Eversheds Sutherland > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Eversheds Sutherland > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Antitrust and competition Tier 2

Eversheds Sutherland combines litigation and regulatory expertise to service local and international clients from its base in Hong Kong. It has noted experience in advising the Competition Commission and the Communications Authority on a range of matters, and also acts for multinationals in relation to large multijurisdictional cases, leaning on its international network for support. Adam Ferguson heads the ‘solid and responsive‘ practice and is qualified in Hong Kong, England and Wales, and Ireland; he is experienced in the aviation, financial services, broadcasting and telecoms sectors. Mark Hughes is a name to note for disputes. Mark Yeadon retired in June 2021.

Hong Kong > Labour and employment Tier 3

Eversheds Sutherland, which acts for clients ranging from individuals to large multinationals, has recently advised on C-suite dismissals, COVID-19 issues and litigation involving issues over post-termination covenants. The team is led by Shanghai-based Jack Cai and Hong Kong-based Jennifer Van Dale, who specialises in non-contentious employment and data privacy work. Rachael Shek left for Clyde & Co LLP in December 2020.

Hong Kong > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

Eversheds Sutherland handles both contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters under the leadership of Kingsley Ong. Ong, who speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien and Teochew, also leads the debt capital markets, derivatives, structured finance and securitisation practices in Asia. The team has extensive experience in insolvency workouts and in unwinding complex financial instruments. Alex Doughty relocated from the London office in July 2020, and Kingsley Ong departed to CMS in November 2021.

Hong Kong > Structured finance and securitisation Tier 3

Eversheds Sutherland‘s five-strong team has strong connections with a wide range of clients, including arrangers, collateral managers, originators and trustees. Its work covers a myriad of securitisation and structured finance deals across multiple jurisdictions in the region. Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, Ong has a strong reputation advising on default-related work and excels in unwinding and closing out distressed/defaulted securitisations, derivatives and structured products. Recently promoted senior associate Polly Chiu is recommended.

Hong Kong > Banking and finance Tier 4

Eversheds Sutherland has notable experience in commercial banking, trade finance, real estate finance, acquisition finance, project finance and structured finance deals. The practice handles domestic and cross-border bilateral and syndicated lending transactions and is led by Michael Yau, who advises local and PRC banks on lending, general banking, regulation and compliance matters.

Hong Kong > Capital markets (equity) Tier 4

Led by the ‘very experienced’ Stephen Mok , Eversheds Sutherland‘s ‘young and hungry‘ team provides ‘approachable and practical‘ advice to issuers from a range of sectors, including biotech, healthcare and property, on their Hong Kong IPOs, spin-off listings and secondary placings. The team’s ability to leverage an extensive international network also ensures that it is well-positioned to advise on complex multijurisdictional matters. Hong Kong and UK-qualified partner Dickson NG is ‘knowledgeable and pragmatic‘. Norman Hui joined Dentons Hong Kong in February 2021.

Hong Kong > Corporate (including M&A) Tier 5

Eversheds Sutherland handles inbound Asian transactions for global clients as well as outbound transactions on behalf of China and Hong Kong-based entities. Charles Butcher heads the Asian international M&A and private equity practices; he is thoroughly experienced in multi-jurisdictional transactions, investments and projects with a track record in a diverse array of industries including TMT, life sciences, energy and financial services. Senior partner Stephen Mok spearheads the corporate offering and leverages notable knowledge in assisting Chinese enterprises on their Hong Kong Stock Exchange listings, as well as guiding Hong Kong-listed companies on main securities transactions and compliance.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 5

The ‘meticulous’ Eversheds Sutherland litigation and dispute management team is particularly strong in the administrative law, regulatory and financial services domains. Led by Mark Hughes, who has experience handling internal investigations and alleged misconduct enquiries, it also works on enforcement actions, primarily through competition specialist Adam Ferguson. Also of note are John Siu and Duncan Watt who are able to ‘provide the commercial edge’ in disputes. Rachael Shek departed and previous practice head Mark Yeadon  left for Conyers earlier in 2021.

China > Fintech: foreign firms Tier 2

Eversheds Sutherland‘s Hong Kong-based Asia technology group acts for large institutional clients and start-up unicorns on a broad spectrum of technology matters. With established experience in technology, commercial and financial regulatory matters, the team has a particular focus on critical technology outsourcing transactions and digital transformation projects, including in the aviation sector. Representative work for the group ranges from infrastructure outsourcing (private and public cloud), core banking and payments platforms to software licensing and data centres.  Heading the firm’s technology practice group across Asia, Rhys McWhirter‘s recent experience includes leading (on behalf of global financial services institutions) the negotiation of several high-profile and novel emerging technology transactions, which involved blockchain and AI; and banking and finance leader Michael Yau handles fintech work.

China > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms

Eversheds Sutherland, a UK-founded firm active in over 32 jurisdictions, is geared to support on both inbound Asian transactions for global clients as well as outbound transactions on behalf of China and Hong Kong-based entities. In Shanghai, Jack Cai spearheads the China inbound M&A team, often acting on behalf of major international companies on cross-border transactions. Jay Ze, who operates from the Beijing office, provides the department with transactional prowess in the energy and natural resources sector and fronts the corporate practice.