Debevoise & Plimpton LLP > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Investment funds Tier 1

Drawing upon ‘deep market knowledge’ gleaned over many years’ experience in the market, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP provides ‘an excellent work quality’ for a GP-focused client base establishing large pan-Asian buyout funds to smaller sector- or country-specific funds, including RMB-denominated funds. Praised for his ‘ability to break down complex problems into smaller bite sized pieces’, Gavin Anderson, who now splits his time between the firm’s Hong Kong and London, has, alongside vastly experienced of counsel Andrew Ostrognai, been instrumental in developing the firm’s high-calibre private equity offering which is adept at advising all aspects of fund formation, capital raising and closing.  Anderson co-heads the team alongside Shawn Yang, who as well as his GP fund formation work is also regularly active on secondaries and select investor-side representations. Mai Shapiro rounds out the team and provides the relevant US tax advice pursuant to both fund formation and subsequent downstream activity.

Hong Kong > Insurance Tier 2

Combining regulatory and corporate capabilities, the ‘strong and capable’ team at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP excels in advising insurance companies on transactional work throughout APAC, running the gamut from advice on M&A in the sector, through to advice on distribution agreements. ‘Intelligent and savvy’ team head Edwin Northover has a ‘good understanding of the market’, regularly taking the lead on key strategic transactional work for key global and Asia-based insurance entities, including AIA and Prudential Financial. International counsel Jan Buschmann ‘knows his way around the insurance ordinance and the HKIA requirements very well’ and regularly advises on standalone regulatory questions, as well as in the context of insurance-related transactional work.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is highly sought after by major financial institution clients, regularly acting in significant litigation concerning private equity, investment banking, securities and wealth management. The practice also considers the areas of white collar crime and government investigations as key aspects of its litigation work, with multi-jurisdictional mandates spanning the Asia Pacific from India and Singapore to Japan and South Korea. Of counsel Mark Johnson and Gareth Hughes jointly head the offering, with the pair’s clients including top PRC asset management firms, global financial institutions, and individual executives and shareholders.

Hong Kong > Regulatory: anti-corruption and compliance Tier 3

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP's main focus in the regulatory space is on defence work for financial services clients, as well as for senior executives, who are subject to regulatory investigations and private litigation. Mark Johnson has substantial experience and familiarity with regulatory investigations, including mis-selling, insider trading, and market manipulation probes by the SFC and HKMA. Johnson also represents Hong Kong publicly-listed companies in internal investigations and regulatory scrutiny by bodies including the ICAC and the HKSE. Gareth Hughes co-heads the team alongside Johnson and is also a core member of the team.

Hong Kong > Corporate (including M&A) Tier 4

The team at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP assists a diverse client base, consisting of private equity firms, financial institutions, and insurance companies, such as Sun Life, True North, and AIA. With William Chua having left the team in May 2023, Edwin Northover has taken over as practice head, utilising his vast knowledge of joint ventures and distribution agreements to advise on major players in the insurance industry. Northover is also ‘second to none’ when advising on bancassurance agreements.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: international arbitration Tier 4

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s Hong Kong and wider Asia Pacific arbitration team is a trusted advisor to various multinationals, international organisations, sovereigns and NGOs on complex international disputes; having carved out a particularly strong reputation for private equity disputes. Splitting his time between Hong Kong and London, Tony Dymond co-chairs the Asia arbitration practice and principally focuses on multijurisdictional construction and engineering disputes. Mark Johnson and Gareth Hughes are also key contacts in Hong Kong, with the latter being adept concerning complex commercial disputes and regularly handling arbitrations under HKIAC, LCIA, SIAC and CIETAC. International counsel Cameron Sim is also building a solid reputation for Asia-related arbitrations, representing corporates and sovereign entities across a broad range of industries including energy, insurance, pharmaceuticals and banking and finance.

Hong Kong > Private equity Tier 5

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP houses a broad team which advises a variety of clients, including financial sponsors, sovereign wealth funds, and family offices on leveraged acquisitions and take private transactions. The group is also known for assisting a number of both domestic and international investment managers. Practice head Edwin Northover displays vast expertise in bancassurance distribution agreements and strategic partnerships, while associate Sheng Shao is noted for his broad knowledge of corporate matters. William Chua left the practice in May 2023 and Wen-Wei Lai rejoined the team from an in-house role.