Latham & Watkins LLP > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Capital markets (equity) Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP, both independently and often in partnership with mainland lawyers, continues to manage a substantial number of IPOs and subsequent offerings for underwriters and issuers in both Hong Kong and the US. The team has gained particular acclaim for its work on behalf of Chinese TMT and life sciences companies wishing to go public, with clients in the space often benefiting from a one-stop-shop service by virtue of the firm’s broader industry-wide practice groups in those areas. Benjamin Su is also key to the firm’s success in the TMT space, regularly taking the lead for issuers and underwriters on listings in Hong Kong and the US, including for Taiwanese semiconductor companies.

Hong Kong > Corporate (including M&A) Tier 1

The offering at Latham & Watkins LLP operates as part of the firm’s wider Greater China practice, advising on both inbound and outbound matters, including carve-outs, club deals, and take privates. Simon Cooke is well-known for his vast knowledge of both public and private M&A, while Frank Sun is particularly adept at advising financial investors on the structuring of joint ventures. Stephen Shi is recommended for his broad experience spanning take-privates, spin-offs, and growth capital investments. Richard Watkins is a key name for corporate finance transactions, often acting on both buy and sell side transactions across the TMT, real estate, and asset management spaces.

Hong Kong > Private equity Tier 1

Simon Cooke heads the broad offering at Latham & Watkins LLP, which leverages its network across Greater China and Singapore to assist international private equity clients. Cooke is recommended for his vast knowledge of private equity driven M&A transactions across the APAC region. Frank Sun is noted for his strong focus on multijurisdictional work concerning privatisations and acquisitions. Richard Watkins routinely assists a variety of corporate and private equity clients across the tech, real estate, and asset management industries, while Stephen Shi primarily advises private equity firms and Chinese companies on the establishment of joint ventures.

Hong Kong > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

Exhibiting a strong debtor and creditor practice, Latham & Watkins LLP offers advice on all aspects of Hong Kong, UK, and US law relating to cross-border restructurings and complex bankruptcy cases. The team is especially well-equipped to assist committees of offshore bondholders and groups of companies with restructuring operational indebtedness and scheme of arrangements, predominantly representing clients in the real estate, aviation, and crypto fields. The department is led by Howard Lam, who specialises in the whole spectrum of matters relating to special situations, private credit, and banking finance transactions. Flora Innes is also noted as key, standing out for her work on corporate restructures and multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Hong Kong > Banking and finance Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP’s roster of private equity clients benefit from the firm’s expertise in bank financings, securities offerings, bridge lending, preferred equity financings and mezzanine financings. The practice is also well placed to leverage the experience of its team in Greater China to advise Asian and international lenders on structured margin loan transactions. Practicer leader Andrew Bishop splits his time between the firm’s Hong Kong and Singapore offices, and showcases standout expertise in leveraged finance, as does Howard Lam, whose workload includes leveraged buy-outs, corporate acquisition financings, China onshore and offshore financing, margin loans and bridge financing mandates.

Hong Kong > Capital markets (debt) Tier 2

Able to call upon the expertise of lawyers with broad coverage across Hong Kong, US and English law, US heavyweight Latham & Watkins LLP is well-positioned to advise issuers and underwriters across a wide range of complex debt transactions originating in China and abroad. As well as regularly handling conventional debt issuances, including for Chinese SOEs, the team has developed particular strength advising on hybrid issuances, including convertible notes and equity-linked securities. Structured product expert Posit Laohaphan is particularly skilled in this field and combines a very strong understanding of equity-linked product technicals with their application under US regulations. Native Chinese speaking team head Ji Liu has vast experience at handling both investment-grade and high-yield debt issuances, including  for PRC real estate and infrastructure development companies and industrial clients as issuers.

Hong Kong > Fintech and financial services regulatory Tier 2

Under the leadership of Simon Hawkins, Latham & Watkins LLP‘s non-contentious financial services regulatory team has gained a particularly strong foothold across the fintech firmament for both emerging fintech companies as well as traditional financial institutions investing in the space. The team’s engagement with leading regional trade associations, as well as its sharing of ideas and interaction with other firmwide practitioners within the overarching global Fintech and Digital Assets Industry Group, has enabled it to provide cutting-edge globally viable solutions, providing real thought-leadership in the area. Crypto and blockchain-related work is a core strength, with Hawkins regularly advising on the regulatory implications of blockchain and distributed ledger technology, payments and stored-value, cryptocurrencies and digital assets, token offerings, virtual banking and digitization projects.

Hong Kong > Structured finance and securitisation Tier 2

Leveraging strong banking relationships and also gaining visibility on the investor front, Latham & Watkins LLP‘s increasingly balanced practice is particularly skilled at advising on sophisticated cross-border securitisation and derivatives mandates, often working alongside practitioners throughout the firm’s global network. Particularly strong on the equity front, team head Posit Laohaphan regularly advises on equity-linked securities and OTC equity derivatives, as well as being adept at structured finance transactions, including margin loans. Other key members of the team include Michael Hardy, who regularly advises on complex securitisation transactions as part of his eclectic structured finance offering, and Derek Chua, who combines regulatory and transactional strength to good effect for stakeholders engaged in a myriad derivatives/structured finance mandates, including on the establishment of repackaging programs and on convertible and exchangeable bond transactions.

Hong Kong > TMT Tier 3

Latham & Watkins LLP is noted for its global approach to TMT matters, which it handles for both domestic and international clients. The firm regularly advises on multi-jurisdictional transactions and regulatory issues with the assistance of its overseas TMT practices. Anthony Liu is a key member of the Hong Kong team. Focusing on commercial and regulatory issues, he often assists clients with digital transformation, technology outsourcing, electronic and mobile payments, and data licensing.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 5

The Latham & Watkins LLP team routinely handles high profile litigation across Asia and globally, utilising its network of offices in Asia Pacific, the US, and Europe. Dominic Geiser leads the litigation team, and has substantial experience representing clients in claims involving investment mis-selling, minority shareholder actions, breach of directors’ duties, fraud, misrepresentation, economic torts, as well as in cases requiring urgent injunctive or other interim relief. Beijing-based Hui Xu is also noted for representing clients in multi-jurisdictional litigation, government investigations and enforcement, and compliance matters, and is widely recognised for his representation of Chinese companies and individuals.

China > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms Tier 1

Acting for borrowers, lenders, and distressed investors, the Latham & Watkins LLP practice stands out for its offering on high-value debt restructurings, complex enforcement actions, and cross-border winding-up petitions. It also excels in assisting ad-hoc groups of offshore bondholders and onshore trade creditors. The team draws upon its in-depth expertise in US bankruptcy and reorganisation cases to routinely advise clients spanning the aviation, real estate, and tech sectors, with the Hong Kong-based head Howard Lam being well-regarded by insolvency practitioners, distressed funds, and bank lenders. Flora Innes is highly knowledgeable in corporate restructurings and multi-jurisdictional disputes, bringing added insight to the outfit.

Philippines > Foreign firms Tier 1

With an ever-growing client base of national conglomerates, the team at Latham & Watkins LLP routinely handles major transactions in the corporate, energy, and capital market spaces. Other key parts of the team’s workload consists of M&A, project finance, and arbitration work. Spearheading the practice, Benjamin Carale lends his extensive market experience in leading the firm’s capital markets practice. Meanwhile, Don Stokes advises on renewable and conventional power, digital infrastructure, and telecommunications projects across the wider Asia-Pacific region, with a particularly active portfolio in the Philippines. Diana Dizon is a core team member, advising Philippine clients on debt and equity capital markets transactions.

China > Private equity: foreign firms Tier 3

Latham & Watkins LLP's Hong Kong-based team acts for private equity clients on both their inbound and outbound investments in Greater China. The practice also fields sector specialists in logistics, technology, healthcare, education, real estate and e-commerce. Focused on pan-Asia private equity transactions, Simon Cooke specialises in public and private M&A, as well as corporate finance; and Frank Sun routinely advises on significant private equity investments and M&A deals. Richard Watkins and Stephen Shi are also key figures.

China > Banking and finance: foreign firms Tier 4

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s finance team has experience of complex acquisition financing transactions, syndicated loans, and leveraged lending. Andrew Bishop heads the team from Hong Kong and Singapore, advising private equity funds, venture funds, credit funds and strategic investors. Howard Lam, in Hong Kong, leads leveraged financing transactions, while Ruonan Duan primarily represents private equity sponsors and corporates.

South Korea > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms Tier 4

Led by Hong Kong-based Wonsuk (Steve) Kang, Latham & Watkins LLP’s transactional practice in Korea continues to grow, advising major Korean businesses on high-profile matters. The team specialises in representing clients from the industrial, manufacturing, IT, and semiconductor sectors. Regina Kim is integral to the Seoul team, focusing on inbound private equity deals for global clients.

United States > Insurance > Insurance: non-contentious

China > Fintech: foreign firms

Led out of Hong Kong, Latham & Watkins LLP advises on fintech transactions across Hong Kong and Greater China to overseas and domestic technology and fintech clients. The team has also been growing its digital assets and web3 practice over the last year and has assisted domestic fintech clients with launching global platforms. Practice head Simon Hawkins is an expert in advising on a range of fintech transactions and projects, and is well versed in blockchain, payments, cryptocurrencies and digital assets. Adrian Fong is noted for his work on digital tokens.

Singapore > Banking and finance: foreign firms

Latham & Watkins LLP has a quality and versatile practice covering key areas such as acquisition and leveraged finance, private credit financings and bank-bond deals. With its strong presence across the region, the Singapore team frequently advises on cross-border financings involving Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Clients include private equity sponsors, banks, alternative lenders and corporate borrowers. Andrew Bishop is local chair of the finance department, splitting his time between Singapore and Hong Kong, and maintains a strong presence in sponsor-driven leveraged finance. Timothy Hia is a leading figure in Singapore with strong reputation in acquisition finance, along with energy and infrastructure financings. Chuan Wei Kong was promoted to partner in January 2024.

Vietnam > Foreign desks

Advising domestic and international private equity and strategic investors and financial institutions on cross-border transactions, including M&A and project financing, the team at Latham & Watkins LLP draws on its capabilities across an extensive range of industries. With multiple partners helming the practice, the department consists of Amy Beckingham, who specialises in M&A, joint ventures, and equity capital markets. while Sharon Lau focuses on M&A and corporate finance transactions, representing both issuers and underwriters on debt and equity issuances. Also leading the team is Andrew Bishop and Don Stokes, who has substantial experience working in Vietnam’s energy and infrastructure sector.

China > Data protection: foreign firms

Latham & Watkins LLP advises both domestic and international clients on China’s data protection laws, ensuring that clients remain compliant. The team handles major data and technology transaction and is experienced in assisting clients with product launches, ensuring that these are data-compliant. Hui Xu is based in Beijing and excels in litigation matters, supporting clients with regulatory investigations, enforcement and compliance.

China > Dispute resolution: Litigation: foreign firms

Latham & Watkins LLP’s China litigation practice is experienced in disputes involving contracts, shareholders, joint ventures, M&A, and banking and securities. The team also comprises experts in professional liability, and fraud and misrepresentation-related cases. Known for his representation of Chinese companies and individuals in cross-border litigation (particularly those in the US), Beijing-based Hui Xu heads the firm’s China litigation and investigations practice. Focused on commercial litigation and arbitration, Dominic Geiser chairs the Asia  litigation and trial department from Hong Kong .

China > Regulatory/compliance: foreign firms

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s China regulatory and compliance team assists multinational companies and financial institutions with high-stakes investigations and enforcement actions. Heading up the China litigation and investigations practice from Beijing, Hui Xu regularly handles multi-jurisdictional investigations involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Chinese bribery laws and financial crimes, along with negotiating settlements with regulators in the US and China. Also in Beijing, Sean Wu acts for global and Chinese companies in major investigations and disputes.

China > TMT: foreign firms

The TMT group at Latham & Watkins LLP is comprised of technology transactions, fintech, sports, media, and corporate practices. The team advises domestic and international tech enterprises, semiconductor companies, investors, and health providers. The group is led from London by Andrew Moyle and supported by Anthony Liu in Hong Kong, who focuses on data and technology transactions. Kieran Donovan left the practice in September 2023.

Japan > Corporate and M&A: International firms and joint ventures

Latham & Watkins Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise has a longstanding presence in the Japanese M&A market, with leading clients in the automotive, tech, semiconductor, life sciences, and financial services sectors. Ji Liu leads the firm’s regional corporate group from Hong Kong. Hiroki Kobayashi has a wealth of experience in advising major Japanese and international companies on a wide range of corporate transactions with a Japan nexus. Hiroaki Takagi’s client base includes leading companies and private equity firms, both domestic and global, while Yohei Nakagawa is noted for his experience in the tech, life sciences, and media sectors. Ivan Smallwood has retired from practice.