James Grandolfo > Milbank > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Lawyer Profile
Milbank Offices
30/F ALEXANDRA HOUSE, 18 CHATER ROAD
CENTRAL
HONG KONG
Hong Kong
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James Grandolfo
Position
Partner
Career
James Grandolfo heads Milbank’s Hong Kong office and is a partner in the firm’s Global Capital Markets Group. James has over 20 years of experience representing issuers and investment banks in a variety of debt, equity and equity-linked capital markets transactions, including high-yield, regulatory capital, corporate hybrids, Rule 144A/Regulation S transactions and SEC-registered offerings, privatizations and liability management transactions across Asia. Highly active in many jurisdictions throughout Asia, including India, Mongolia and Vietnam, James has extensive experience advising on Philippines matters and is widely considered one of the most experienced international lawyers advising on matters in this jurisdiction. James advises across a wide array of sectors, including finance, power and energy, real estate, hospitality and gaming, TMT and infrastructure and logistics. In addition to his capital markets work, James also regularly acts in the corporate space and advising clients on a variety of M&A, equity and leveraged finance transactions and has extensive experience advising issuers and underwriters on offerings by sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities.
Education
J.D. Brooklyn Law School; B.A. Hobart College
Lawyer Rankings
Hong Kong > Corporate (including M&A)
Milbank’s ‘deeply experienced’ team handles a broad range of private equity driven transactions across the Southeast Asian region, with an emphasis on the healthcare, e-commerce, and leisure and lifestyle product sectors. ‘Highly skilled advisor’ Andrew Whan co-leads the team alongside Neeraj Budhwani. Whan primarily focuses on transactions within the telecoms sector, and often acts for private equity funds and corporates in take-privates; and Budhwani handles numerous leveraged buyouts and public to private transactional matters, with emphasis on the financial services sector. James Grandolfo is noted for having broad knowledge spanning SPAC mergers, and de-SPAC issues within the consumer goods and banking sectors. Dual qualified in the US and the Philippines, Paul Pery assists clients with issues relating to US securities law, with a strong focus on the oil and gas sector within the Philippines, Singapore, and India.
Hong Kong > Capital markets (debt)
(Hall of Fame)The ‘professional and efficient’ team at Milbank handles a range of DCM work for issuers and underwriters both in relation to Hong Kong and China, as well as across numerous other Southeast Asian capital markets regimes. Alex Tao has been pivotal to growing the amount of China-related work handled by the firm and since arriving in mid-2020 has effectively targeted real estate high yield issuers, as well as handling an increasing volume of investment grade mandates. James Grandolfo co-heads the team alongside Tao and continues to thrive on behalf of underwriting banks, in particular, on Philippines-related DCM work.
Hong Kong > Capital markets (equity)
Under the leadership of James Grandolfo, Milbank has developed a strong and successful practice advising issuers and underwriters on capital markets work in various venues throughout Southeast Asia. On the ECM front, the ‘personable, professional, relentless and trustworthy’ Hong Kong team has been particularly active advising on Philippines-related work, with the ‘outstanding’ Paul Pery and counsel Ari Singzon key members of the team.
India > Foreign firms
Acting for global financial institutions and domestic and international companies in the steel, energy, and infrastructure sectors, Milbank’s India practice stands out for its expertise in capital markets, projects, and financing work. Practice co-head James Grandolfo, in Hong Kong, has a broad debt and equity practice and leads on corporate and M&A instructions, while co-head John Dewar takes point on project finance from the firm’s London office. In Singapore, Giles Kennedy and new partner Terrence O’Donnell are recommended for their IPOs, share placements, and high-yield bonds expertise.
Vietnam > Foreign desks
Milbank’s 9-strong Vietnam practice, jointly led by Jacqueline Chan in Singapore alongside Hong Kong-based James Grandolfo, has considerable experience handling high-end transactions in Vietnam. The firm has a strong presence in the Asia Pacific region, including in Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Tokyo, and continues to gain traction in Ho Chi Minh City, specialising in energy and infrastructure, capital markets, technology, aviation, and commercial mandates. Chan regularly acts for financial institutions, corporates, investment funds, and private equity funds in relation to cross-border matters throughout Asia. With capital markets, M&A, and private equity expertise, Grandolfo heads the firm’s Hong Kong office and having helped launch the firm in the Philippines, is now active in Vietnam.
Philippines > Foreign firms
Milbank covers the full spectrum of transactional work involving the Philippines from corporate and capital markets work to advising on major projects, which often have a significant cross-border dimension. Clients include top international financial institutions, and the firm regularly acts for the sponsors and lenders on these landmark deals. Hong-Kong-based James Grandolfo has a wealth of experience in capital markets, M&A, and private equity matters across Asia, and leads the team together with James Murray, who is based at the Singapore office and is particularly active in the Philippines on major power projects. Paul Pery plays a pivotal role in significant capital markets transactions. Another notable member of the practice is Desiree Woo who is active in the project, energy and infrastructure finance group and is based at the Hong Kong office.
Lawyer Rankings
- Hall of Fame Hong Kong > Capital markets (debt)
- Capital markets (debt) Hong Kong
- Capital markets (equity) Hong Kong
- Corporate (including M&A) Hong Kong