Mayer Brown > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Mayer Brown > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Asset finance (including aviation and shipping finance)

With deep and well-established roots in Hong Kong, and and an ability to leverage significant resources across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Europe and the US, Mayer Brown is well-positioned to advise a broad spectrum of stakeholders in both the aviation and maritime sectors across a myriad of often complex multi-jurisdictional financing and leasing matters. Richard Stock heads up the aviation finance practice and utilises his deep knowledge and experience in the space to provide very effective advice to clients, including lessors and airlines, as they seek to navigate the challenges posed by the huge reduction in demand, particularly in China and Hong Kong. Counsel Evelyn Lok is also a key member of the team, both on the commercial airline front, as well as in relation to corporate and private jet financings, where she regularly advises international banks providing the financing to facilitate new and used corporate jets. Conor Warde heads up a ‘very strong’ maritime finance offering that has market traction with a myriad of lessors, banks and ship owners. Maggie Cheung is also a pivotal member of the team and is particularly well-versed at handling PRC-related transactions.

Hong Kong > Construction Tier 1

Mayer Brown’s team is active across contentious and non-contentious matters pertaining to construction, building law, town planning and environment. It has recently been handling major construction arbitrations for the Hong Kong government and continues to advise major construction companies and quarry, concrete and asphalt producers, as well as employers, institutions, developers and contractors on a broad range of matters. Practice head Geoffrey Chan is a name to note for arbitration and alternative dispute resolution and is a professor of construction law at the University of Hong Kong. Menachem Hasofer also handles disputes and is experienced in public and administrative law cases, and judicial review proceedings, while Mei Ling Lew is recommended for environmental regulatory and compliance issues, as well as contentious matters.

Hong Kong > Insurance Tier 1

With ‘solid expertise and experience in insurance litigation’, Mayer Brown is particularly known for handling high-profile cases for major insurance companies and financial institutions operating in Asia. In addition to its notable strength in personal injury and property claims, the group stands out for its expertise in professional negligence cases, making it a popular choice for clients seeking assistance with professional indemnity and D&O matters. The practice’s leadership is split between insurance litigator Angela Yim, Tow Lu Lim, whose expertise spans regulatory investigations, cybersecurity incidents and acquisitions, and Marina Fung, who is recommend for personal injury matters. Another key name in the team is counsel Jenny Yu, who advises on licence applications and a wide range of insurance products, including financial lines and products liability.

Hong Kong > Labour and employment Tier 1

The ‘outstanding’ offering at Mayer Brown is the consequence of a fully integrated and dedicated group of full-time employment specialists, involved in every aspect of employment law from the advisory and contentious to the coordination of multi-jurisdictional HR projects. The scale of expertise offered is epitomised by the firm’s exceptional client portfolio, consisting of Hong Kong’s largest employers from particularly diverse sectors such as aviation, finance, education and retail. Team head Duncan Abate possesses extensive employment knowledge and advises on the establishment, maintenance and restructuring of retirement and mandatory provident fund schemes. Hong Tran is highly experienced regarding contentious matters, representing employers involved in proceedings from the Labour Tribunal through to the Court of Final Appeal. Jennifer Tam is also an impressive employment litigator, whose practice has an emphasis on discrimination, harassment and data privacy disputes.

Hong Kong > Real estate Tier 1

Mayer Brown‘s Hong Kong real estate team is packed with experience. Robert Lynn and Fun Kuen Au each have 40 years of practice behind them and have built long-standing relationships advising many of Hong Kong’s most significant property developers. They support practice head and debt financing specialist Keith Cheung. Jasmine Chiu works on all aspects of real estate financing and is noted for her ‘high quality output‘. Eugene Wong and Peter Ho lead jointly on the majority of the real estate M&A transactions handled by the firm, many of which are multimillion dollar development space acquisitions. The team is notable for its handling of a wide range of asset types including agricultural land, industrial buildings, logistics centres, storage space, student housing and educational institutions.

Hong Kong > Antitrust and competition Tier 2

The antitrust and competition team at Mayer Brown is notably experienced across mainland China and Hong Kong, primarily handling merger control issues, investigations, market studies and general advisory matters. It has cross-border capabilities, due in large part to its global network spanning Asia, the Americas and Europe. This has led to the group’s notable presence in key industries such as the real estate and financial services sectors, where it regularly acts for large multinational companies. Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC) investigations and litigation before the Competition Appeals Tribunal are further strong points thanks to the support of the firm’s litigation and investigations team in Hong Kong. The practice is led by John Hickin, an expert in competition regulations, and Hannah Ha, a Cantonese and Mandarin speaker with experience handling HKCC matters.

Hong Kong > Banking and finance Tier 2

Led by asset finance expert Richard Stock , the team at Mayer Brown – which includes a sizeable presence both on the Mainland and in Hong Kong – provides advice to a bank-focused client base across a range of inbound and outbound China-related transactions. As well as aviation-related matters, the team is also well versed at handling new money and refinancing mandates within the real estate and energy sectors, including in the context of syndicated and bilateral loans. Other key contacts include Doos Choi, who is well versed at handling leveraged/acquisition finance, fund finance and margin loans, and Francis Chen , whose creditor-side financing expertise includes work on highly structured mandates, ABL facilities, in addition to sustainability-linked financings.

Hong Kong > Intellectual property Tier 2

Mayer Brown‘s IP team is active in several sectors, such as financial services, construction, manufacturing, retail, luxury and fashion. It also houses industry specialists in real estate, hospitality and TMT. The group handles hundreds of IP disputes each year, including company hijacking cases and complex IP litigation and arbitration, many of which involve insolvency issues and cross-border elements. It additionally advises global brands on strategies for the enforcement of their rights, including customs seizures, administrative actions and litigation through the courts. Co-leader of the firm’s global IP practice, Gabriela Kennedy, is sought out by technology start-ups, media companies and universities to advise on their IP policies, IP sharing platforms and establishment of R&D centres. Also integral to the Hong Kong office, Amita Haylock‘s track record includes high-profile copyright and patent infringement proceedings involving software and electronics. At counsel level, Michelle Yee is Asia brand management head.

Hong Kong > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

Mayer Brown’s R&I practice is uniquely integrated across the APAC region and is supported by the firm’s strong restructuring capabilities in Europe and America. The firm has invested in specialist industry knowledge across sectors such as aviation, technology and energy, making it well-placed to deal with industry-specific complexities. The team focuses its attention on banking and insolvency, and practice head John Marsden has led on many of the firm’s high-profile restructurings and insolvencies in the region, as well as dealing with the recent increase in global restructuring review work in light of macroeconomic factors.

Hong Kong > TMT Tier 2

Mayer Brown‘s Asia TMT group routinely advises on cutting-edge mainstream technology projects involving fintech, regtech, AI, P2P, emerging payment technologies, merchant solutions and mobile payments deals. It assists with technology and data protection issues in Hong Kong and throughout Asia. The group is also sought out to advise on the issues surrounding the regulation of the media and telecoms sector, including broadcasting and telecoms licensing, anti-competition issues, and digital media copyright disputes. Practice leader Gabriela Kennedy advises on major technology projects and media transactions, and has substantive experience in regulatory and telecoms matters across the region. Kennedy’s experience further includes longstanding involvement with broadcasting industry association AVIA. Also integral to the group, Amita Haylock focuses on complex litigation and ADR, in relation to telecoms, broadcasting, IP and competition law; and TL Lim is a key partner in the insurance, reinsurance, cybersecurity and data privacy practices.

Hong Kong > Capital markets (debt) Tier 3

Mayer Brown‘s strong and well-established Hong Kong team is attuned to the commercial and legal realities of clients, including sovereign governments, in numerous other Asian jurisdictions, advising in relation to international capital markets transactions. High yield offerings form a vital component of the office’s deal flow and the team is well-placed to handle such work by dint of its roster of US-qualified lawyers on the ground in Hong Kong. As well as advice to issuers and underwriters in this space, the firm has also developed a strong reputation acting as trustee counsel, which provides added bandwidth in the area. Thomas Kollar and Jason Elder, who are both New York-qualified, co-head the team and have extensive experience handling global offerings of high yield debt issued on the HKEX, as well as debt offerings in other jurisdictions, most notably Mongolia, where Elder is particularly strong.

Hong Kong > Corporate (including M&A) Tier 3

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.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: international arbitration Tier 3

With a strong and longstanding presence in Hong Kong and also able to draw upon the expertise of practitioners based across Beijing and Singapore, Mayer Brown is well-positioned to represent international and Chinese clients in disputes heard before the main Asian arbitration centres. Menachem Hasofer co-heads the firm’s international arbitration practice and is one of several Hong Kong practitioners that has a core focus on disputes arising out of construction and infrastructure projects. The ‘very commercially astute’ Geoffrey Chan  is also very accomplished at representing clients in the construction space on arbitration in Hong Kong, China and Macau, including in the context of negligence claims.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Drawing upon significant resources throughout Greater China, as well as being able to leverage expertise across its vast international network, Mayer Brown is able to represent clients in a domestic and cross-border context, across a broad swathe of disputes, running the gamut from commercial and banking litigation to real estate disputes, as well as regulatory investigations. Alan Linning  excels in financing litigation and regulatory matters, and drawing upon his experience as former executive director at the SFC, has an excellent perspective defending financial institutions in regulatory matters and pursuant enforcement actions. Team head Geoffrey Chan excels at handling major construction litigation.

Hong Kong > Structured finance and securitisation Tier 3

Mayer Brown‘s Hong Kong team, which is headed by banking and finance partner Richard Stock advises issuers, sponsors and trustees across a range of derivatives and structured finance mandates. The firm’s entrenched banking ties lead to a significant flow of work, including as arrangers in structured asset backed lending (ABL) transactions, repackaging transactions and structured fund-linked financings, as well as in the context of regulatory advice. Vincent Sum is the main contact for derivatives and structured finance work.

Hong Kong > Capital markets (equity) Tier 5

Led by UK and Hong Kong-qualified partner Billy Au, Mayer Brown advises a balanced mix of issuers and underwriters on mid-sized listings and global offerings on the HKSE. Hong Kong and New York-qualified partner Thomas Kollar has a focus on cross-border corporate finance mandates, including a considerable amount of work – alongside colleagues in the US – in relation to Nasdaq-listed SPAC IPOs.

Hong Kong > Investment funds

Hong Kong > Private equity

China > Projects and energy: foreign firms Tier 2

The projects team at Mayer Brown regularly acts for lenders and equity investors in gas-fired, coal-fired, and renewable energy projects, with a further emphasis on work relating to infrastructure and manufacturing facilities. Leading the team is Beijing-based Hallam Chow, with over 27 years of experience handling project, structured and asset-based finance. Chow showcases further expertise in joint ventures, particularly in relation to the energy and infrastructure as well as oil and gas sectors. Working alongside him in Beijing is Boya Shen, noted for project development and finance, representing lenders, sponsors, and investment funds on a variety of power, energy and manufacturing facilities.

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms Tier 3

Mayer Brown has strong arbitration groups in Singapore and Hong Kong (the latter presence, via the history of Johnson Stokes & Master, being the oldest component of the firm's merger genealogy). Yu-Jin Tay has been joined of late in the Singapore office by Kay-Jannes Wegner, who brings with him strong Korean connections from his previous firms, and Paul Teo. In Hong Kong, Menachem Hasofer  has notable expertise in engineering disputes, and Tom Fu is notable for his expertise on matters crossing over with mainland China - other key names include Vivien Yip  and Geoffrey Chan .

China > Investment funds: foreign firms Tier 3

The Hong Kong-based investment fund practice at Mayer Brown covers a range of legal, regulatory, and commercial matters for fund sponsors, institutional investors and entities in the alternative investment sphere. Key figures include Paul Moloney and Mark Uhrynuk in Hong Kong, co-heading the practice with combined experience representing sponsors, asset managers and investors in private equity, infrastructure, real estate funds, venture capital investments, and secondary transactions.

China > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms Tier 3

Fielding practitioners from Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam, Mayer Brown‘s regionally-integrated restructuring practice has substantial coverage of both China and South-East Asia. Hong Kong-based global restructuring co-head John Marsden has a strong track record in large-scale restructurings and insolvencies, while former partner Tom Pugh is at Walkers since September 2021.

China > TMT: foreign firms Tier 3

Mayer Brown‘s Greater China practice advises on technology projects involving fintech, regtech, AI, P2P, emerging payment technologies, merchant solutions and mobile payments deals. The Hong Kong-based group also assists with data protection issues throughout Asia. Heading the Asia IP and TMT team, Gabriela Kennedy is a well-known data privacy and technology practitioner in Asia, while TL Lim is highly involved in cyber-related and data breach matters. Amita Haylock's experience covers a range of IP, TMT, and competition-related disputes.

Mongolia > Leading firms Tier 3

Jason Elder, who has a strong reputation for his expertise in high-yield bonds across Asia and regularly advises on high-value transactions, leads the ‘technically excellent’ Mongolian offering at Mayer Brown. The team is well-equipped to deal with a broad range of matters, both national and cross-border, representing both Mongolian entities and international clients. The team has particular expertise representing banks and development financial institutions in global capital market and financing transactions. The ‘very effective lawyer’ Thomas Kollar is a particularly noteworthy member of the team, experienced in advising clients on cross-border capital markets transactions and general corporate matters, also with extensive experience in high-yield bonds.

China > Private equity: foreign firms Tier 4

Routinely advising sponsors and investment funds on their investment activities, Mayer Brown‘s Hong Kong-led group also assists with fund formation and financing, separate accounts arrangements, club deals, and portfolio transactions, along with tax and regulatory matters. The principal practitioners are Mark Uhrynuk, Steven Tran, David Ellis and Ricky Yiu.

South Korea > International arbitration Tier 4

Historically concentrating on disputes in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors, Mayer Brown continues to expand its international arbitration offering with the addition of former Kim & Chang partner Kay-Jannes Wegner, who joined in May 2021. Wegner represents Asian and European clients across a broad spectrum of energy, construction and defense-related arbitrations. Construction partner Paul Teo is also highly recommended. Located in Singapore, the practice is led by Yu-Jin Tay .

China > Real estate and construction: foreign firms

Mayer Brown stands as a leader across the spectrum of construction work, acting for funds, developers and end-users in contentious and non-contentious matters. Supplementing this is the firm’s integrated practice, with extended reach into matters with a link to commercial, residential, retail and logistics properties. Among recent highlights, the team acted for a leading charitable organisation, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, on the construction of a facility designed for the training of the region’s thoroughbred racehorses, plotted across a surmounting 150 hectares. Hong Kong-based Keith Cheung leads the team alongside Geoffrey Chan, also in Hong Kong, and Shanghai-based Andy Yeo, who regularly advises developers, funds and other investors with regard to investment structures, land acquisitions, and property management. Also leading the team is Tom Fu, who divides his time between Hong Kong and Beijing and is regarded as an expert in a range of compliance and regulatory issues in the industry, with further expertise in significant construction projects in Greater China. Reinforcing the practice’s construction offering is Beijing-based counsel Rosalyn Han, noted for her advice to leading international developers in relation to high-profile projects. Senior associate Ellen Zhang is another a key contact at the Shanghai office for property acquisitions, joint ventures and regulatory matters.

China > Intellectual property: foreign firms

The broad sector expertise of Mayer Brown‘s Hong Kong-based IP practice covers several key areas, including financial services, construction, manufacturing, retail, luxury and fashion. It also fields specialists in the real estate, hospitality and TMT sectors. The group handles hundreds of IP disputes each year, including matters involving company hijacking cases, litigation and arbitration, many of which comprise insolvency issues or cross-border elements. It also assists global brands with strategies for enforcing IP rights, covering customs seizures and administrative actions. Co-leader of the global IP practice, Gabriela Kennedy, a go-to practitioner for technology start-ups, media companies and universities, also leads the firm's trade mark agency in Beijing. Also highly regarded are Amita Haylock, whose IP rights practice ranges from trade marks, to copyright, designs and patents; and counsel, Michelle Yee, a brand management expert.

China > Banking and finance: foreign firms

Mayer Brown‘s banking and finance practice is sought out for its comprehensive transactional offering, representing major PRC banks and Chinese SOEs across a wide range of sectors on leveraged and acquisition finance, bilateral and syndicated loans as well as financing for real estate, assets, and projects. The practice is led by Hong Kong-based Richard Stock, who also acts as the firm’s head of banking and finance in Asia. In Beijing, Hallam Chow handles asset-based finance including aircraft, equipment and facility leasing, and joint ventures in the energy and infrastructure sector. Boya Shen is noted for innovative acquisition finance deals, with a further emphasis on representing lenders, sponsors and investment funds on a range of projects.

India > Foreign firms

Mayer Brown is well regarded in the Indian market for handling high-profile and complex international arbitration as well as transactional matters, servicing clients from various offices in its global network. The team is led in New York by David Carpenter and in Singapore by Yu-Jin Tay and Soumitro Mukerji, who recently joined from Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee. Kay-Jannes Wegner joined the Singapore office from Kim & Chang in May 2022.