high quality tissue paper products for domestic use, and has subsidiaries in Italy, Spain, Germany, France and Poland.

The Paris decision, which is the most recent, ends a long-running patent infringement litigation with Essity and affirms ICT can continue to produce and distribute absorbent paper based on its own proprietary technology. The three courts in France, Germany, and Spain have confirmed ICT’s argument that it is using its own novel technology, also patented. Essity’s claims of infringement were based on a patent originally filed by Georgia Pacific, and subsequently becoming Essity’s.

Dentons partner David Masson served as lead partner and represented ICT in France. Dentons partner Dr. Constantin Rehaag represented ICT in Germany, and PwC partner Alejandra Matas Brancós represented the client in Spain, with the support of Dentons partner Juan Ignacio Alonso.

David Masson, lead lawyer on the case, commented: “It has been very interesting to understand ICT’s own technology and work closely with different teams, including ICT’s R&D department, which has been part of all strategic and technical decisions throughout the case”.

Constantin Rehaag, who represented the client in the German court hearings and coordinated the work with the client’s patent attorneys, said: “This is an outstanding success of a great team formed by the client, who provided us with invaluable technological insight, the team of patent attorneys and, finally, by the Dentons teams in France, Spain and Germany.”

The patent litigation began in 2016 when Essity sued ICT in France, Germany and Spain for the alleged infringement of its patent related to the technical solution for the bonding of three layers of tissue for paper products such as high quality, soft and bulky, toilet paper.

In France, Essity claimed that ICT had breached the French part of its European patent 1 081 284 and that the toilet paper marketed as Foxy Soie Plus, and also certain other private labels produced by ICT France, had infringed on their patent. Essity demanded that all production operations be halted. The rolls of toilet paper were carefully analyzed and there were no findings of infringement. The two French courts - in first instance and appeal - rejected the claims and ordered Essity to pay compensation for the legal fees to ICT Italy and ICT France.

In Germany, the case was first taken to the Mannheim District Court, which is well reputed in patent matters. The lawsuit mainly focused on the complex questions regarding the construing of the claims of Essity’s patent. The court ruled in favour of ICT, and Essity filed an appeal. In August 2019, the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe also ruled that the German subsidiary of ICT did not infringe the German part of the patent 1 081 284.

In Spain, after a first decision in favor of Essity in the lower court, the Barcelona Provincial Court clearly stated in a written appeal that ICT’s products - and in particular, Foxy Seda, Foxy Bouquet, certain three-ply private label products - did not infringe the Spanish part of the patent 1 081 284.

About ICT

Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti (ICT) was founded in 1976 in Italy, in the Lucca province, to operate in the tissue sector, producing high quality paper exclusively from virgin fibre. The first production facility was opened in 1978 in Piano della Rocca, Lucca, and over the years new plants and facilities have been set up in Piano della Rocca, Diecimo and Piano di Coreglia. The Foxy brand, one of the leading brands in the European market, was launched in 1982. ICT is an example of excellence in the paper industry, in full harmony with the tradition of the Lucca region, where the most important Italian papermaking hub is located, on a par with those of Green Bay (USA) and Fuji (Japan). In Lucca in particular, great expertise has been nurtured in the field of paper for household use, and the city is in fact known as the world tissue capital. Today, ICT SpA boasts an annual production capacity of about 160,000 tonnes.

About Dentons

Dentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic.


Dentons advises Snam on US$10.1 billion consortium investment in ADNOC Gas Pipelines

3rd August 2020 Global law firm Dentons advised Italian-based multinational energy infrastructure operator Snam in relation to its agreement, in consortium with several international investment funds, to purchase a 49 percent share of ADNOC Gas Pipelines from The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). ADNOC Gas Pipelines is valued at approximately US$20.7 billion (US$10.1 billion for 49%).

The transaction is one of the most important in the global energy infrastructure sector, as well as Snam’s first acquisition outside Europe.  ADNOC Gas Pipelines holds the tariff-based rights for the 38 pipelines that connect ADNOC’s upstream activities to Abu Dhabi’s consumption points and the export and interconnection terminals to neighboring Emirates.

The transaction was financed by a pool of international banks for approximately $8 billion, plus an equity contribution from each of the consortium members.  In addition to Snam, the other consortium members included Global Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Asset Management, GIC, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and NH Investment & Securities.

Dentons acted with a cross-border team from Italy and UAE, coordinated by partner Sara Biglieri in Milan.  Partners Luca Pocobelli (Rome) and Mhairi Main Garcia (Dubai), counsel Claudio Segna (Milan), senior associate Craig Hughson (Abu Dhabi) and associate Stephanie Hawes (Dubai) advised on corporate and M&A aspects. Partners Alessandro Fosco Fagotto (Milan) and Stephen Knight (Abu Dhabi), counsel Franco Gialloreti, senior associate Tommaso Zanirato and junior associate Giulia Caselli Maldonado (all Milan) advised on financing aspects. Partner Michele Carpagnano (Rome) and associate Giulia Giordano (Rome) advised on the competition and antitrust aspects.

Snam’s internal legal team was led by General Counsel, Marco Reggiani - assisted by Michela Schizzi, Senior Vice President Regulated Assets Legal Affairs - and included senior legal counsels Rosanna Pallotta and Claudia Jolanda Fanelli.  The legal aspects related to the financing were handled, together with Marco Reggiani, by Gloria Bertini, Head of Finance and Capital Market Legal Affairs and Roberta Di Mauro, legal counsel.


Dentons advises Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) on the establishment of the EU Malaria Fund

3rd August 2020 The EU Malaria Fund was initiated by the kENUP Foundation, a not-for-profit organization promoting research-based innovation with public and societal benefit. The fund is managed by the IBB Group. The target volume of the fund amounts to €280 million, with a first closing of €70 million on June 3, 2020. A Dentons team from Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Munich provided comprehensive advice to IBB Group on the establishment of the EU Malaria Fund. This included the development of the legal and tax conception of the fund, regulatory advice, corporate law support on the setup of the fund, and the negotiation of the financing agreements with the EIB, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other investors. Berlin-based partner Dirk-Reiner Voss and Frankfurt-based partner Arne Klüwer jointly led the Dentons team, with support from partners Stephan Busch, Matthias Santelmann and senior associates Holger Hölkemeier and Bernd Düsterbeck in Berlin; counsel Verena Etzel and Oda Elmoutaouakil in Frankfurt; partner Axel Schlieter in Dusseldorf, and partner Richard Fagerer in Munich. About Dentons Dentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com

Dentons advises on ACS Group’s €500 million NEU-CP Program

3rd August 2020 Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, has advised Spanish-based multinational construction group, Actividades de Construcción y Servicios, S.A. (ACS), on the renewal of its €500 million Negotiable European Commercial Paper (NEU-CP) Program. The NEU-CP program is registered with the Central Bank of France, with the involvement of BNP Paribas, BRED Banque Populaire, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, ING Bank N.V. and Natixis, as dealers for the Notes. Headquartered in Madrid, the ACS Group is a worldwide leader in construction and services. It is currently the only non-financial issuer with a NEU-CP Program registered with the Central Bank of France. Dentons’ Capital Markets group in Madrid advised ACS on all aspects of the transaction. Partner Ignacio Corujo led and coordinated the transaction with the support of junior associate Ana Artola. Ignacio Corujo joined Dentons in January this year to establish and lead the Capital Markets group in Spain. In addition to this most recent deal for ACS, he has closed several high-value debt capital markets deals since his move, including most notably, Grupo Cajamar’s €1 billion issuance of mortgage bonds, as well as Sacyr’s renewal of its €500 million EMTN Program. About Dentons Dentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com  

Dentons advises UniCredit on a €450 million secured sustainability-linked financing for Gunvor Gro

3rd August 2020 Global law firm Dentons has advised UniCredit Bank AG as Mandated Lead Arranger, (Sustainability) Coordinator, Bookrunner, Facility Agent and Security Agent as well as the lenders on a €450 million secured sustainability-linked borrowing base facility agreement with Gunvor Group. Gunvor Group will use the funds to cover the working capital requirements of its Ingolstadt refinery. The innovative financing model is tied to the borrower's achievement of predetermined ESG key performance indicators (Sustainability KPIs) and provides for a sustainability discount or premium in case the company overachieves or underperforms the predefined targets. An independent sustainability auditor will report on the performance of the Sustainability KPIs on an annual basis. The ESG-based scoring of certain key performance indicators provides a unique way for borrowers and lenders to communicate their commitment to sustainability and incentivizes sustainable corporate measures. Participating banks included DZ Bank, KfW IPEX-Bank, Raiffeisen Bank International, Erste Group Bank, Commerzbank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, CA Indosuez (Switzerland), Bank of China and First Abu Dhabi Bank. Gunvor Group is one of the world’s largest independent commodities trading houses by turnover, creating logistics solutions that safely and efficiently move physical energy from where it is sourced and stored to where it is demanded. With strategic investments in industrial infrastructure – refineries, pipelines, storage and terminals – Gunvor Group further generates sustainable value across the global supply chain for its customers. UniCredit is one of the pioneers in sustainable loans in the German market. Düsseldorf finance partner Dr. Axel Schlieter fully advised the bank on the drafting and negotiation of the loan agreement. The Dentons team further comprised Julia Heitmann (senior associate, Banking and Finance, Düsseldorf) and Eike Hinrich Pradt (associate, Banking and Finance, Frankfurt). Axel Schlieter is a core member of Dentons’ Sustainable Finance group in Europe and is regularly involved around the topics of issuance of green bonds and on sustainable financing. Advisors to UniCredit: Dentons (Düsseldorf): Dr. Axel Schlieter, (lead partner), Julia Heitmann (senior associate, both banking and finance, Düsseldorf), Eike Hinrich Pradt (associate, banking and finance, Frankfurt am Main) UniCredit inhouse lawyers: Carina Engelhardt, Alexander Strigin, Christian Hentrich About Dentons Dentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com

Dentons advises Qair on refinancing of the acquisition of Rzepin and Linowo wind farms in Poland

3rd August 2020 Dentons’ Banking and Finance practice team advised Qair SAS, Qair International and Qair Polska Sp.z o.o. in connection with the refinancing of two wind farms under operation, Rzepin (58 MW) and Linowo (48 MW). The financing institutions are BNP Paribas and EBRD. The two wind farms are part of Qair’s larger portfolio of almost 200 MW of renewable energy sources, which also includes 93 MW of new capacity from three wind farms – Udanin (50 MW), Parzeczew (9 MW) and Września (9 MW) – and 25 MW of solar photovoltaic. The project was supervised by Mateusz Toczyski, Head of the Europe and Co-Head of the Global Banking and Finance practice, and led by Tomasz Zwoliński, counsel, with assistance from lawyers Klaudia Szymańska-Rutkowska, Katarzyna Mazur, Katarzyna Kaptur and Jakub Walawski. Supporting the Warsaw team were counsel Surbhi Malhotra-Trenkel in Munich and partners Jean-Marc Allix and Olivier Genevois, and associates Djésia Meziani, Philippine de Fouchier and Hugo Casasnovas in Paris. Dentons’ London team consisting of partner Matthew Sapte and associate Annreika Ray advised on the hedging documentation. “We are very pleased and honored to have had this opportunity to assist Qair in yet another wind power project the company has undertaken in Poland,” said Mateusz Toczyski. “We would like to congratulate Qair on this financing and to wish every success with further developments and investments in Poland and elsewhere in the world,” added Tomasz Zwoliński. About Dentons Dentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com

Dentons advises Sev.en Energy on aacquisition of US-based Blackhawk Mining

3rd August 2020 Dentons has advised international energy group Sev.en Energy on its strategic acquisition of US-based metallurgical coal producer Blackhawk Mining, LLC. C. The transaction comes on the heels of Sev.en Energy’s acquisition of a 17% ownership interest in Corsa Coal in May 2020, further reinforcing its access to the metallurgical coal mining industry in the US market. Blackhawk Mining is one of the largest metallurgical coal producers in the US. With annual production capacity of seven to eight million tonnes of metallurgical coal among its five underground and open pit mining complexes in West Virginia and Kentucky, Blackhawk Mining is an important supplier of metallurgical coal both locally and internationally. It also owns three thermal coal mine complexes producing three to four million tonnes per annum. In 2019, Blackhawk Mining had $1bn revenues and $120m EBITDA.   Commenting on the acquisition, Dentons partner Petr Zákoucký, said: “Having worked for Sev.en Energy for many years, I am inspired by their sustained dynamism, and by this bold strategic move, even during these difficult market conditions. We were delighted to have opportunity to play our role in this success.”   Alan Svoboda, Executive Director of Sev.en Energy who leads the Group’s international expansion added: “Once again, the Dentons team exceeded our expectations and delivered the transaction within a tight time frame of less than a month, nailing both the complexity of the deal and challenges created by the current worldwide pandemic. What was really outstanding was the dedication and flexibility that the entire team showed.”   Dentons’ cross-border team was composed of partners Petr Zákoucký (Prague, Energy/M&A), Ilan Katz (New York, M&A), Lee Smith (New York, Finance), Christopher Van Bever (Lexington, Mining) and John Rhine (Evansville, Mining) Robert E. Richards (Chicago, Insolvency), Managing Associate Gregory DiBella (New York, M&A) and Associate Barbora Obračajová (Prague, Energy). Alvarez & Marsal advised Sev.en Energy on financial due diligence and Weir on technical due diligence.   About Sev.en Energy Sev.en Energy owns significant coal and energy production assets in the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Australia and the USA. It is the largest private operator of coalmines and conventional power plants in the Czech Republic, and employs more than 3,500 people. In 2019, Sev.en Energy acquired additional power generation assets from Swiss energy group Alpiq and a 50% stake in the multinational energy company – InterGen N.V., which is one of the leading independent power generators with gas-fired power plants in the UK and coal-fired power plants and coal mines in Australia. When pro-forma aggregated with the financial results of InterGen and Alpiq CZ, Sev.en Energy group combined revenues in 2019 were EUR 1,4 billion and EBITDA of EUR 319 million.   About Dentons Dentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com

Dentons supports German subsidiaries of the Recylex Group in restructuring

3rd August 2020 Global law firm Dentons is assisting Weser-Metall GmbH and Harz-Metall GmbH, both subsidiaries of the French-German Recylex Group, with their restructuring through ‘self-administration’ proceedings. In addition, Dentons restructuring lawyers Andreas Ziegenhagen and Dirk Schoene and their team are advising the German management of the Recylex Group within the scope of its self-administration. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the dramatic decline in metal prices, the German subsidiaries of Recylex have each applied for protective shield proceedings under German insolvency law. The aim of the protective shield is to allow the companies to continue their individual restructuring measures and to return to economic stability after the pandemic - if necessary, in a new shareholder structure. Weser-Metall produces about 100,000 tons of lead per year at its headquarters in Nordenham (Lower Saxony), making it the third largest lead smelter and the second largest lead recycler in Europe. Harz-Metall has its headquarters in Oker in the Harz Mountains and is one of the leading European recycling companies for lead and zinc contaminated waste. The Recylex group has a total of eleven operating units and two administrative sites in France and Germany. In addition to the companies supported by Dentons, two other companies in the group, Norzinco GmbH and PPM Pure Metals GmbH, have also submitted applications for protective shield, whilethree other German subsidiaries requested self-administration under creditor protection. The Group's French companies are not affected. Andreas Ziegenhagen, Head of the Europe and German Restructuring practice, said: "With the filing for protective shield proceedings, we are making use of the most restructuring-friendly court proceedings in the interest of all stakeholders of the companies”. Advisor to Harz Metall / Weser Metall / German management of Recylex: Dentons (Berlin): Andreas Ziegenhagen (Partner, Restructuring, Berlin/Frankfurt), Dirk Schoene (Partner), Dr. Jan Seelinger (Counsel), Dr. Benjamin Kurzberg (Counsel), Judith Schmid (Senior Associate), Dr. Jakob Pickartz (Senior Associate), all Restructuring and Insolvency About Dentons Dentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com


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