The Legal 500 > DLA Piper > Hong Kong,

DLA Piper

17TH FLOOR, EDINBURGH TOWER, THE LANDMARK, 15 QUEEN'S ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG

Tel:: Work +852 2103 0808
Fax:: Fax +852 2810 1345

Web:: www.dlapiper.com
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Hong Kong : Banking and finance

DLA Piper is developing a fine reputation for structured trade and commodity finance, as well as general banking transactions. In a reflection of its ongoing shift from a borrower orientation to a greater lender focus, the practice has solid relationships with key banks such as Standard Chartered, Standard Bank and China Development Bank. Outbound financings into Africa and other regions by PRC banks is a key growth area. In addition, the arrival of Robert Caldwell from King & Wood prior to becoming King & Wood Mallesons is a boon to its project and structured finance credentials. Paul Lee and Jolyon Ellwood-Russell are also recommended.

Hong Kong : Capital markets (debt)

Within Capital markets (debt), DLA Piper is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper’s broad DCM practice ranges from dim sum to convertible bonds. In 2011 the team represented Solargiga Energy in connection with its RMB300m bond issuance. Jeffrey Mak is the leading name.

Hong Kong : Capital markets (equity)

Within Capital markets (equity), DLA Piper is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper has undergone a meteoric rise in prominence in the ECM sector, with major underwriters now instructing the firm on bigger-bracket transactions. In 2011, it represented Milan Station on its HK$312m Hong Kong listing. The US securities team, led by Stephen Peepels, has also had considerable success in India, where it represented Power Finance Corporation and the Indian government on Power Finance’s $1bn follow-on public offering. Esther Leung has a tremendous reputation on the Hong Kong law side.

Hong Kong : Construction

Within Construction, tier 4

Led by Harris Chan, DLA Piper’s ’very good’ team advises on both non-contentious and high-value contentious matters across Hong Kong, Macau and China. Its client base includes leading retailers and contractors.

Hong Kong : Corporate (including M&A)

Within Corporate (including M&A), tier 4

DLA Piper’s expertise in the corporate and transactional insurance sector was reinforced by the arrival of Heng Loong Cheong and Joyce Chan, who joined following the closure of Dewey Lebouef. Ping An Insurance remains a key client of the firm, and Mabel Lui recently advised it on the sale of a $2.5bn stake to Chow Tai Fook. It also acted for Era Mining Machinery on selling a $887m stake to Caterpillar.

Hong Kong : Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, tier 4

DLA Piper has a sizeable team with particular strength in insurance, contentious regulatory and general commercial litigation matters. The firm recently represented China Railways Group in a headline sovereign immunity case that reached the Court of Final Appeal. Satpal Gobindpuri, Kevin Chan and seasoned regulatory head Christopher Clarke are the senior members of the team.

Hong Kong : Employment

Within Employment, DLA Piper is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper’s employment team has undergone a reshuffle in recent months; the relocation of former team head Pattie Walsh to the Sydney office has left six associates in the Hong Kong office, including new additions Rosamund Browne and Naveen Qureshi. Work highlights included advising a leading US clothing retailer on a disability discrimination matter, and assisting a global investment bank with the harmonisation of its severance policies and separation agreements across 12 Asia Pacific jurisdictions. Senior associate Sharyn Morrison has left the practice.

Hong Kong : Insurance

Within Insurance, DLA Piper is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper benefited from the arrival of ex-Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP partners Joyce Chan and Heng Loong Cheong in 2012. Chan specialises in life insurance and regulatory issues, and Cheong handles corporate insurance matters. Both recently represented Alleghany Corporation on the Hong Kong insurance and regulatory aspects of the client’s merger with Transatlantic Holdings. Will Harrison and the Shanghai-based Roy Chan are also recommended.

Hong Kong : Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property, DLA Piper is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper has undergone a reshuffle since the departure of Justin Davidson and his team to Norton Rose Hong Kong. The practice is now headed by Edward Chatterton, and includes new arrival Scott Thiel, who has relocated from the London office. Recent work includes trade mark prosecutions, oppositions and cancellations on behalf of Vodafone and Avon, and trade mark portfolio and opposition work for HSBC. The firm’s international presence has been ’invaluable’ to clients.

Hong Kong : Investment funds

Within Investment funds, DLA Piper is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper handles a healthy mix of hedge fund, private equity fund, real estate fund and SFC licensing matters. Luke Gannon heads the Asia funds and asset management practice, and has 20 years’ experience in the field. He recently advised on a complex restructuring of fund management business Apex Capital.

Hong Kong : Projects and energy

Within Projects and energy, tier 4

DLA Piper recently made a number of lateral hires, including Robert Caldwell, who joined from King & Wood, bringing experience in project finance; and Heng Loong Cheong, who joined from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, bringing corporate expertise in the energy sector. Brett Stewien and Jolyon Ellwood-Russell also made partner in 2011. Clients include Linc Energy and Era Mining Machinery.

Hong Kong : Real estate

Within Real estate, DLA Piper is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper’s four-partner practice is led by ’very experienced’ property and hotel sector expert Susheela Rivers, and includes the ’very diligent’ Polly Chu. The team has worked on a number of transactions for Tesco in the region, and also advised Max Fame Capital Investment on its RMB984m purchase of Guangzhou Popark.

Hong Kong : Regulatory

Within Regulatory, tier 4

In 2011, DLA Piper formed a China Securities Litigation Rapid Response Team, to aid clients affected by the upturn in securities litigation and government investigations. The ’responsive and knowledgeable’ practice recently lost Yuet Ming Tham to Sidley Austin; nevertheless, team head Christopher Clarke has ’an excellent nose for an investigation’, and specialises in regulatory disputes. Esther Leung is also recommended, for her non-contentious experience.

Hong Kong : Restructuring and insolvency

Within Restructuring and insolvency, DLA Piper is a third tier firm,

In 2011, DLA Piper recruited distressed debt specialist Troy Doyle from Norton Rose Australia to lead the Asia restructuring team. While his principal base is Singapore, Doyle spends a significant amount of time in the Hong Kong office, and has ’excellent knowledge and understanding of the Asia region’. Clients include PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young and FTI Consulting. Christopher Clarke and consultant Graham Ridler are also recommended. Jonathan Leitch transferred to Hong Kong from the firm’s London office in September 2012

Hong Kong : Shipping

Within Shipping, DLA Piper is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper’s team is headed by Nicholas Mallard, and includes three others partners who collectively form the commodities, trade and transport group. The team recently acted in charterparty and newbuild disputes, and also advised San Clemente Shipping SA and The Japan Ship Owners Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association in a $3m claim relating to cargo damaged in a fire. Other clients include American P&I Club, Hyundai and North China Lines.

Hong Kong : TMT

Within TMT, DLA Piper is a third tier firm,

Despite turbulence and team changes over the past year, DLA Piper has retained a strong TMT practice. Matt Glynn heads the Asia Pacific practice, with the Hong Kong team led by IT specialist Scott Thiel. The team is involved in a number of strategic transactions related to outsourcing, data privacy and IT development for clients such as Cathay Pacific, HSBC and SkyScanner.

Hong Kong : Tax and trusts

Within Tax and trusts, DLA Piper is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper has made a number of recent hires across the region, including Todd Beutler from Withers, and of counsels William Marshall, from Abercrombie & Fitch, and Deidre Fu, from Clifford Chance. Beutler has 15 years of experience in the business, and is focused on US and international tax planning for US, Asian and European multinationals. Daniel Chan continues to lead the team, which also features Stephen Nelson and Patrice Marceau, who is recommended for Canadian tax planning. Work highlights included advising leading retailers on the tax aspects of the restructuring of their Hong Kong operations.

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Legal Developments by:
DLA Piper

Sentencing guidelines for corporate manslaughter

In February 2010 the Sentencing Guidelines Council (the SGC) issued definitive guidelines to courts on imposing appropriate sentences for corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences causing death. The SGC states that fines imposed on companies found guilty of corporate manslaughter should not fall below £500,000, while fines in respect of health and safety offences that are a significant cause of death should be at least £100,000. Crucially, the SGC declined to provide for a fixed link between the imposed fine and the turnover or profitability of the offending company. 

- DLA Piper UK LLP

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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BVI to update Intellectual Property laws

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