The Hong Kong private equity team at Kirkland & Ellis is active across a wide range of high-profile, complex deals in the Asia Pacific market, operating with a particular focus on leveraged buyouts (LBOs), M&A deals, PIPEs and joint ventures. Team heads, Gary Li and Jesse Sheley display proficiency across high-profile transactions for a variety of global PE clients, with specific experience in de-spacing and LBO transactions. Peng Yu has both regional and global experience across a range of PE dealings, such as take-private transactions, PIPEs, and growth capital investments, demonstrating the firm’s multi-jurisdictional capacity. The firm is regarded for its sponsor-focused debt finance, as well as restructuring and investment fund practices, supporting the private equity team and consolidating its full-service offering.

Latham & Watkins LLP demonstrates consistent participation in complex private equity transactions for high-profile clients, and effectively leverages its presence across key Asia Pacific locations such as Beijing and Shanghai to provide comprehensive advice regarding Greater China. The team possesses specific experience to accommodate the needs of high-profile PE clients, including mobilising knowledge of sectors such as logistics, technology, and healthcare to meet increased demand. Practice head, Simon Cooke, has a range of experience covering public and private M&A transactions across the Asia Pacific and Frank Sun is well-respected for his specialism regarding China-related private equity deals and focuses on buyouts, growth capital investment and structured corporate finance transactions. Amy Beckingham specialises in securities transactions and advising corporate clients on IPO exits.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a dedicated private equity offering in Hong Kong focusing on large-scale cross-border transactions. It is in demand for its blend of expertise in private equity and corporate transactions combined with 'very hands-on advice and support'. The team covers a broad range of deals including high-value public company privatisations and minority investments. Meanwhile, the firm’s strong debt financing and leveraging capacity is well-suited to the needs of private equity sponsors, and a deep understanding of regional markets allows the firm to operate for its network of global clients across the APAC region. Practice leader Tim Gardner, and Chris Welty, regularly advise the firm’s key corporate and sponsor clients on complex leveraged and managed buyouts, public-to-privates, joint ventures, minority investments and cross-border deals.

White & Case’s private equity team, led by Daniel Yeh, regularly advises sophisticated private equity investors across the APAC region with many cross-border matters led from Hong Kong. The team has recently expanded its expertise across the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, particularly in relation to biotechnology, and technology more broadly, with a focus on AI and data centers. The team emphasises its comprehensive, vertically integrated sponsor-facing practice in Hong Kong, supported by its sponsor finance, investment funds, M&A, and capital markets departments. Recently promoted partner, Peiwen Chen, regularly advises sponsors and their portfolio companies on cross-border and domestic corporate transactions including acquisitions and divestitures with a China nexus and has developed traction in infrastructure and renewable energy clients. William Fong is also active in the area.

Clifford Chance engages with a diverse selection of international private equity clients, possessing specific expertise regarding LBO transactions and financing options, facilitated by a deep understanding of the Asia debt market. The team has a strong sector focus, with particular emphasis on consumer goods, technology, financial institutions, and life sciences. Practice head, Andrew Crook, has filled the leadership gap caused by the departure of Andrew Whan and Neeraj Budhwani to Milbank. Crook has extensive experience advising private equity clients across several transaction types, specifically focusing on sectors such as healthcare, energy, education and real estate. The team also possesses unique experience in upstream fund formation and downstream transactional work. Rising star, Julie Fu, specialises in cross-border private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, with a specific focus on Greater China transactions.

Daniel Dusek’s recent move to Goodwin from Kirkland & Ellis has strengthened the firm’s private equity capacity. Combined with practice heads, Douglas Freeman and Yash Rana, the team has a consolidated private equity offering, often acting for private equity sponsors in multi-jurisdictional transaction pipelines, and with a strong track-record in the technology and life sciences sectors. The firm is also committed to its wider APAC platform and is strengthening its offering across Southeast Asia, such as in the increasingly important Taiwanese market.

Following the arrival of practice heads, Andrew Whan and Neeraj Budhwani from Clifford Chance, Milbank has seen an increased volume of top private equity deals coming to the firm. The team is particularly active in large scale public take-private transactions and predominantly focuses on the sell-side of these deals, as well as being involved in several PIPE and de-spacing undertakings. The team has also gained experience in unique sectors such as education enterprises, and artificial intelligence, such as advising Baring Private Equity on their acquisition of e-learning content provider Straive.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has a uniquely strong fund formation capacity across Asia, Europe and the US, giving it remit to advise a variety of clients across complex leveraged transactions such as buyouts and take-privates. The team, led by William Chua, is active in several distinctive sectors including healthcare, TMT and real estate.

Fangda Partners is well-positioned to handle a range of private equity transactions in relation to Greater China. The firm routinely advises strategic and financial investors and is supported by its corporate and M&A focus, particularly regarding public and take-private transactions. The firm’s PRC expertise is not amiss on key sponsors who require seamless cross-border execution on large transactions. Practice head Colin Law is the name to note.

The dedicated private equity team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius is led by Maurice Hoo and provides transactional advice in connection with global and regional funds, including buyouts, investment, restructuring and divestment deals, leveraging a strong capital markets practice. The firm prides itself on developing a reputable client base from scratch based on its unique regional expertise in large transactions.

Morrison Foerster is at the forefront of the SPAC trend taking off across Asia, dealing with all elements of the process from raising SPACs, de-SPACing transactions and PIPE deals. The firm has broadened its connected industry expertise with technology, e-commerce, data centers and online education services. The team is led by Marcia Ellis and Thomas Chou who both regularly advise private equity funds across all aspects of their transactions.

Proskauer Rose LLP’s focus within the private equity sphere is fund formation as well as buyouts and portfolio company divestitures. The firm ensures collaboration with its M&A practice and engages with co-investment work, both direct and indirect, as well as structuring co-investment funds across the APAC region including India, China and Southeast Asia. Practice head Jay Tai has been instrumental in the development of the firm’s Hong Kong practice.

Ropes & Gray LLP operates in Hong Kong through a global collaborative network to draw together cross-practice expertise within multi-jurisdictional PE transactions. The firm has several high-profile private equity fund clients and has established close connections with Chinese sponsors. Practice head Oliver Nip has a deep understanding of the Hong Kong and wider China private equity markets and the associated nuance. He advises clients on the full spectrum of private equity transactions but focuses his attention on providing service for the firm’s international PE clients and asset managers. Former practice head Peng Yu has recently moved to Kirkland & Ellis.

DLA Piper has an active presence across several key jurisdictions in Asia and has advised on a range of private equity transactions, including the $1.46bn acquisition of a Taiwanese semiconductor company by Wise Road Capital. The team has advised on multiple cross-border Sino-US and Sino-European transactions. Much of their work is based across Shanghai and Beijing. Luke Gannon heads the team.

Hogan Lovells has experience in fund formation and portfolio management with unique sector expertise in life sciences, TMT and healthcare. The firm handles cross-border transactions by leveraging its presence across key jurisdictions such as the UK and the US, as well as forging a domestic Chinese network with PRC firms. Practice head Stephanie Tang has a strong corporate finance background.

Shearman & Sterling’s integrated global platform offers a unique source of advice for multi-sector clients across the full spectrum of issues faced, with specific focus on investment and restructuring transactions. The firm leverages experience in M&A and corporate transactions to support its private equity offering. Notable partners include Lorna Chen and Li Chen.

Sidley Austin has expanded its APAC presence and diversified its private equity experience in emerging sectors such as life sciences and technology. The team has also participated in several SPAC transactions acting for sponsors, target companies and PIPE investors. The team is co-led by Constance Choy and Raymond Oh.