With an established presence in China for over 30 years, Allen & Overy LLP‘s banking and finance practice features a loyal client base made up of Chinese and international investment and commercial banks, corporates, and funds, acting on matters on both the lender and borrower side. Among its key areas of expertise, the firm is especially well regarded for traditional lending products and a range of financing transactions, with a joint operation with Lang Yue Law Firm extending its reach with regard to PRC law. Beijing-based Yvonne Ho spends the majority of her time advising Chinese and international corporates, banks and ECAs on projects, export credit, acquisition, and asset finance, being able to foster strong relationships with these as a result of her trilingual abilities. In Shanghai, Matthew Bisley is active in financing matters, with a diversified client base regularly seeking advice on real estate and project finance matters relating to energy and infrastructure.

The Greater China banking practice at Linklaters ‘offers a one-stop-shop‘, exhibiting particular expertise in leveraged and acquisition finance as it stands as a leader for its advisory role to arrangers on private equity-backed leveraged buy-outs and acquisitions with a China link. Another key area of strength is with respect to structured lending, with the team’s leveraging of its integrated team in the corporate, capital markets and regulatory domains as well as its joint operation with local firm Zhao Sheng Law Firm, allowing it to advise on a range of multijurisdictional matters. Beijing-based Xiaohui Ji heads the team in Beijing, spearheading the firm’s offering with regard to Belt & Road transactions, acting for major Chinese policy and commercial banks and international clients in high-profile project financing transactions. Counsel Wendy Zhang handles inbound and outbound financing, pre-IPO and structured debt financing transactions.

Ashurst provides a diverse offering in the banking and finance space, with the team capable in project, real estate and acquisition financing, in conjunction with issues relating to margin loans and structured lending arrangements. Apart from being highly regarded for its ‘thorough and comprehensive legal services‘ when it comes to cross-border matters, it benefits from a joint operation with Guantao Law Firm, allowing it to act on PRC law matters. Patrick Phua, who divides his time between the firm’s Beijing and Hong Kong offices, is particularly regarded for his work on derivates and structured products. Also working across these two offices is ‘well versed‘ Daniel Lau, with over 15 years of experience in cross-border transactions, including in relation to mezzanine financings and syndicated loans. Primarily in Hong Kong, Eric Tan is ‘very good technically‘, being able to ‘apply his technical skills to the commercial needs of the transaction‘ as he handles a variety of banking product work, advising financial institutions and corporates from both sides of lending relationships. At the associate level, Beijing-based Emma Zhang showcases expertise in project finance work, with a focus on the power, resources and infrastructure sectors.

Baker McKenzie FenXun is distinguishable for its multi-faceted focus on leveraged, real estate, fund, aviation and large syndicated financings. In Hong Kong, aircraft financing expert Andrew Lockhart leads the team, with a practice extending to bilateral and syndicated loan transactions. Simon Leung is another notable practitioner in the Hong Kong office, specializing in PRC-related cross-border financing transactions, acting from a lender or borrower perspective, while Sally Hung regularly acts on large-cap syndicated and real estate financings. Kenneth Ching is also recommended, combining ‘excellent technical expertise with acute commercial awareness‘ to act in leveraged finance matters. Acting out of the Shanghai office is Grace Li, with a broad practice encompassing regulatory advice as well as structured aircraft financing and leasing transactions; Beijing-based Duan Cui is recommended for outbound finance transactions.

Paul Hastings LLP is a name to note for commercial lending, regularly advising clients on the lender and borrower side in relation to convertible debt facilities, real estate acquisitions, bond financing and senior mezzanine and subordinated debt credit facilities. The team is jointly led by Jia Yan and Hong Kong-based James Ma and Vivian Lam. Yan divides his time between Beijing and Shanghai, while Ma excels in structuring and executing cross-border transactions in the Greater China and Asia regions. Also noted for cross-border transactions, Lam is active in acquisitions, debt issues, and corporate restructurings, with a focus on advising financial institutions and domestic companies.

Led by Beijing-based Kanyi Lui, the finance and projects team at Pinsent Masons is well positioned to advise on Belt and Road projects, and particularly excels at advising borrowers and lenders on the full spectrum of project financings. At the associate level, Winnie Nie handles a multitude of transactions in Asia, Africa and Latin America, Olivia Wang is noted for her experience of acting for policy and commercial banks on loan transactions.

Ropes & Gray LLP specialises in leveraged and acquisition finance, with private equity sponsors standing as the firm’s key clients. Leadership of the practice is divided between Jackie Kahng and Daniel Anderson, with the former focusing on a wide range of banking and finance mandates including cross-border leveraged financing and acquisition finance, while the latter is recognised for his experience in refinancing and restructuring matters. Counsel Lucy Wu is also a name to note who acts for financial institutions and private equity firms on asset and margin finance.

With a presence in Beijing, Hong Kong and Tokyo, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acts for both private equity and corporate borrowers as well as financial institutions in acquisition and real estate financing transactions. Hong Kong-based Makiko Harunari leads the firm’s Asia banking and credit group, focusing on complex cross-border financing transactions in the Asia-Pacific region.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP‘s Hong Kong-based team is particularly active in advising borrowers. With a strong tie between the firm’s finance and corporate and M&A groups, the team is also able to advise on margin loans for shareholders and PRC going-private acquisitions. John Hartley advises borrowers, lenders and alternative capital providers on debt financings, real estate financings and project financings, and jointly leads the practice with Jonathan Stone.