Kirkland & Ellis is well-known for its strength in private equity transactions, and is also highly active in cross-border deals involving multinational companies and investors. The team’s public market expertise is demonstrated by its increasing share of the SPAC market. Key figures in the practice include Joey Chau, who is particularly active in take-privates, and Nicholas Norris, who has more than 25 years’ experience of handling M&A in Hong Kong. The group continues to grow, with Peng Yu joining the firm in March 2022 from Ropes & Gray LLP. Daniel Dusek departed the firm in June 2022.

Latham & Watkins LLP is highly active in cross-border M&A, including outbound and inbound investments, and also handles domestic transactions in the Greater China market. The team is noted for its work on complex transactions involving restructurings, take-privates and equity rollovers, and its client base encompasses PE funds and asset managers as well as prominent Chinese and multinational corporations. Simon Cooke leads the group and has experience across public and private M&A, serving as the firm’s head of PE in Asia. Other key figures in the team include Frank Sun, who has recently been particularly active on transactions for CITIC Capital, and Amy Beckingham, who has additional expertise in capital markets deals.

Clifford Chance remains a leading name in Hong Kong corporate law, working closely with its offices in the PRC to handle complex, cross-border transactions. The team’s work on inbound M&A includes acting for multinationals in joint ventures with PRC companies as well as advising on strategic M&A. Take-privates involving companies listed in HK are another area of focus for the team, and the HK office additionally takes the lead on M&A in Taiwan and throughout the Asia Pacific region, with group head Andrew Crook also serving as practice head for the APAC corporate team. Elsewhere, Emma Davies and Amy Ho focus on healthcare and insurance, respectively, while Bryan Koo has a broad practice in this space. Amy Lo retired in April 2022.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is noted for its work in public markets, with experience handling SPAC deals and take-privates, and also acts for private equity funds and their portfolio companies in M&A transactions. The team’s work encompasses deals in highly regulated sectors such as technology, financial services and data centres. Tim Gardner heads the Hong Kong office, in addition to serving as co-head of the Asia offices, and has considerable experience in both cross-border M&A and private equity. Henry Ong is qualified in the UK and Hong Kong, with a client base spanning both sponsors and strategic investors, while Chris Welty takes the lead on public-to-private deals.

As one of the oldest law firms in Hong Kong, Deacons has a long-standing reputation for corporate transactions, including cross-border deals. The team’s clients include companies based in Hong Kong and Mainland China as well as multinationals, and it leverages its expertise across capital markets, competition and regulatory issues to provide input on complex transactions. The group is co-led by corporate finance specialist Ronny Chow and Machiuanna Chu, who has deep expertise across both corporate and commercial dealmaking.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is recognised for its expertise in PE and VC transactions, where William Chua acts for international and China-based funds in investments and acquisitions, including take-privates. The Hong Kong office frequently acts alongside the wider firm’s international offices to handle cross-jurisdictional deals, and is increasingly active in secondary market transactions. The insurance and financial services industries are also areas of focus for the team, with Edwin Northover taking the lead in this space and advising on M&A deals, joint ventures and commercial agreements.

In addition to its highly active domestic M&A practice, Mayer Brown‘s Hong Kong office works closely with its network of offices around the world to advise on cross-border deals. Practice head Hannah Ha also leads the antitrust and competition team in Hong Kong, drawing on this expertise to provide comprehensive advice to clients. She is highly experienced in negotiating deals involving regulated sectors, and her client base includes major multinational and Chinese companies as well as investment funds. Mark Uhrynuk is another key figure in the team and he has noteworthy expertise in representing PE funds.

Morrison Foerster has long-standing expertise in the technology sector, where it advises on joint ventures, acquisitions and venture capital investments in growing sectors such as fintech, renewable energy and healthtech. The team’s work includes handling deals involving highly regulated and sensitive sectors, such as semiconductors. The HK office has also recently carved out a niche in SPAC and de-SPAC transactions, advising on deals involving PRC and SE Asian companies. The team is jointly led by Thomas Chou, Maureen Ho, Marcia Ellis and Vivian Yiu.

With experience handling both private and public M&A, Norton Rose Fulbright is well-placed to advise clients across a range of sectors on corporate transactions including take-privates, mergers and joint ventures. Practice head Psyche Tai is particularly active on deals involving public markets, drawing on her extensive knowledge of the HK takeover code, while James Parker is noted for his work on cross-border transactions. The team continues to expand, promoting Rachel Chan to partner in January 2022 and bringing on Peggy Wang in June 2021 from White & Case.

Shearman & Sterling is highly active on complex M&A deals involving public markets, such as SPACs and take-privates, and is also recognised for its experience in both inbound and outbound investments in China and Hong Kong. Li Chen heads up the group, and alongside Sean Wang works between Hong Kong and Beijing; Wang is noted for his work in the energy sector, while Chen is an expert in both PE investments and strategic M&A. Lorna Chen is another name to note in the funds space, with a particular focus on co-investments. Wanda Woo joined the team in March 2022 from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

With expertise across M&A, capital markets, tax and a range of regulatory areas, White & Case‘s Hong Kong office is adept at advising on corporate transactions across Asia and beyond. The team is noted for its work representing financial sponsors, including PE funds, and is also highly active in strategic M&A. Healthcare and life sciences are key sectors of focus for the group, as well as renewable energy. Christopher Kelly leads the practice and regularly works with the firm’s offices in the PRC, Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo, as well as in the West. Paul Tang regularly handles PE investments and portfolio company deals and has considerable experience advising on inbound investments into China. Daniel Yeh is another name to note in PE, serving as global co-head of private equity, while Peiwen Chen was promoted to partner in January 2022.

A leading law firm in the PRC, Fangda Partners leverages its large presence on the mainland to advise on deals involving PRC companies and is also instructed on matters involving the wider Asia Pacific region. The team has a focus on transactions related to HK public markets, such as share sales and high-value take-privates. The practice additionally stands out for its wide-ranging sector expertise, which encompasses technology, life sciences and education. Practice head Colin Law leverages his knowledge of securities law to advise on public M&A; elsewhere, Norman Zhong has substantial experience acting for international investors on inbound investments into China.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius specialises in advising sovereign wealth and private equity funds on transactions, and acts for both Chinese and international clients. The team handles deals involving companies based in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and its work for Chinese clients also includes outbound investments. Maurice Hoo and Edwin Luk jointly lead the practice; Hoo acts on a broad range of transactions, with a particular focus on the technology sector, while Luk serves as the firm’s global head of corporate and securities.

Eversheds Sutherland‘s expertise in M&A extends beyond advising PE houses on investments and bolt-on acquisitions to encompass strategic M&A, investments and joint ventures. Charles Butcher takes the lead on international M&A, handling deals across the Asia Pacific region, and also heads up the private equity team. Roderick Lai has a broad client base which includes private equity funds and their portfolio companies as well as multinationals, while Dickson Ng continues to offer expertise across M&A and restructuring to both public and private HK companies. Ng works closely with Stephen Mok, the firm’s head of corporate in Asia.

K&L Gates has a strong following among Chinese corporates, advising clients on domestic M&A and outbound investments, and is also recognised for its representation of Chinese private equity funds. The team is instructed on deals across a wide range of sectors, including telecommunications, technology, pharmaceuticals, transport, and renewable energy. The firm’s network of offices across mainland China, Hong Kong, the Asia Pacific and the United States position it well to act on multi-jurisdictional deals. Frank Voon leads the team and works between Beijing and Hong Kong; other key figures in Hong Kong include Virginia Tam, who focuses on outbound M&A, as well as Amigo Xie and William Ho, who are both highly active on cross-border deals.

Milbank‘s corporate practice in Hong Kong has grown rapidly since January 2021, when it brought on Andrew Whan and Neeraj Budhwani from Clifford Chance. Whan and Budhwani specialise in private equity, acting for prominent PE houses in acquisitions of HK companies, including take-privates. Alongside its PE work, the group also handles regional M&A involving clients from across the Asia Pacific region. James Grandolfo is a key name to note in this area, with a particular focus on deals related to the Philippines; Paul Pery, a Philippines-qualified partner, is also highly active on this work.

Independent Hong Kong firm Howse Williams handles a steady stream of deals involving Hong Kong companies, as well as companies in mainland China and the wider Asia Pacific region. The team’s experience in navigating HK Listing Rules enables it to handle take-privates. Chris Williams heads the group, which was recently joined by Veronica Chow and Anthony Chan.

Proskauer Rose LLP‘s Hong Kong team is recognised for its work advising private equity houses on their investments into China, and is additionally noted for its sector expertise in hospitality. Yuval Tal works between the HK and Beijing offices, and serves as the firm’s global co-chair of hospitality, gaming and leisure, advising prominent multinationals in these sectors. Tal jointly leads the Hong Kong team alongside Jeremy Leifer, who has a broad corporate practice, and private equity specialist Jay Tai.

Ropes & Gray LLP acts for well-known Chinese clients in investments, acquisitions and financing rounds. The Hong Kong office works closely with the firm’s other offices to handle multi-jurisdictional transactions. Oliver Nip leads the team; Peng Yu departed the firm in 2022.

Stephenson Harwood has a varied corporate practice, regularly advising on domestic and cross-border M&A involving Hong Kong public companies. The team’s workload includes acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and investments; it also stands out for its work on deals involving distressed assets. Key figures in the team include practice head Jane Ng, who has decades of experience in corporate transactions, and Michelle Chung, who’s expertise extends to capital market matters such as IPOs.