Paul Pery > Milbank > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Lawyer Profile

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.

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.

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.