Maples Group > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile
Maples Group Offices
26th Floor, Central Plaza
18 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Maples Group > The Legal 500 Rankings
Hong Kong > Offshore law firms Tier 1
A well-established presence in Asia through its Hong Kong and Singapore offices and also noted for its collaborative approach with colleagues through its global network, Maples Group provides ‘responsive, commercial and knowledgeable’ advice on Cayman Isles and BVI laws across a broad range of transactional and litigation work. Under the guidance of Matt Roberts corporate and securities work has always been a strength and despite the relatively difficult economic conditions, the firm continues to pick up a high proportion of capital markets work. As well as Roberts himself, the ‘very knowledgeable and experienced’ Derrick Kan also excels in handling issuer HKSE-listed IPOs, both in the context of conventional issuances and SPAC matters. As well as advising on new money mandates, the firm has also been at the forefront of restructuring/insolvency work within the beleaguered Chinese real estate market, with leading litigator Nick Stern picking up both debtor and creditor roles in relation to the three Cayman Islands schemes of arrangement that were implemented by PRC real estate companies in 2022. Aisling Dwyer has also been involved in the aforementioned real estate-related insolvency matters leveraging her wide-ranging litigation skills that are also regularly brought to bear on high-profile shareholder disputes. Open and closed end funds, including hedge funds, private equity and venture capital, real estate and infrastructure funds. Other recommended practitioners include John Trehey, who heads up the overarching dispute resolution and insolvency group in Asia; the ‘fantastic’ Ann Ng for investment fund work; and Josie Ainley in relation to fund formation as well as subsequent downstream transactional work.Practice head(s):
Ann Ng; Matt Roberts; John Trehey
Other key lawyers:
Derrick Kan; Aisling Dwyer; Nick Stern; Terence Ho; Josie Ainley; Lorraine Pao; Vivian Lee; Jessica Zhan; Aidan O’Regan
Testimonials
‘Maples has a very well established and respected Cayman practice in Hong Kong.’
‘They are responsive, commercial and knowledgeable.’
‘They have good people, good contacts and connections back in the Cayman Islands. They also keep clients up to date with changing laws/rules in Hong Kong.’
‘Ann Ng is fantastic.’
‘Derrick Kan is very knowledgeable and experienced and understands well the finance transactions in which we frequently work together.’
‘Josie Ainsley is responsive and skilled.’
Key clients
Evergrande
Modernland
CIFI
E-House
Sinic
Sunac
Logan
Hesai Group
China Index Holdings Limited
Caravelle International Group
ECARX Holdings Inc.
YS Biopharma Co., Ltd.
Baijiayun Limited
Yunkang Group Limited
GOGOX
Giant Biogene Holding Co. Ltd
Weilong Delicious Global Holding
YH Entertainment Group
DPC Dash
Beisen Holding Limited
Plus Group Holdings Inc.
Auto Services Group Limited
U Power Limited
Rockpool Capital Limited
Work highlights
- Acted as Cayman Islands counsel to Modern Land (China) Co., Ltd. on the successful restructuring of its US$1.34 billion bondholder debt.
- Advised Baring Private Equity Asia (“BPEA”) on the launch of its eighth private equity fund, The Baring Asia Private Fund VIII (the “Fund”).
- Acted as Cayman Islands and BVI legal counsel to ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (the “Issuer”) in connection with its issuance of US$1,000,000,000 1.5% convertible senior notes due 2027 (the “Notes”) convertible into American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each ADS representing one class A ordinary share of par value US$0.0001 each of the Issuer.
Foreign-based expertise > Leading firms
Singapore > Offshore
Working collaboratively with team’s in the BVI, the Cayman Islands, London, Dubai and Dublin, Maples Group has a long-established reputation for servicing multinational clients on their investments in Asia, as well as Asia-based clients on their overseas investments. Providing the full spectrum of legal services, the practice is particularly well noted for its expertise advising on corporate, finance, insolvency, funds and investments, and dispute resolution issues. Michael Gagie is a leading figure and heads the BVI law practice, specialising in downstream PE, corporate, commercial, and banking and structured finance work. Head of the Asia corporate offering, Matt Roberts focuses on advising financial institutions, asset managers, and publicly listed and private companies. Nick Harrold is particularly adept regarding Japanese-related investments, while Iain Anderson caters to a broad range of PE and hedge funds, boutique managers, smaller start-up funds and investee companies.Practice head(s):
Michael Gagie; Matt Roberts
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘A top offshore firm.’
‘Maples has a top-rate practice, particularly owing to an outstanding technical and commercial partner in Matt Roberts, who is peerless in his expertise and advice.’
‘Maples’ bench is deep and they are able to seamlessly deliver advice and service across different practice groups.’
‘Matt Roberts gives practical and actionable advice based off his deep technical knowhow and experience.’
‘Matt Roberts makes this practice unique; he stands out as a creative, solution and commercially-driven adviser. Definitely our go-to whenever we need more than cookie cutter advice.’
Key clients
Citigroup First Investment Management Limited
IQ EQ Fund Management (Ireland) Limited
Navis Asia Fund VIII, L.P.
DCP Capital
DPC Dash Ltd
HK Acquisition Corporation
Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. I and Akili Interactive Labs, Inc.
TechStar Acquisition Corporation
Aquilius Investment Partners
Work highlights
- Advised Citigroup First Investment Management Limited on the launch of Citigroup Note.
- Advised IQ EQ Fund Management (Ireland) Limited, on the launch of Daiwa Blackstone Private Credit Fund. The Fund, which is expected to launch on 31 May 2023, is structured as a Cayman Islands unit trust and is authorised for public offering in Japan. The Fund will be distributed by Daiwa Securities Co., Ltd.
Maples Group > Firm Profile
The Maples Group, through its leading international law firm, Maples and Calder, advises global financial, institutional, business and private clients on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Jersey, Luxembourg and Marshall Islands. With 30 years on-the-ground experience in Asia, the Maples Group remains committed to providing clients with comprehensive legal, fiduciary, fund, regulatory and compliance, entity formation and management services.
With offices in key jurisdictions around the world, the Maples Group has specific strengths in areas of corporate commercial, finance, investment funds, litigation and trusts. Maintaining relationships with leading legal counsel, the Group leverages this local expertise to deliver an integrated service offering for global business initiatives. Our global network of over 2,000 lawyers and industry professionals are strategically located in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East to ensure that clients gain immediate access to expert advice and bespoke support, within convenient time zones.
The Maples Group has had a presence in Hong Kong since 1995. We offer legal, fund and fiduciary services to clients based in or doing business across Asia.
Established in 2012, the Maples Group’s Singapore office provides services to Southeast Asia-based clients seeking legal, fund administration and fiduciary services across the region.
Many of our professionals are proficient in Cantonese, Mandarin and Korean.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Regional Managing Partner, Asia | Michael Gagie | michael.gagie@maples.com | +65 6922 8402 |
Partner, Funds & Investment Management | Ann Ng | ann.ng@maples.com | +852 3690 7475 |
Partner, Corporate | Matt Roberts | matt.roberts@maples.com | +852 3690 7405 |
Partner, Dispute Resolution & Insolvency | John Trehey | john.trehey@maples.com | +852 2971 3014 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Josie Ainley | Josie is a partner of Maples and Calder’s Funds & Investment Management … | View Profile | |
Aisling Dwyer | Aisling is partner of Maples and Calder’s Dispute Resolution & Insolvency team at… | View Profile | |
Nick Harrold | Nick is partner of Maples and Calder’s Funds & Investment Management team… | View Profile | |
Terence Ho | Terence is partner of Maples and Calder’s Funds & Investment Management team… | View Profile | |
Juno Huang | Juno is a partner of Maples and Calder’s Corporate team in the… | View Profile | |
Derrick Kan | Derrick is a partner of Maples and Calder’s Corporate team in the… | View Profile | |
Ann Ng | Ann is Co-Head of Maples and Calder’s Asia Funds & Investment Management… | View Profile | |
Lorraine Pao | Lorraine is a partner of the Maples and Calder’s Finance team in… | View Profile | |
Matt Roberts | Matt is a partner and Head of Corporate, Asia of the Maples… | View Profile | |
Richard Spooner | Richard is a partner of Maples and Calder’s Corporate team in the… | View Profile | |
Nick Stern | Nick is a partner of Maples and Calder’s Dispute Resolution & Insolvency… | View Profile | |
John Trehey | John is Head of Maples and Calder’s Asia Dispute Resolution & Insolvency… | View Profile | |
Dan Won | Dan is of counsel of Maples and Calder’s Funds & Investment Management team… | View Profile | |
Cherrin Wong | Cherrin is Of Counsel in Maples and Calder’s Dispute Resolution & Insolvency… | View Profile | |
Andrew Wood | Andrew’s practice focuses on investment funds for Asian clients and includes advising… | View Profile | |
Irena Wu | Irena is of counsel of Maples and Calder’s Finance team in the… | View Profile | |
Sharon Yap | Sharon is an investment funds and corporate lawyer who specializes in a… | View Profile | |
Jessica Zhan | Jessica is of counsel of the Maples and Calder’s Corporate team in… | View Profile | |
Karen Zhang Pallaras | Karen is a partner of Maples and Calder’s Corporate team in the… | View Profile |
Languages
English Cantonese Chinese (Mandarin) Shanghainese KoreanMemberships
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