Ropes & Gray LLP > Central Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile
Ropes & Gray LLP Offices
44th Floor, One Exchange Square
8 Connaught Place
CENTRAL HONG KONG
Hong Kong
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Ropes & Gray LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Hong Kong > Investment funds Tier 2
Drawing upon a ‘strong understanding of the private equity space’, the lean team at Ropes & Gray LLP provides a ‘careful, bespoke and thoughtful service’ to international and regional fund managers, which are appreciative of the firm’s ability to provide ‘commercial rationale on the comments from counter-parties’ due to its additional work for investors. Team head Vincent Ip is pivotal to the firm’s success in the market and is ‘able to understand/explain issues from a business perspective, helping clients make decisions based on balanced views and advice’. The ‘commercially minded’ Chune Loong Lum ‘brings a deep understanding of the pan-Asian landscape to both sponsors and investors’, both through his time in the Hong Kong office, and during time spent in the Shanghai office.Practice head(s):
Vincent Ip
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team has a strong understanding of the private equity space, being able to help deliver the intended outcome while providing careful, bespoke and thoughtful service.’
‘Vincent Ip not only provides thorough and exceptional legal advice but is also able to understand/explain issues from a business perspective, helping clients make decisions based on balanced views and advice.’
‘Vincent Ip is able to provide us with commercial rationale on the comments from counter-parties when we are negotiating documents with investors.’
‘Chune Loong is commercially minded and is able to deliver high-quality advice.’
Key clients
HarbourVest Partners
Hamilton Lane
Korea Investment Corporation
iCapital Network
Hong Kong > Regulatory: anti-corruption and compliance Tier 2
Led by Andrew Dale, Ropes & Gray LLP's ‘highly experienced’ anti-corruption and international risk team is best known for its work on behalf of an impressive roster of private equity clients, which are appreciative of its ability to provide ‘commercial and solutions-focused advice’. The scope of this work runs across the gamut of anti-corruption mandates, from due diligence on potential corruption, FCPA, sanctions, and money-laundering risks associated with transactions in the region, through to compliance, monitoring, and investigations work for portfolio companies. Splitting his time between Boston and Hong Kong, Geoffrey Atkins handles a range of APAC-related anti-corruption work, including internal and regulatory investigations for life sciences and financial services clients.Practice head(s):
Andrew Dale
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The highly experienced team provides commercial and solutions-focused advice.’
Hong Kong > Banking and finance Tier 4
Counting private equity sponsors and portfolio companies among its key roster of clients, Ropes & Gray LLP is noted for its capability in handling leveraged acquisition across China and the Asia Pacific region. Jackie Kahng leads the team and advises on cross-border leveraged finance transactions, including acquisition finance and real estate finance mandates. Stephen Hui is another key contact in the group and handles matters concerning acquisition and leveraged finance, mezzanine finance, fund finance, direct lending and special situations debt investments.Practice head(s):
Jackie Kahng
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Expert knowledge, deep experience, commercial and solutions-focused.’
Key clients
Bain Capital
Baring Private Equity Asia
Blackstone
IGIS Asset Management
KKR
MBK Partners
Naver Corporation
Nexus Point Advisors HK Limited
Tor Investment Management Hong Kong Limited
TPG Capital
Work highlights
- Represented Nexus Point Advisors (HK) Limited (“Nexus Point”) in connection with the financing for Nexus Point-led consortium’s acquisition of Honour Lane Shipping (HLS), a Hong Kong-based logistics company.
- Represented Bain Capital Special Situations in connection with the financing for its co-investment in the advanced materials business of Hanwha Solutions alongside Glenwood Credit.
- Represented Bain Capital Private Equity in the financing for Bain’s acquisition of a majority stake in CLASSYS, Inc., a medical aesthetic devices company listed in South Korea with a fast-growing market presence in over 55 countries around the world.
Hong Kong > Private equity Tier 4
Ropes & Gray LLP is known for handling a wide variety of issues involving take-private acquisitions, M&A, and consortium leveraged buyouts. The group services a number of notable clients, including Bain Capital, Baring Private Equity Asia, and MBK Partners. Practice head Oliver Nip advises both international and regional asset managers and private equity sponsors on an array of matters, including minority investments and joint ventures.Practice head(s):
Oliver Nip
Testimonials
‘The Ropes team is capable of helping on the private equity investments and is able to provide helpful solution and advice.’
‘Oliver Nip is very commercial driven and has solid experience. He understands the client’s demands properly and is able to provide prompt and effective legal support to make things happen.’
Key clients
Ares SSG Capital Management
Baillie Gifford
Bain Capital
Baring Private Equity Asia
China Resources Capital Management
ICBC International
Inspiration Advisors HK Limited
Manulife Investment Management
MBK Partners
Nexus Point Advisors HK Limited
Siguler Guff
TPG Inc.
Work highlights
- Represented Nexus Point Advisors HK Limited in Nexus Point-led consortium’s leveraged buyout of Honour Lane Shipping.
- Advised funds affiliated with Baring Private Equity Asia on its acquisition of Hong Kong headquartered Tricor Group.
- Represented BPEA in the approximately US$1 bn take-private acquisition of Ginko International by BPEA-backed Glamor Vision.
Hong Kong > Corporate (including M&A) Tier 6
The practice at Ropes & Gray LLP continues to represent numerous technology companies and investment entities, in addition to venture capital firms in a broad range of transactional mandates. Practice head Oliver Nip is known for his broad knowledge spanning a broad range of issues, namely co-investments, joint ventures, and growth investments. Nip regularly assists Hong Kong listed companies and private equity firm sponsors.Practice head(s):
Oliver Nip
Testimonials
‘The Ropes & Gray M&A team provided tailor made and spot on advisory support to the M&A transaction that I have worked with them on. Familiar with market update and precedents and able to give well thought of advice with a view to resolve issues.’
Key clients
Alibaba
API Hong Kong Investment Limited
Cainiao Smart Logistics Network
Didi Global Inc.
Manulife Investment Management
Work highlights
- Represented Manulife Investment Management in its acquisition of a significant minority stake in ARCH Capital Management Co., Ltd.
China > Investment funds: foreign firms Tier 3
Ropes & Gray LLP‘s asset management team remains a strong choice for US and global sovereign wealth funds and practice head Vincent Ip also counts institutional investors and fund sponsors among his clients. The team advises on a full range of investment transactions, as well as secondary transactions, such as GP-led fund recapitalisations. With a ‘wealth of market experience‘, Chune Loong Lum offers advice on the establishment and operation of private investment funds across China and Asia.Practice head(s):
Vincent Ip
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Ropes’ investment funds team represents a large number of LPs, in Asia in particular, and as a result they are able to observe market trends in real time and assist their clients to make decisions and assess issues based on latest information available in the market.’
‘Ropes’s investment funds team in Asia (HK and Shanghai) has a steady team, which is helpful for clients looking for dedicated legal team that understands the client’s internal process.’
‘Vincent Ip not only provides thorough advice from a legal perspective, but also has a very strong business sense and provides great suggestions from a business perspective.’
‘Vincent Ip and Chune Loong Lum both have great attention to detail and are always available to provide support to clients.’
‘I work with the funds team for LP investments into Cayman funds set up by China GPs. The team’s experience with China GPs gives them an edge over other firms.’
‘Fund partner Chune Loong Lum has a wealth of market experience and is very helpful in tailoring legal expertise to the relevant commercial context. ’
Key clients
HarbourVest Partners
Hamilton Lane
Korea Investment Corporation
iCapital Network
Work highlights
China > Private equity: foreign firms Tier 3
Ropes & Gray LLP service major players in the Chinese and Asia Pacific private equity market, spanning the likes of Ares, Bain Capital, ICBC and TPG. The diversity of mandates received is mirrored by the range of sector specialists the practice offers, with technology, consumer goods, financial services and real estate considered key areas of expertise. Oliver Nip leads the Hong Kong-based practice, highly active across the spectrum of transactions including minority investments, buyouts, joint ventures and co-investments. Boxin Wang was promoted to counsel in November 2022 and is highly sought after by Chinese, Hong Kong and multinational clients.Practice head(s):
Oliver Nip
Other key lawyers:
Jenny Qi; Boxin Wang; Arthur Mok
Testimonials
‘Oliver Nip is always responsive and very close to the deals that he works on.’
Key clients
Ares SSG Capital Management
Baillie Gifford
Bain Capital
Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA EQT)
China Resources Capital Management
ICBC International
Inspiration Advisors HK Limited
Manulife Investment Management
MBK Partners
Nexus Point Advisors HK Limited
Siguler Guff
TPG Inc.
Work highlights
- Represented Nexus Point Advisors HK Limited in the leveraged buyout of Honour Lane Shipping.
- Advised funds affiliated with Baring Private Equity Asia on the acquisition of Hong Kong- headquartered Tricor Group.
- Represented BPEA in the approximately $1bn take-private acquisition of Ginko International by BPEA-backed Glamor Vision.
China > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms Tier 3
China > Banking and finance: foreign firms Tier 4
Advising private equity sponsors on their financings across the Asia-Pacific region, Ropes & Gray LLP‘s core areas of expertise are leveraged and acquisition finance. The team also regularly works with Bain Capital on its finance deals in China, Japan and South Korea. Hong Kong-based Jackie Kahng is experienced in cross-border leveraged finance transactions, including acquisition and real estate financings, and Stephen Hui, who was promoted to counsel in November 2022, focuses on cross-border financing deals. Former restructuring partner Daniel Anderson joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in May 2023.Practice head(s):
Jackie Kahng
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The entire financing practice is strong, with Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean speakers on the team.’
‘Jackie Kahng is one of the few financing partners in the market who can speak Korean.’
‘Counsel Stephen Hui’s client service level is impressive.’
Key clients
Bain Capital
Baring Private Equity Asia
Blackstone
IGIS Asset Management
KKR
MBK Partners
Naver Corporation
Nexus Point Advisors HK
Tor Investment Management Hong Kong
TPG Capital
Work highlights
- Advised Nexus Point Advisors on the financing for a Nexus Point-led consortium’s acquisition of Honour Lane Shipping, a Hong Kong-based logistics company.
- Advised Bain Capital Special Situations on the financing for its co-investment in the advanced materials business of Hanwha Solutions.
- Advised Bain Capital Private Equity on the financing for Bain’s acquisition of a majority stake in CLASSYS, a South Korea-listed medical aesthetic devices company.
China > Regulatory/compliance: foreign firms
Focusing on government and internal investigations, Ropes & Gray LLP is the go-to for life sciences, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies requiring regulatory and compliance assistance. The team also assists with cross-border and preventative mandates. In Hong Kong, practice head and enforcement specialist Andrew Dale is well-versed in representing global corporations in high-stakes corporate investigations, litigation, and arbitration. Working closely alongside Dale in Hong Kong is Geoffrey Atkins, who is active in civil and criminal anti-corruption and securities enforcement matters. Counsel Tina Yu provides on-the-ground presence, assisting in all litigation and enforcement matters from Shanghai.Practice head(s):
Andrew Dale
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Expert knowledge, deep experience, commercial and solutions-focused.’
Work highlights
Ropes & Gray LLP > Firm Profile
Ropes & Gray is one of the world’s most respected law firms, with offices in key business and financial centres throughout Asia, the U.S. and Europe. The firm’s Asia-based attorneys counsel global and Asian corporate clients, investment banks, and many of the world’s largest private equity funds on a wide range of complex legal matters that span industries and geographies. The team offers clients in-depth local market knowledge and a global perspective from a fully integrated team that seamlessly represents clients around the world.