Mr Paul McKenzie > Morrison Foerster (Singapore) > Singapore, Singapore > Lawyer Profile
Morrison Foerster (Singapore) Offices
50 COLLYER QUAY
#12-01 OUE BAYFRONT
SINGAPORE 049321
Singapore
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Mr Paul McKenzie
Work Department
Mergers + Acquisitions, Privacy + Data Security
Position
Partner
Career
Paul is a corporate partner with deep experience in cross-border M&A and joint venture transactions involving China and other Asia markets. He is also trusted counsel to Fortune 100 and other global companies on complex compliance issues, including privacy and data security.
Paul has over 30 years’ experience representing international businesses undertaking mergers & acquisitions transactions, joint ventures, and other corporate transactions in China and elsewhere in Asia. He also represents Asia-headquartered companies undertaking regional and overseas transactions. He brings to his role on corporate deals a nuanced understanding of the regulatory landscape impacting the deal.
Paul’s recent transactional experience includes our ongoing representation of Allianz in its proposed sale of its stake in an asset management company in China and the representation of Unity Technologies in its US$1.2 billion joint venture, Unity China.
Client GCs and other senior executives also seek out Paul’s help to evaluate and mitigate risk concerning an evolving range of compliance concerns impacting their businesses in Asia. Working with colleagues in Morrison Foerster’s compliance and other teams and a network of local counsel, Paul advises on privacy and data security, labor and employment issues, anti-corruption compliance, and other issues. Paul is a member of the firm’s market-leading global privacy and data security group and a recognized expert on China’s emerging data regulatory regime.
A client observed that “Paul is super hands-on, responsive, and experienced in handling the most challenging deals.” Others have commented that Paul “is a great counsel to work with who always provides pragmatic advice with a balanced view!” and “has magical managing and legal skills.”
Paul has practiced in Asia since 1993. He has deep leadership experience, having managed offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, and Hong Kong while at Morrison Foerster and with a prior firm. He is fluent in English and Chinese. He serves on the board of directors of The Morrison & Foerster Foundation, the firm’s charitable foundation.
Languages
English and Mandarin
Education
University of Toronto, B.A.
University of Toronto Faculty of Law, LL.B.
Lawyer Rankings
China > TMT: foreign firms
The technology transaction group at Morrison Foerster advises international tech companies on entering the Chinese market and acts as counsel towards start-ups and investors. The team is well-versed in assisting in highly regulated matters such as data, cybersecurity, telecoms, and internet and also supports clients in life sciences and financial services sectors with TMT issues. The team is co-led by Gordon Milner
, who splits his time between Hong Kong and Singapore, and Chuan Sun who resides in both Beijing and Shanghai. Sun is an expert in TMT matters and advises a range of clients from multinationals to start-ups on TMT transactions and regulatory matters. Paul McKenzie handles both inbound and outbound transactions and is based in Beijing and Singapore.
China > Data protection: foreign firms
(Leading partners)The privacy and data security group at Morrison Foerster is based across China and Hong Kong and largely advises international clients on China’s data protection and privacy landscape. The team stands out for its experience in data breaches and security incidents as well as its sector expertise in financial services and life sciences. As a global practice, the firm is also well-versed in international data transfers. The practice is jointly led by Paul McKenzie, Chuan Sun and Gordon Milner, with McKenzie and Sun splitting their time between Beijing and Shanghai while Milner sits in Hong Kong and Singapore. McKenzie specialises in transactional matters involving licensing, sharing and handling of data, while Sun advises multinational corporations on data compliance, data breaches, localisation and issues relating to data export security assessments. Milner offers expertise in cross-border data matters, Gigi Yuen focuses on data privacy and data security issues, and associate Tingting Gao handles data protection and cybersecurity compliance.
China > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms
(Leading partners)Specialising in the TMT, healthcare, and real estate industries, the Morrison Foerster practice has extensive expertise in handling high-value IPOs and multi-jurisdictional M&A. The firm’s diverse array of clients includes major financial institutions, international software companies, and tech conglomerates, with the Beijing-based co-heads Rongjing Zhao and Paul McKenzie bringing vast experience in cross-border joint ventures and growth capital investments to the group. Chuan Sun also co-leads from Shanghai, primarily focusing on business separation transactions, whilst Siyu Gao, Sarah Wang, and Bingye Wu are all highlighted as integral members of the outfit.
China > Fintech: foreign firms
The practice at Morrison Foerster advises fintech companies, private equity and venture capital clients investing in fintech, as well as fintech funds, on a range of matters. The team excels in assisting investors and start-ups, and is well versed in regulatory issues facing fintech clients in China. The team is supported by its data privacy and cybersecurity practice, as well as its global fintech group. Based in Singapore, team lead Gordon Milner is a specialist in advising on a range of issues from blockchain, NFTs, digital currencies and innovative online services. Chuan Sun co-leads the team from Shanghai and is an expert in corporate and commercial fintech transactions, while co-head Paul McKenzie leads from Beijing and advises international and US fintech companies on the China market.