Appleby > Shanghai, China > Firm Profile

Appleby Offices

Appleby
ROOM 6126
21ST CENTURY TOWER, 210 SHIJI AVENUE
PUDONG DISTRICT, SHANGHAI, 200120
China
Visit website 86 21 6032 1630 86 21 6032 1638

Appleby > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Offshore law firms

Acting on its own, as well as collaborating closely alongside other key offshore offices, including Bermuda, BVI and the Cayman Islands, Appleby provides ‘very responsive, practical and cost-effective advice’ directly to clients as well as in a referral capacity across a wide range of transactional, regulatory and litigation matters. In his dual role as managing partner and corporate head, David Bulley has guided the firm through a challenging market, and has been very effective in picking up a considerable volume of distressed M&A for fund clients, as well as a number of key roles advising on the offshore aspects of Chinese real estate restructurings. One of many in the office with excellent language skills, the ‘proactive and commercial’ Judy Lee is ‘popular among Chinese clients’ on the offshore advice pursuant to both debt and equity capital markets matters. The ‘very approachable and technically sound’ Fiona Chan also has exceptional language skills which she harnesses to good effect across a range of banking and finance work. Other key transactional lawyers include Vincent Chan, who is ‘approachable and knowledgeable’ on M&A and IPO matters, and Chris Cheng, who provides ‘practical insights and advice’ on both international and HKSE listings. Eliot Simpson heads up the office’s litigation team and is noted, in particular, for shareholder and corporate disputes work as well as contentious insolvency matters. Richard Grasby heads up the office’s nascent private client offering and is ‘very strong on the technical points of both trusts and the regulatory issues’. 

Appleby > Firm Profile

The firm: Appleby is a leading offshore law firm. The team of legal specialists advise global public and private companies, financial institutions and private individuals. Appleby is regularly recognised for its integrity and excellent client service, these are the values the firm prides itself on and are at the very core of its business.

Appleby’s global presence allows it to provide timely and comprehensive legal advice at the times that matter most to clients. Appleby is located in the key offshore jurisdictions of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Mauritius, and the Seychelles, as well as the international financial centres of Hong Kong and Shanghai. Appleby works with clients to achieve practical solutions whether in a single location or across multiple jurisdictions. Appleby is a full service law firm providing expert advice across corporate, dispute resolution, property, regulatory and private client and trusts practice areas.

Principal areas of work
Mergers and acquisitions: Appleby’s mergers and acquisitions team regularly works with FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies around the globe to help them deploy strategic growth and restructuring initiatives, whether involving single jurisdictions or complex multi-jurisdictional, multi-disciplinary transactions. They actively monitor M&A trends through their half-yearly Offshore-i report and their unique global presence means that they are able to advise clients on complex, cross-border transactions involving the offshore jurisdictions.

Regulatory: Appleby’s regulatory and compliance team is one of the world’s largest offshore, comprised of experts who not only have first-hand knowledge of local regulation, but who have in many cases, helped to shape it. Their team are skilled at putting technical regulatory information and decision-making in a commercial context, and clients know that they can assemble the team to deliver an international service, quickly and seamlessly.

Technology and innovation: Appleby’s multi-disciplinary technology and innovation group comprises experts from each of their ten offices to help businesses meet the new challenges and support clients across a broad range of emerging technologies including blockchain, virtual currencies, ICOs, data protection and financial technologies.

Banking and finance: Appleby’s banking and asset finance team are experienced in all aspects of law relating to banking, ship and aircraft registration and finance, asset backed finance and project and infrastructure finance. They provide advice to major banks and financial institutions, ship and aircraft owners, lessors, and lessees and have deep and trusted relationships with numerous international law firms, shipping groups and financial institutions around the world.

Funds: Appleby’s fund finance team are experts in advising banks and finance providers in the development of sophisticated financing solutions. The team are globally recognized as leaders in the fund finance sector and have advised on a variety of different financing structures involving funds that have ranged from a hundred million to billions of dollars in subscribed investor commitments.

Insolvency and restructuring: Appleby’s insolvency and restructuring team advise directors, institutional lenders, creditors (secured or unsecured), borrowers, or insolvency practitioners in large insolvencies that have offshore or cross-border elements. The team has extensive insolvency and restructuring experience across a wide range of industries, including retail, hospitality and leisure, healthcare, financial services, real estate and manufacturing.

Trust disputes: As family arrangements become more complex, trustees and beneficiaries are frequently being drawn into disputes which lead to court proceedings. Appleby’s talented, experienced and solution driven trust disputes team is committed to delivering the highest possible level of client service and regularly work together across their global locations to provide expert multi-jurisdictional advice.

Employment: Appleby’s specialist employment team provides advice on employment and immigration law to a range of global clients, including banks, financial services businesses, companies and directors, as well as their onshore legal advisers. With close ties to local governments, they are often consulted on, and help to share, new laws brought into force across the jurisdictions in which they operate.

Fraud and asset tracing: Appleby’s fraud and asset tracing team are experts in helping clients to trace and recover assets across international jurisdictions, regardless of where proceedings originate. Their clients include major financial institutions, multinational corporations, government agencies, state-owned corporations and high net worth individuals, who have been defrauded or have received the proceeds of fraud. They also advise directors and officers, and other service providers caught in the fallout of fraudulent activities.

Property: Appleby are a leading provider of property services in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Isle of Man and Jersey. Their property team provides expert legal advice on all aspects of commercial and residential property, including sales and purchases, leasing, development and property finance transactions. They are frequently recognised for their experience and excellent client service and are consistently ranked in the top tiers for property work. They regularly work directly with developers, investors, business occupiers, banking institutions and private individuals.

PC&T: Appleby’s private client and trust team provide trust and foundation services to private individuals, families, and fiduciary companies. They advise on all aspects of trust law, including the establishment, administration, restructuring and termination of private, charitable, and commercial trusts and foundations. They act in a personal capacity as Protector, Enforcer and Director (of private trust companies) for a number of discretionary trusts and are frequently instructed by blue-chip trust institutions.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Managing Partner Malcolm Moller
Corporate Cameron Adderley
Corporate Chris Cheng
Corporate David Bulley
Corporate Fiona Chan
Corporate Judy Lee
Corporate Paul Cheuk
Dispute Resolution Eliot Simpson

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
Malcolm Moller photo Mr Malcolm Moller Malcolm Moller is the Group Managing Partner at Appleby. Malcolm has been… View Profile

Languages

Cantonese
English
Japanese
Mandarin
and other Chinese dialects

Memberships

Lex Mundi

Other

Main Contacts : Malcolm Moller, Managing Partner
Other offices : Bermuda
Other offices : British Virgin Islands
Other offices : Cayman Islands
Other offices : Guernsey
Other offices : Hong Kong
Other offices : Isle of Man
Other offices : Jersey
Other offices : Mauritius
Other offices : Seychelles

Notable cases


Appleby acts as BVI and Bermuda Counsel to InfraRed NF in its USD 92.2 million mezzanine financing deal

Acted as BVI and Bermuda counsel in a USD 92.2 million financing investment with Fullsun International Holdings Group, a Hong Kong listed property developer.

The transaction was led by Partner Fiona Chan, supported by Senior Associate Prabha Sasidharan and Associates Karina Li and Quinton Tse.

Appleby advises China Everbright Water Limited on its global offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Acted as Bermuda counsel in respect of its global offering of 103,970,000 shares (HKD 310,870,300) (subject to over-allotment option) and its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Appleby has previously acted for China Everbright Water in respect of its RMB-denominated corporate bonds issuance in 2017.

The team was led by Co-Managing Partner Judy Lee, Partner Paul Cheuk and supported by Legal Executive Connie Wu.

Appleby Hong Kong acted as BVI counsel to the largest HKIPO so far in 2019

Acted as BVI counsel to Shenwan Hongyuan Group Co., Ltd. on its global offering and listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with net proceeds of approximately HKD 9.24 billion, the largest Hong Kong IPO so far this year.

The transaction was led by Counsel Vincent Chan.

Appleby advises QTC Care on its USD 7 million series A financing

Acted as Cayman Islands counsel in relation to its circa USD 5 million series A financing, as part of the USD 7 million investment led by a Chinese internet giant, Tencent.

The transaction was led by Counsel Vincent Chan.

Appleby Hong Kong advises AngelHub on its equity crowdfunding platform

Appleby acted as BVI counsel in this transaction.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission issued two licences to AngelHub who are now the only SFC licensed platform vetted start-up investment platform for professional investors.

The team was led by Partner Fiona Chan, assisted by Senior Associate Prabha Sasidharan and Associate Karina Li.

Appleby advises Xinyi Energy Holdings Limited on its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Acted as BVI counsel in relation to its global offering of 1,882,609,471 shares and its listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by way of spin-off. The Hong Kong team advised Xinyi Energy on the separation of the subsidiary from its parent company, Xinyi Solar Holdings Limited.

The team was led by Co-Managing Partner Judy Lee, Partner Chris Cheng, supported by Associate Huiyan Liew and Legal Executive Connie Wu.

Appleby advises Vanke Property (Overseas) Limited on its HKD 1,138.34 million transaction

Acted as BVI, Cayman Islands and Jersey counsel to a due diligence exercise on a total of five BVI, Cayman Islands and Jersey targets and their subsidiaries in a substantial acquisition and connected transaction involving a total cash consideration equivalent to approximately HKD 1,138.34 million.

The team provided BVI and Cayman Islands advice and was led by Co-Managing Partner Judy Lee, Partner Paul Cheuk and assisted by Legal Manager Minnie Choi. Jersey counsel was provided by Managing Partner Wendy Benjamin, assisted by Paralegal Grainne O’Brien.

Appleby advises China Oil and Gas Group Limited on its issuance of USD 320 million senior notes

Acted as Bermuda and BVI counsel in relation to its issuance and offering of USD320 million 5.5% senior notes due 2023. This is the fourth senior notes issuance by China Oil and Gas since 2013 that Appleby has acted on.

The team was led by Co-Managing Partner Judy Lee, Partner Paul Cheuk and assisted by Legal Manager, Minnie Choi.

Appleby advises AMTD International Inc. on its listing on the New York Stock Exchange

Acted as Cayman Islands counsel in relation to its initial public offering of 23,873,655 American depositary shares, representing 23,873,655 Class A ordinary shares of the Company. The Company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, with gross proceeds of approximately USD 200 million.

The team was led by Hong Kong Co-Managing Partner Judy Lee, Partner Paul Cheuk, assisted by Senior Associate Robert Sit and Legal Executive Connie Wu.