The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, tier 5

Bolstered by the recent arrival of ‘good operator’ Paul Lee, DLA Piper has successfully evolved from being a borrower-oriented practice, to one which now serves a series of Chinese and international lenders. Structured trade finance and project finance are key components of the practice.

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

DLA Piper has a notable presence in the convertible and RMB bond market, as well as on some high-yield debt deals. Jeffrey Mak is the leading figure in the team, and Jae Chul Lee advised on a major bond offering for LG Display.

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

DLA Piper has an intense focus on PRC issuer clients and has had considerable success, thanks in large part to the efforts of well-connected PRC national Wei Liu. Its advice on Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology’s headline Hong Kong listing illustrates its ability to work on bulge bracket deals. The firm has also become a leading player in India, having worked on the giant Coal India IPO. The team is ‘responsive’ and ‘executes instructions expediently’, with the ‘highly professional’ Esther Leung and US partner Stephen Peepels highly regarded.

Within Construction, tier 4

Harris Chan is the key construction partner at DLA Piper, focusing on contentious and non-contentious matters across Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. Among an impressive list of work highlights, the firm is handling a number of retail sector projects.

Within Corporate (including M&A), tier 4

DLA Piper has a strong focus on foreign direct investment into China and Hong Kong, although outbound deals on behalf of China corporates such as Ping An is a growing segment of the practice. The firm recently represented Shanghai-listed Qingdao Haier on its $250m acquisition of a controlling stake in Hong Kong-listed Haier Electronics. Mabel Lui is ‘professional’ and ‘understands’ her clients’ businesses. Jeffrey Mak is recommended for ‘cross-jurisdictional listing compliance matters’.

Within Dispute resolution, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper has a large team of partners and associates, covering classic commercial litigation, and insurance and shipping disputes. A number of bank panel appointments have also led to a greater flow of financial institution disputes and contentious regulatory work. The firm represented China Railways Group in the landmark sovereign immunity case involving FG Hemisphere and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which reached the Court of Final Appeal. Satpal Gobindpuri heads the department that includes Kevin Chan and the immensely well-connected and experienced Christopher Clarke.

Within Employment, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

The ‘first-class’ employment group at DLA Piper has an ‘excellent reputation for client responsiveness, industry knowledge and value for money’. The practice has gone from strength, following the arrival of Pattie Walsh (‘the most user-friendly employment lawyer in the region’) in 2009. Since then, a number of associates have been added across Greater China and, in August 2011, Sharyn Morrison joined as a senior associate from Linklaters. The team’s primary focus is non-contentious work for employers.

Within Insurance, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘very customer-centric’ team at DLA Piper has an ‘exceptional understanding and knowledge of complex insurance issues’, both in contentious claims and non-contentious advisory matters. The ‘extremely responsive’ Will Harrison leads the team, and provides ‘high quality and succinct advice’. Harrison is advising Allied World Assurance Company as defence counsel to the IPO liability line-slip policy, and is also advising Chartis on the drafting of its D&O policy. Roy Chan provides support from the Shanghai office. Jamie Sparkes left the firm in May 2011 to join insurer Marsh.

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

There have been significant changes to the DLA Piper IP group since the former team left for Norton Rose Hong Kong in 2010; the ‘knowledgeable and reliable’ Edward Chatterton leads a new team of seven associates across Greater China. Key clients include Gap and HSBC, where the firm is advising on significant trade mark matters.

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

DLA Piper is developing a ‘significant practice’ in funds work, largely due to Luke Gannon, who has a very good reputation in the market. Gannon advises on hedge, real estate and private equity funds. Highlights included advising KIMA Capital Management on the establishment of a Cayman-based hedge fund of $30m, and advising Wang On Group on the establishment of a $30m private equity fund structured as a limited partnership.

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

With ‘strong knowledge of the real estate industry’, DLA Piper’s four-partner practice group is led by property and hotel sector specialist Susheela Rivers and Joseph Christian, who focuses on institutional clients’ real estate investments in Asia. The firm advises Tesco on all its real estate acquisition work in China, including a £170m investor deal involving the establishment of a joint venture to develop three shopping malls in China, each of which includes a Tesco hypermarket as the main tenant.

Within Regulatory, tier 4

DLA Piper advises investment banks and Hong Kong-listed companies on corporate governance and compliance issues. Yuet Ming Tham offers ‘excellent guidance and support’, and has experience advising clients on FCPA investigations, FCPA compliance programmes, data privacy, trade controls, and anti-bribery matters. Esther Leung advises on the non-contentious side, and provided regulatory advice to Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology in its HK$7.1bn IPO in 2010. Christopher Clarke has ‘excellent investigative skills’ and is assisting the liquidators in the winding-up of CSA Absolute Return Fund. Competition partner David Cox is also recommended, along with Martin Dajani, who is rated for his ‘depth of knowledge and corporate understanding’.

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

DLA Piper combines ‘industry knowledge and expertise together with insolvency skills’. It is advising KPMG on the liquidation of Transfield ER Cape, which involves proceedings in the BVI, Singapore, UK and New York. Insolvency practitioner Graham Ridler is recommended, and acts for the Federal Deposit Insurance Federation and Deloitte. Christopher Clarke provides ‘substantial relevant experience with sound commercial judgement’ and is noted for his ‘engaging personality that facilitates and overcomes difficult discussions’.

Within Shipping, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

‘A-grade’ DLA Piper houses lawyers with a ‘high-level of professional knowledge and the ability to provide practical solutions, which meet business objectives’. Recently promoted to head up the commodities, trade and transport group across Asia, Kevin Chan impresses with ‘dedication to his work, pragmatism and high efficiency’, while Nicholas Mallard is ‘the lawyer to instruct if you want to win’. Clients of the firm include China International Marine Containers and COSCO Group.

Within TMT, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper’s TMT department and has undergone some significant changes, since the former team left for Norton Rose Hong Kong in October 2010. Notably the ‘excellent’ Matthew Glynn transferred from the Dubai office to head up the Asia, Middle East and Africa intellectual property and technology practice, and four new hires joined the Hong Kong group. The team ‘goes the extra mile for its clients’ and delivers an ‘unmatched level of service’. Clients include Gap, RBS and Polo Ralph Lauren.

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

In 2011, DLA Piper expanded its Greater China tax practice, when five associates and one of counsel joined, but most notably it welcomed former head of tax at King & Wood Stephen Nelson to the team. With over 25 years’ experience in PRC corporate, commercial and tax matters, Nelson has niche expertise in tax issues relating to foreign investment in the PRC and sector knowledge in the TMT and financial services industries. While the firm has a strong corporate tax practice, it also offers specialised services in areas such as private banking, personal tax planning, transfer pricing and executive compensation. Patrice Marceau and Asia head of tax Daniel Chan are also recommended.