The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > China > Banking and finance: foreign firms

With a longstanding presence in China, Allen & Overy LLP's Greater China banking and finance practice is 'very professional, and has excellent knowledge and experience in cross-border transactions'. It advises on both lender and borrower work, with its client base including Chinese and international investment and commercial banks, local and multinational corporations, and a growing list of funds and other financial institutions. The team's range of experience covers traditional lending products, including secured and unsecured, bilateral and syndicated lending, and acquisition, real estate and equity-backed and fund financings, along with project finance and highly complex, structured transactions. In 2020, the group was notably active in relation to COVID-related issues, concerning existing and new deal structures, as well as loans to support pandemic relief. The firm also enhanced its legal services offering through an approved joint operation with Lang Yue Law Firm in the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone. Beijing's Yvonne Ho and Shanghai-based Matthew Bisley have extensive banking and finance transactional experience, while Roger Lui is the main Hong Kong contact.

One of Asia’s top law firms for banking and finance, Linklaters' Greater China team acts for arrangers on large numbers of private equity-backed leveraged buyouts (LBOs) in the region, with an emphasis on China-related acquisitions. In relation to structured lending transactions, clients also benefit from the practice's ability to utilise the expertise of the firm's corporate, capital markets and regulatory divisions. In Beijing, Xiaohui Ji specialises in project financing, acquisition financing and general corporate loans, and works closely with major Chinese policy and commercial banks; providing key support at managing associate level is Wendy Zhang. Regional managing partner for Asia, Nathalie Hobbs, and Davide Mencacci, who is global head of the firm's banking practice, are the principal contacts in Hong Kong, where Frank Cui and Maggie Ng are also highly-rated partners.

'Always able to provide professional support', Ashurst's dedicated banking and finance practice has a strong name in the market for cross-border, multi-jurisdictional international project financing, real estate financing, margin loans, structured lending, fund financing and acquisition financing deals. Beijing-based Asia global loans and global markets practice head, Patrick Phua, has extensive experience in major outbound and cross-border financings, and is a PRC derivatives market specialist; and Chin Chuan Chen heads the global loans practice in Greater China from Singapore. At counsel level, Yolanda Liu , who 'grasps market trends and fully understands clients' needs', specialises in derivatives, structured finance, commodity finance and regulatory matters; and Emma Zhang focuses on banking and project finance work in the power, resources and infrastructure sectors. At senior associate level, Zhibin Fan is noted for energy and resources sector-related financings. Priscilla Chen, Eric Tan and Daniel Lau are highly regarded names in Hong Kong. Support from further afield comes from global finance, funds and restructuring head, Jamie Ng, in Sydney.

A trusted adviser to lenders, credit funds, asset management companies, private equity funds and corporations, Baker McKenzie FenXun has on-the-ground capability to advise on the full spectrum of financing transactions, ranging from leveraged financings, structured offshore and onshore loans, real estate financings and project financings to aircraft financings, securitisation and restructuring. The practice is also able to leverage the firm's extensive international network (77 international offices) on cross-border transactions. Working across the Beijing and Hong Kong offices, Simon Leung was recently heavily involved in acquisition financing transactions that involved targets and assets in multiple jurisdictions; Grace Li  is an experienced special counsel in Shanghai. Andrew Lockhart leads the banking and finance practice group in Hong Kong, where Sally Hung and Allen Ng are also experienced partners.

Best known for its strong relationships with Chinese banks, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP's Greater China finance group handles international and cross-border deals that often require integrated, multi-jurisdictional expertise. The team covers all forms of finance, including commercial bank lending, debt capital markets, project finance and asset-based finance, but is particularly noted for its expertise in structured financings, real estate finance and trade finance. Highly rated for Asian financings, Hong Kong's Alexander Aitken is particularly focused on complex secured financings that involve companies, infrastructure, real estate and projects.

Paul Hastings LLP's banking and finance team advises on a broad range of commercial lending, including acquisition, bond, fund, private equity, project and real estate financing. It also houses experts in convertible debt facilities, loan workout transactions, refinancing, and senior mezzanine and subordinated debt credit facilities. In Hong Kong, James Ma focuses on cross-border transactions in the Greater China region and Asian markets, and Vivian Lam consistently acts for financial institutions and Chinese companies. Former partner Brett King left to become Nexwell's chief legal officer.

Leveraged and acquisition finance are core business streams for Ropes & Gray LLP's China banking and finance team, which advises private equity sponsors and corporate entities on their financings in Asia Pacific. In Hong Kong, Jackie Kahng is experienced in cross-border, leveraged finance transactions, including acquisition and real estate finance; Hong Kong office managing partner, Daniel Anderson, is also co-head of the firm’s special situations practice and a widely-respected banking and finance partner. Lucy Wu is the counsel to note.

Pinsent Masons grew its China banking and finance team in 2020, with the hire of Beijing partner Kanyi Lui, who is known for the financing of energy, natural resources, and infrastructure projects, from Jones Day. The practice also assists with general banking, and acquisition, syndicated, structured and trade finance, along with asset-backed financing, corporate lending, restructuring and financial regulatory matters.

Simmons & Simmons' experienced Beijing-based partner Yongmei Cai specialises in banking, cross-border finance, derivatives, debt capital markets and financial regulatory work. In recent years, she has focused on cross-border structured trade and commodities finance transactions, on behalf of international finance institutions. Cai also advises major Chinese finance institutions and corporate clients on their outbound financings.

Predominantly advising private equity and corporate borrowers, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP's Hong Kong-based practice advises on large and high-profile Asia-related acquisition and real estate financings, as well as other complex financings. Focused on cross-border financing transactions throughout the Asia Pacific region, Makiko Harunari is the firm’s Asia banking and credit practice head.

With 'deep experience in banking and finance, up-to-date market insights and superb work ethics', Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is particularly noted for borrower side-deals. The finance team consistently works alongside the firm's corporate and M&A group on acquisitions, including PRC going-private transactions. With over 30 years’ experience in the banking and finance sector, of counsel John Hartley, who 'knows what he is doing', advises on banking matters for clients throughout Asia.

Watson Farley & Williams' Hong Kong-based team is best known for its maritime finance expertise; the practice also includes experience in related sectors such as offshore oil and gas, LNG, container boxes, ports and logistics, and cruise and ferries. Madeline Leong, Christoforos Bisbikos, Khin Voong and Guan Jian are all experienced finance practitioners.