Dentons Hong Kong > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Dentons Hong Kong Offices

Dentons Hong Kong
SUITE 3201, JARDINE HOUSE
1 CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL
HONG KONG
Hong Kong
Visit website 852 2523 1819 852 2868 0069

Dentons Hong Kong > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: international arbitration Tier 3

Led by the ‘extremely responsive’ Keith Brandt, Dentons Hong Kong‘s ‘proactive and solutions-driven’ three-partner dispute resolution team has considerable experience advising Chinese and international parties engaged in Hong Kong arbitration. Robert Rhoda is ‘technically strong, and has the capability to dissect and identify the crux of a legal issue’ on behalf of financial services, technology and energy clients, in particular, which also benefit from his ‘strong advocacy skills’. Richard Keady is also a strong advocate and displays ‘first-class skills in dispute resolution, both in respect of court litigation and international arbitration’.  

Practice head(s):

Keith Brandt

Other key lawyers:

Robert Rhoda; Richard Keady

Testimonials

‘The firm is very pragmatic, responsive, and cost-effective.’

‘The team is able to provide clients with across the board litigation and arbitration service of a very high standard.’

‘They are proactive and solutions-driven and communicate well with us as clients.’

‘High-quality arbitration team with excellent strategic sense and good tactical judgement.’

‘Keith Brandt is extremely responsive, even when he is travelling. He has a strong dispute resolution team which is able to provide pragmatic advice, effective solutions and comprehensive analysis in a timely manner.’

‘Robert Rhoda is technically strong, and has the capability to dissect and identify the crux of a legal issue effectively.’

‘Robert Rhoda is an excellent arbitration lawyer and has strong advocacy skills. He has a lovely understated manner that is highly effective on behalf of clients.’

‘Richard Keady has always impressed me with his first-class skills in dispute resolution, both in respect of court litigation and international arbitration.’ 

Key clients

Southwest Pacific Bauxite (HK) Limited

Work highlights

  • Represented Southwest Pacific Bauxite in an HKIAC arbitration arising out of a joint venture set up to run and operate an bauxite mining business in the Solomon Islands.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Often working closely with lawyers in situ in China, as well as frequently drawing upon resources from throughout the firm’s vast global network, Dentons Hong Kong‘s forte lies in representing regional and international clients on cross-border mandates. The vastly experienced team, that is headed by ‘shrewd tactician’ Keith Brandt, has excellent credibility before the local courts, and is particularly active in injunctions work. The ‘efficient, capable and creative’ Richard Keady excels in handling contentious matters for clients in highly regulated environments and is noted for his expertise advising on professional negligence and disciplinary matters. Recognised as ‘the doyen of Hong Kong commercial litigation’, senior consultant Allan Leung also has vast experience in the market, while at the more junior end, of counsel James Wong continues to forge a strong offering in relation to cross-border disputes, as well as in the context of the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards.

Practice head(s):

Keith Brandt

Other key lawyers:

Allan Leung; Richard Keady; Robert Rhoda; Jenny Zhuang; James Wong

Testimonials

‘They work fast, they communicate effectively. There is diversity and they use technology and resources well.’

‘They can serve clients anywhere in the world and enlist the help of any of their world wide network if clients require assistance in any foreign jurisdiction.’

‘They display exceptional devotion to their clients’ cases and are willing to work extremely hard in their interests, very “switched on” both legally and tactically.’

‘The very knowledgeable Keith Brandt is a shrewd tactician that is highly organised and motivated.’

‘Richard Keady is efficient, capable and creative.’

‘Allan Leung – the doyen of Hong Kong Civil/Commercial litigation. He knows the rules of the game inside out and is also a phenomenal tactician.’

‘Robert Rhoda and Jenny Zhuang are very impressive and are fully on top of the details of the clients’ cases.’

Key clients

Abercrombie & Fitch

Amazon

Bayin Resources Company Limited

BASF

Berpu Technology Co., Limited and Provision Investment Co., Limited

China Sonangol International Limited

Dr Martens

Ernst & Young

Hong Kong Solicitors Indemnity Fund

Huarong International Securities Limited

Kazuo Okada

Kim Dotcom and Megaupload Limited

Kung Hing Chii, Yu King Yeung, and Yu King Yeungtrading as PTA & Co.

Lane Xang Minerals Limited

Law Society of Hong Kong

Ocean Sino Limited, PBM Asset Management Limited

The National Trust Ltd.

Virgin Atlantic

Zhenjiang Danyang Zhengtong Investment Fund (Limited Partnership)

Work highlights

  • Defending companies associated with LunanPharmaceutical Group Ltd in the latest chapter of protracted trust litigation relating to competing claims forownership of a substantial shareholding in this major PRC pharmaceuticals company.
  • Acting for the majority shareholder in an acrimonious boardroom dispute between two prominent Chinese businesswomen who are fighting for control of a multibillion- dollar international business group.

Hong Kong > Investment funds Tier 3

Under the guidance of Vivien Teu, Dentons Hong Kong has very successfully re-established its fund credentials in the Greater China market, following many years without a credible offering. Teu, who has significant experience in private practice (where she recently established her own firm), as well as in-house at a major asset management firm, brings tremendous insight, both from a regulatory and structuring perspective, including in the context of the burgeoning ESG funds market. Of counsel Simon Wong is ‘diligent and very thoughtful’ and has a strong following among private funds clients, including in relation to hedge, real estate and private equity.

Practice head(s):

Vivien Teu

Other key lawyers:

Simon Wong

Testimonials

‘The team provides practical and commercial advice.’

‘Vivien Teu appreciates the needs and hurdles for the fund company. Her advice has been spot on and time proofing, which are essential to help the fund manager in setting mid-long term strategies.’

‘Simon Wong is not only very knowledgeable about fund’s operation, structure and regulation but he is also very resourceful that can make things go smoothly.’

‘Simon Wong is diligent and very thoughtful in terms of giving advice to his clients. His response is always swift and very professional.’

Key clients

Argyle Street Management Limited

BOCOM Schroders Fund Management Co.

China Southern Fund Management Co.

China Tonghai Asset Management Limited

Forwin Capital Management Limited

GF-International Investment Management

ICBC-Credit Suisse Asset Management

West Bull Securities Limited

Yu Ming Investment Management Limited

Zrich Capital Limited

Hong Kong > Structured finance and securitisation Tier 3

Led from Hong Kong by the ‘experienced and knowledgeable’ Jeffrey Chen, and also able to utilise the firm’s significant resources in mainland China, Dentons Hong Kong is noted for its ‘depth of market information and penetration’, particularly in the context of securitisation and structured credit transactions. Chen brings ‘a unique blend of local knowledge and global structured product capital market expertise’. 

Practice head(s):

Jeffrey Chen

Other key lawyers:

Man Chiu Lee

Testimonials

‘The team is one of the leading securitisation practices in Hong Kong.’

‘They can utilise the resources and reserves of Dentons in China, which is less important in terms of transaction excellence and execution ability (that resides in the HK team), but in terms of the breadth and depth of market information and penetration.’

‘Jeffrey Chen is one of the most experienced lawyer in Asian securitisation and structured credit. His knowledge and experience sets him apart from all other lawyers.’

‘With Jeffrey Chen as teamleader, the team is one of the leading securitization practices in Hong Kong.’

‘With his fluency in Mandarin and his American educational and transactional background in some of the other leading Taipei and Hong Kong firms Jeffrey Chen has learnt the ropes and brings a unique blend of local knowledge and global structured product capital market expertise.’

Key clients

Beijing Public Housing Center

Ping An International Financial Leasing Co.

Yunnan Communications Investment and Construction Group Co., Ltd.

Work highlights

  • Represented  Yunnan Communications Investment and Construction Group Co. Ltd. as its international and PRC counsel, on the global offering of its English law governed $200m 3.10% Guaranteed Notes due 2024 under Regulation S, and to be listed on the HKEx
  • Represented Ping An International Financial Leasing Co as international counsel in the global offeringunder Regulation S of its English law-governed $300m 2.50% Senior Bonds due 2024 and listed on the HKEX.
  • Represented Beijing Public Housing Center as international counsel, on the global offering of its English law-governed $300m 1.90% Guaranteed Bonds due 2026 under Regulation S and listed on the HKEX and MOX.

Hong Kong > Labour and employment Tier 4

Dentons Hong Kong utilises a global network of employment specialists to offer multinational businesses genuine cross-border expertise, providing assistance across the range of employment issues from employment contracts and policies, to transfers and restrictive covenants. Richard Keady heads the team and has an extensive contentious practice, appearing regularly before the full hierarchy of Hong Kong court’s. He also possesses specialist knowledge of employment disputes arising from regulatory issues, including the relevant codes and guidelines and engaging with regulatory authorities.

Practice head(s):

Richard Keady

Other key lawyers:

Jenny Zhuang

Key clients

Airbus

Apple

Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society Limited

Starwood hotels

Virgin Atlantic

Work highlights

  • Acted as employment counsel on retainer for an international airline, advising the group on various employment matters such as redundancy and ad hoc termination of their staff, maternity benefits and the relevant statutory rights enjoyed by pregnant employees in Hong Kong.
  • Advising Apple on key issues relating to COVID-19 vaccination and testing for its employees prior to returning to work, monitoring material developments in government policies and offering fortnightly reporting.
  • Advised NavBlue, a division of Airbus, in relation to a restructuring of their sales executive compensation and incentive scheme across the globe.

Hong Kong > Capital markets (equity) Tier 5

‘Very familiar with the process and requirements of listing in Hong Kong’, Dentons Hong Kong‘s team provides ‘balanced and very client-focused advice’ to issuers and underwriters, including many Chinese and boutique Hong Kong financial institutions. The ‘experienced and conscientious’ Norman Hui heads up the ECM team, which also includes Rachel Han, who is appreciated for her ability to ‘foster good client relationships’. Gordon Ng leads the overarching corporate finance function, and also has considerable expertise in relation to capital markets matters, including IPOs, pre-IPO financings, privatisations and de-listings.

Practice head(s):

Gordon Ng; Norman Hui

Other key lawyers:

Rachel Han

Testimonials

‘The firm provides balanced and very client-focused advice.’

‘The team is very familiar with the process and requirements of listing in Hong Kong, and can give professional guidance at the beginning of the project, so that customers can avoid detours, and co-operate with other intermediaries in place.’

‘Norman Hui is experienced and conscientious.’

‘Rachel Han is able to foster good client relationships while providing a good advisory service to clients.’

Key clients

BOCOM International (Asia) Limited

Goldman Sachs

Haitong International Capital

Innovation Works (Innovation Works Development Fund L.P and Innovation Works Holding Limited)

Mont Avenir Capital Limited

NWS Holdings Limited

Qiming Venture Partners (Qiming Managing DirectorsFund III, L.P., Qiming Venture Partners III, L.P. and Qiming Venture Partners III Annex Fund, L.P.)

Shenzhen New Nanshan Holding (Group) Co., Ltd.

Work highlights

  • Advised Goldman Sachs and Haitong International Capital on the $191m IPO of Broncus Holding Corporation on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under Chapter 18A of the Listing Rules.
  • Advising BOCOM International (Asia) Limited on the proposed IPO of Leading Star (Asia) Holdings Limited on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
  • Advising Mont Avenir Capital on the proposed IPO of TENAHO China Holdings Ltd on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms

Global player Dentons has arbitration lawyers across many of the markets it is active in across Asia, including in its firm-wide centre of gravity in China. In Singapore, Herman Jeremiah and Lawrence Teh are key names, while notable names in the firm’s mainland Chinese offices include Tao Li in Beijing and Summit Chen in Shanghai, while Keith Brandt leads a Hong Kong group that also includes Robert Rhoda and Richard Keady. The firm’s combination with Link Legal in India makes it the first foreign firm with a direct presence in India.

Dentons Hong Kong > Firm Profile

The firm: Dentons is the world’s largest law firm, connecting top-tier talent to the world’s challenges and opportunities with 20,000 professionals including 12,000 lawyers, in more than 200 locations, in more than 80 countries. Dentons’ polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and award-winning client service challenge the status quo to advance client interests.

The Hong Kong office provides legal advice and representation to governments and state owned entities, financial institutions, multinational corporations, professional services firms and high net worth individuals in relation to their business needs in Hong Kong, across the Asia Pacific region and globally.

Our Hong Kong team comprises experienced lawyers and leading professionals qualified in seven jurisdictions – Hong Kong, England and Wales, the United States (New York, District of Columbia),  Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.

Our core areas of services include:

  • Banking and Finance
  • Capital Markets
  • Employment and Labour
  • Investment Funds and Income Trusts
  • Arbitration
  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Real Estate
  • Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy
  • White Collar and Government Investigations

Areas of practice

Banking & Finance: Dentons’ Hong Kong Banking and Finance team assists a wide range of commercial banks, investment banks, accounting firms, insurance companies, asset management companies, trust companies, financial companies, funds and other financial institutions, as well as government agencies, with transactions of every size and scope.

Our Structured Finance and Securitisation lawyers represent virtually every banking and financial institution that is active in the financing, purchase and securitisation of financial assets.

As part of Dentons’ ESG Global Solutions, Dentons Hong Kong is also active in the areas of green and sustainable finance.

Capital markets: Dentons Hong Kong is one of the few firms in Hong Kong that has on-the-ground capability to advise on both Hong Kong and US securities laws in IPO and other capital markets transactions.

The Hong Kong Equity Capital Markets team has represented issuers and underwriters in over 60 Hong Kong IPOs, including Main Board and GEM, red chip and H-share projects. The firm’s Debt Capital Markets team has advised clients on the full spectrum of international and domestic debt offerings.

Employment and Labour: Dentons’ Employment and Labour team advises local and foreign clients on a range of employment and HR related matters, including employment contracts and policies, employees’ protection and compensation, restrictive covenants, transfer and secondment of staff, visas and work permits arrangement, redundancy issues, data privacy, discrimination issues and occupational safety and health issues.  We support our clients in every stage of an employment relationship and our employment litigation specialists handle labour disputes brought at the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Labour Tribunal, the District Court and the High Court as well as handling large-scale internal investigations, regulatory reporting and acrimonious terminations.

Investment Funds: Dentons Hong Kong offers a full range of services to investors and investee companies, including, on the public fund side, helping local fund houses to establish public funds and international fund clients to obtain regulatory approval for offering fund products to the Hong Kong public, and, on the private fund side, setting up and structuring onshore and/or offshore investment funds. We pride ourselves in being a one-stop shop supporting the entire investment life cycle and investment managers’ value chain. Our team carries unique capabilities advising on regulatory matters in the management or offering of investment products, also in relation to different responsible investment strategies and related environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues for investors and investee companies.

Arbitration: Dentons’ world renounced international arbitration team works seamlessly across offices and regions to assist clients from the onset of a dispute, through to enforcement of an arbitral award.  We are familiar with the major institutional and procedural rules and we know the arbitrators who decide cases.

As a global law firm with a significant presence in Mainland China, we find ourselves a go-to firm for both Mainland Chinese parties to Hong Kong arbitration (including State Owned Enterprises) and international clients (typically from the US and Europe).

Our team has also regularly represented clients in arbitrations administered by regional and international arbitration institutions, such as Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), Singapore International Arbitration (SIAC), and Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC).

We have extensive experience in handling jurisdictional challenges against arbitration proceedings, applying for interim relief (such as asset preservation orders in China) in aid of arbitral proceedings, and representing claimants in enforcing Hong Kong and foreign arbitral awards.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution: Dentons Hong Kong has a strong track record in advising on a broad range of high-value, complex and multi-jurisdictional disputes for clients regionally and globally.

We assist our clients in pursuing, defending and mediating a wide variety of civil and commercial claims in all level of courts and across various jurisdictions and industry sectors.  We also frequently handle applications for injunctive relief and asset freezing, and help our clients implement tracing and enforcement of judgments.  From risk analysis to crisis management, we have a team of seasoned lawyers to provide you with clear advice and quality representations in writing and hearings.

Of particular note is our depth of experience in litigation relating to shareholder disputes, financial investments and fraud, often with cross-border elements.  We regularly handle disputes for international corporations, high net worth individuals and regulatory authorities.

We also have a well-respected practice of acting in professional disputes and disciplinary proceedings for a wide range of professionals including solicitors, accountants, brokers and licensed individuals.

Mergers & Acquisitions: Dentons’ Hong Kong Mergers & Acquisitions team offers a full service to local and international clients, including entity formation, conversion, dissolution and liquidation as well as legal counseling covering all aspects of transactional and operational work in our clients’ businesses.

The firm has represented public and private companies, buyers and sellers, boards of directors, shareholders, investors and owners, partnerships and private individuals, financial services institutions, underwriters, commercial and investment banks on a wide range of matters.  The team also advises on commercial issues including regulatory and compliance and data protection.

Real Estate: Dentons’ Asia Pacific Real Estate group is a diverse team that provides advice with both a global and regional perspective, with experience and familiarity with complex cross-border transactions as well as deep local knowledge in the many jurisdictions in which we practice. The group assists investment banks, private equity funds, financial institutions and developers in acquisitions and dispositions, financings, joint venture and construction transactions.  The group also routinely represents hospitality clients as well institutional landlords and tenants in commercial transactions. Our group focuses on an integrated approach, giving clients the comfort of an unmatched global and regional presence together with a deep understanding of local real estate markets befitting a firm with offices in most, if not all, of the locations where our clients do business.

The group also routinely works with our other related practice groups to provide our clients with seamless access to our experience in project finance, project development and dispute resolution matters.

Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy: Dentons’ Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy team provides full-service to a wide range of clients, including companies facing financial distress, debtors and potential debtors, official and ad hoc committees, secured and unsecured creditors. Our lawyers’ experience covers every aspect of bankruptcy, reorganisation and creditors’ rights representation.

Our practice is a leading player in the Hong Kong market, and is well known for both its contentious and non-contentious work. Over the years, we have been involved in many high profile insolvency matters, both in Hong Kong and internationally. We position ourselves at the top end of the market with a focus on challenging and complex work.

White Collar and Government Investigations: Dentons Hong Kong advises and acts for clients in both contentious and non-contentious regulatory matters, ranging from acting for clients in Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigations to providing compliance advice in relation to requirements of the SFC. Our team also has considerable hands-on experience in the investigation of commercial fraud and white-collar crimes; supporting clients from urgent asset freezing injunction order applications, tracking and recovery of stolen or misappropriated assets, to providing interim relief in aid of overseas legal proceedings.

The size and scale of our practice enables us to deploy large teams for major investigations and litigation, or to call on individual experts to advise on niche areas of law often required by clients within financial services e.g. sanctions, financial crime and national security matters. We are relatively unique in that we work both for and against regulators and our work for the SFC, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong government gives us unparalleled insight which our private sector clients consider invaluable.

The team also has relations with the ICAC, Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB), Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) as well as other external bodies and media contacts in the planning and implementation of internal investigations.

Main Contacts

DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
Dispute resolution: Litigation; International Arbitration; Restructuring and Insolvency Keith Brandt
Capital markets; Corporate; Mergers and Acquisitions Gordon Ng
Dispute resolution: Litigation; International Arbitration; Labour And Employment; Restructuring and Insolvency Richard Keady
Structured Finance And Securitisation Jeffrey H Chen
Capital markets; Corporate; Mergers and Acquisitions Rachel Han
Capital markets; Corporate; Mergers and Acquisitions Norman Hui
Capital markets; Corporate; Mergers and Acquisitions Man Chiu Lee
Dispute resolution: Litigation; International Arbitration Robert Rhoda
Investment Funds Vivien Teu

Lawyer Profiles

PhotoNamePositionProfile
Keith Brandt photoMr Keith BrandtKeith is Managing Partner and head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution group…View Profile
Jeff Chen photoMr Jeff ChenJeff Chen heads the structured finance practice at Dentons Hong Kong LLP…View Profile

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers (globally) : 10,000+
at this office : 30+

Languages

Cantonese
English
Mandarin

Press Releases

Dentons advised on the global offering of €75 million 4.60 per cent. Credit Enhanced Bonds due 2026 for Gaoyou City Construction Investment Development Group

7th March 2023 Dentons has represented Gaoyou City Construction Investment Development Group, a leading state-owned infrastructure construction company principally engaged in the construction of municipal infrastructure, water facilities, roads, environmental governance-related facilities and shantytown redevelopment projects in Gaoyou City and Suzhou City, in its global offering under Regulation S of its English law governed €75 million 4.60 per cent. Credit Enhanced Bonds due 2026, with the benefit of an irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit issued by Bank of Jiangsu Co., Ltd., Yangzhou Branch, underwritten by China Industrial Securities International, Industrial Bank of Co. Ltd., Hong Kong Branch, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Hong Kong Branch, China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd., Hong Kong Branch, CEB International, Guotai Junan International, Guosen Securities (HK), Central Wealth Securities Investment Limited, CNCB Capital, CITIC Securities, CMBC Capital, China International Capital Corporation and Caitong International.

Dentons Rodyk kicks off 2023 with the introduction of next generation leaders

16th January 2023 Singapore’s Big Five law firm Dentons Rodyk unveiled its new Executive Committee and also announced the admission of two outstanding young individuals into the senior partnership of the firm, with effect from 1 January 2023.

Court of Appeal releases written grounds for upholding decision in US$1.48b environment related claim

9th December 2022 The Singapore Court of Appeal on 2 December 2022, issued its written grounds for upholding the High Court (General Division)’s decision in Ok Tedi Fly River Development Foundation Ltd and others v Ok Tedi Mining Ltd and others [2021] SGHC 205. The appeal was successfully resisted by the Dentons Rodyk team led by Mark Seah, Co-Head of the Litigation Practice and comprised Andrea Gan, Martin See, Alexander Choo and Philip Teh. TSMP Law Corporation’s Mr Adrian Tan and Dr Tang Hang Wu acted for the Appellants.

Mr. Phuc Le rejoined Dentons LuatViet to strengthen its offshore legal services

7th July 2022 Dentons LuatViet is delighted to welcome back Mr. Phuc Le to join our firm as a Special Counsel. He will primarily provide legal services to our clients in the US and Moscow.

Singapore Big Five Law Firm Dentons Rodyk Boosts Corporate Practice with Two Senior Lawyer Hires

4th July 2022 Singapore, 1 July 2022 – Singapore’s Big Five Law Firm Dentons Rodyk are today announcing the arrival of senior corporate lawyers Evelyn Ang and Emily Low. Together with six other lawyers, they join Dentons Rodyk from Big Four accounting firm EY’s Singapore law practice, Atlas Asia Law Corporation (AALC). The news follows Dentons' recently launched combination with leading Vietnamese law firm LuatViet, as the Firm pursues its goal of being the leading pan-ASEAN law firm.

Dentons launches combination with LuatViet in Vietnam

17th June 2022 Dentons has launched its previously announced combination with leading Vietnamese law firm, LuatViet, which has more than 40 legal professionals serving clients from offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Former Deputy Director of Attorney-General’s Chambers Navin Naidu joins Big Five Law Firm Dentons Rodyk

17th June 2022 Big Five Law Firm Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of Attorney-General’s Chambers’ former Deputy Director Navin Naidu to the firm’s White Collar and Government Investigations practice.

How Singapore’s Big Five law firm Dentons Rodyk is embracing the future of work and ditching its traditional office for good

14th April 2022 Visions for the future of work have never been bolder. The COVID-19 pandemic changed notions on how many felt a work environment should be. The world was rushed into accelerating technology adoption, increasing digital connectivity and embracing virtual collaboration. As we usher in a new and dynamic decade, Dentons Rodyk envisions the future of work by ditching its traditional office for good and introducing a permanent hybrid work model.

Dentons secures final victory for ICT on European patent infringement case against ESSITY

18th August 2020

Global law firm Dentons is pleased to announce that the Paris Court of Appeal, the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe and the Barcelona Provincial Court have all issued final decisions dismissing Essity’s claims of patent infringement in regards to Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti’s (ICT) three ply toilet paper. With Dentons’ counsel, ICT successfully demonstrated beyond a doubt that its branded and private label products are produced based on its own proprietary process, and patented under European patent 2 353 859. 

Dentons has been advising Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti S.p.A since 2016. Based in Lucca, ICT is a leader in the category of high quality tissue paper products for domestic use, and has subsidiaries in Italy, Spain, Germany, France and Poland.

The Paris decision, which is the most recent, ends a long-running patent infringement litigation with Essity and affirms ICT can continue to produce and distribute absorbent paper based on its own proprietary technology. The three courts in France, Germany, and Spain have confirmed ICT’s argument that it is using its own novel technology, also patented. Essity’s claims of infringement were based on a patent originally filed by Georgia Pacific, and subsequently becoming Essity’s.

Dentons partner David Masson served as lead partner and represented ICT in France. Dentons partner Dr. Constantin Rehaag represented ICT in Germany, and PwC partner Alejandra Matas Brancós represented the client in Spain, with the support of Dentons partner Juan Ignacio Alonso.

David Masson, lead lawyer on the case, commented: “It has been very interesting to understand ICT’s own technology and work closely with different teams, including ICT’s R&D department, which has been part of all strategic and technical decisions throughout the case”.

Constantin Rehaag, who represented the client in the German court hearings and coordinated the work with the client’s patent attorneys, said: “This is an outstanding success of a great team formed by the client, who provided us with invaluable technological insight, the team of patent attorneys and, finally, by the Dentons teams in France, Spain and Germany.”

The patent litigation began in 2016 when Essity sued ICT in France, Germany and Spain for the alleged infringement of its patent related to the technical solution for the bonding of three layers of tissue for paper products such as high quality, soft and bulky, toilet paper.

In France, Essity claimed that ICT had breached the French part of its European patent 1 081 284 and that the toilet paper marketed as Foxy Soie Plus, and also certain other private labels produced by ICT France, had infringed on their patent. Essity demanded that all production operations be halted. The rolls of toilet paper were carefully analyzed and there were no findings of infringement. The two French courts - in first instance and appeal - rejected the claims and ordered Essity to pay compensation for the legal fees to ICT Italy and ICT France.

In Germany, the case was first taken to the Mannheim District Court, which is well reputed in patent matters. The lawsuit mainly focused on the complex questions regarding the construing of the claims of Essity’s patent. The court ruled in favour of ICT, and Essity filed an appeal. In August 2019, the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe also ruled that the German subsidiary of ICT did not infringe the German part of the patent 1 081 284.

In Spain, after a first decision in favor of Essity in the lower court, the Barcelona Provincial Court clearly stated in a written appeal that ICT’s products - and in particular, Foxy Seda, Foxy Bouquet, certain three-ply private label products - did not infringe the Spanish part of the patent 1 081 284.

About ICT

Industrie Cartarie Tronchetti (ICT) was founded in 1976 in Italy, in the Lucca province, to operate in the tissue sector, producing high quality paper exclusively from virgin fibre. The first production facility was opened in 1978 in Piano della Rocca, Lucca, and over the years new plants and facilities have been set up in Piano della Rocca, Diecimo and Piano di Coreglia. The Foxy brand, one of the leading brands in the European market, was launched in 1982. ICT is an example of excellence in the paper industry, in full harmony with the tradition of the Lucca region, where the most important Italian papermaking hub is located, on a par with those of Green Bay (USA) and Fuji (Japan). In Lucca in particular, great expertise has been nurtured in the field of paper for household use, and the city is in fact known as the world tissue capital. Today, ICT SpA boasts an annual production capacity of about 160,000 tonnes.

About Dentons

Dentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic.


Dentons advises Snam on US$10.1 billion consortium investment in ADNOC Gas Pipelines

3rd August 2020 Global law firm Dentons advised Italian-based multinational energy infrastructure operator Snam in relation to its agreement, in consortium with several international investment funds, to purchase a 49 percent share of ADNOC Gas Pipelines from The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). ADNOC Gas Pipelines is valued at approximately US$20.7 billion (US$10.1 billion for 49%).

The transaction is one of the most important in the global energy infrastructure sector, as well as Snam’s first acquisition outside Europe.  ADNOC Gas Pipelines holds the tariff-based rights for the 38 pipelines that connect ADNOC’s upstream activities to Abu Dhabi’s consumption points and the export and interconnection terminals to neighboring Emirates.

The transaction was financed by a pool of international banks for approximately $8 billion, plus an equity contribution from each of the consortium members.  In addition to Snam, the other consortium members included Global Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Asset Management, GIC, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and NH Investment & Securities.

Dentons acted with a cross-border team from Italy and UAE, coordinated by partner Sara Biglieri in Milan.  Partners Luca Pocobelli (Rome) and Mhairi Main Garcia (Dubai), counsel Claudio Segna (Milan), senior associate Craig Hughson (Abu Dhabi) and associate Stephanie Hawes (Dubai) advised on corporate and M&A aspects. Partners Alessandro Fosco Fagotto (Milan) and Stephen Knight (Abu Dhabi), counsel Franco Gialloreti, senior associate Tommaso Zanirato and junior associate Giulia Caselli Maldonado (all Milan) advised on financing aspects. Partner Michele Carpagnano (Rome) and associate Giulia Giordano (Rome) advised on the competition and antitrust aspects.

Snam’s internal legal team was led by General Counsel, Marco Reggiani - assisted by Michela Schizzi, Senior Vice President Regulated Assets Legal Affairs - and included senior legal counsels Rosanna Pallotta and Claudia Jolanda Fanelli.  The legal aspects related to the financing were handled, together with Marco Reggiani, by Gloria Bertini, Head of Finance and Capital Market Legal Affairs and Roberta Di Mauro, legal counsel.


Dentons advises Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) on the establishment of the EU Malaria Fund

3rd August 2020 The EU Malaria Fund was initiated by the kENUP Foundation, a not-for-profit organization promoting research-based innovation with public and societal benefit. The fund is managed by the IBB Group. The target volume of the fund amounts to €280 million, with a first closing of €70 million on June 3, 2020.A Dentons team from Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Munich provided comprehensive advice to IBB Group on the establishment of the EU Malaria Fund. This included the development of the legal and tax conception of the fund, regulatory advice, corporate law support on the setup of the fund, and the negotiation of the financing agreements with the EIB, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other investors.Berlin-based partner Dirk-Reiner Voss and Frankfurt-based partner Arne Klüwer jointly led the Dentons team, with support from partners Stephan Busch, Matthias Santelmann and senior associates Holger Hölkemeier and Bernd Düsterbeck in Berlin; counsel Verena Etzel and Oda Elmoutaouakil in Frankfurt; partner Axel Schlieter in Dusseldorf, and partner Richard Fagerer in Munich.About DentonsDentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com

Dentons advises on ACS Group’s €500 million NEU-CP Program

3rd August 2020 Dentons, the world’s largest law firm, has advised Spanish-based multinational construction group, Actividades de Construcción y Servicios, S.A. (ACS), on the renewal of its €500 million Negotiable European Commercial Paper (NEU-CP) Program. The NEU-CP program is registered with the Central Bank of France, with the involvement of BNP Paribas, BRED Banque Populaire, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, ING Bank N.V. and Natixis, as dealers for the Notes.Headquartered in Madrid, the ACS Group is a worldwide leader in construction and services. It is currently the only non-financial issuer with a NEU-CP Program registered with the Central Bank of France.Dentons’ Capital Markets group in Madrid advised ACS on all aspects of the transaction. Partner Ignacio Corujo led and coordinated the transaction with the support of junior associate Ana Artola.Ignacio Corujo joined Dentons in January this year to establish and lead the Capital Markets group in Spain. In addition to this most recent deal for ACS, he has closed several high-value debt capital markets deals since his move, including most notably, Grupo Cajamar’s €1 billion issuance of mortgage bonds, as well as Sacyr’s renewal of its €500 million EMTN Program.About DentonsDentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com 

Dentons advises UniCredit on a €450 million secured sustainability-linked financing for Gunvor Gro

3rd August 2020 Global law firm Dentons has advised UniCredit Bank AG as Mandated Lead Arranger, (Sustainability) Coordinator, Bookrunner, Facility Agent and Security Agent as well as the lenders on a €450 million secured sustainability-linked borrowing base facility agreement with Gunvor Group. Gunvor Group will use the funds to cover the working capital requirements of its Ingolstadt refinery.The innovative financing model is tied to the borrower's achievement of predetermined ESG key performance indicators (Sustainability KPIs) and provides for a sustainability discount or premium in case the company overachieves or underperforms the predefined targets. An independent sustainability auditor will report on the performance of the Sustainability KPIs on an annual basis. The ESG-based scoring of certain key performance indicators provides a unique way for borrowers and lenders to communicate their commitment to sustainability and incentivizes sustainable corporate measures.Participating banks included DZ Bank, KfW IPEX-Bank, Raiffeisen Bank International, Erste Group Bank, Commerzbank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, CA Indosuez (Switzerland), Bank of China and First Abu Dhabi Bank.Gunvor Group is one of the world’s largest independent commodities trading houses by turnover, creating logistics solutions that safely and efficiently move physical energy from where it is sourced and stored to where it is demanded. With strategic investments in industrial infrastructure – refineries, pipelines, storage and terminals – Gunvor Group further generates sustainable value across the global supply chain for its customers. UniCredit is one of the pioneers in sustainable loans in the German market.Düsseldorf finance partner Dr. Axel Schlieter fully advised the bank on the drafting and negotiation of the loan agreement. The Dentons team further comprised Julia Heitmann (senior associate, Banking and Finance, Düsseldorf) and Eike Hinrich Pradt (associate, Banking and Finance, Frankfurt). Axel Schlieter is a core member of Dentons’ Sustainable Finance group in Europe and is regularly involved around the topics of issuance of green bonds and on sustainable financing.Advisors to UniCredit: Dentons (Düsseldorf): Dr. Axel Schlieter, (lead partner), Julia Heitmann (senior associate, both banking and finance, Düsseldorf), Eike Hinrich Pradt (associate, banking and finance, Frankfurt am Main)UniCredit inhouse lawyers: Carina Engelhardt, Alexander Strigin, Christian HentrichAbout DentonsDentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com

Dentons advises Qair on refinancing of the acquisition of Rzepin and Linowo wind farms in Poland

3rd August 2020 Dentons’ Banking and Finance practice team advised Qair SAS, Qair International and Qair Polska Sp.z o.o. in connection with the refinancing of two wind farms under operation, Rzepin (58 MW) and Linowo (48 MW). The financing institutions are BNP Paribas and EBRD.The two wind farms are part of Qair’s larger portfolio of almost 200 MW of renewable energy sources, which also includes 93 MW of new capacity from three wind farms – Udanin (50 MW), Parzeczew (9 MW) and Września (9 MW) – and 25 MW of solar photovoltaic.The project was supervised by Mateusz Toczyski, Head of the Europe and Co-Head of the Global Banking and Finance practice, and led by Tomasz Zwoliński, counsel, with assistance from lawyers Klaudia Szymańska-Rutkowska, Katarzyna Mazur, Katarzyna Kaptur and Jakub Walawski. Supporting the Warsaw team were counsel Surbhi Malhotra-Trenkel in Munich and partners Jean-Marc Allix and Olivier Genevois, and associates Djésia Meziani, Philippine de Fouchier and Hugo Casasnovas in Paris. Dentons’ London team consisting of partner Matthew Sapte and associate Annreika Ray advised on the hedging documentation.“We are very pleased and honored to have had this opportunity to assist Qair in yet another wind power project the company has undertaken in Poland,” said Mateusz Toczyski.“We would like to congratulate Qair on this financing and to wish every success with further developments and investments in Poland and elsewhere in the world,” added Tomasz Zwoliński.About DentonsDentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com

Dentons advises Sev.en Energy on aacquisition of US-based Blackhawk Mining

3rd August 2020 Dentons has advised international energy group Sev.en Energy on its strategic acquisition of US-based metallurgical coal producer Blackhawk Mining, LLC. C. The transaction comes on the heels of Sev.en Energy’s acquisition of a 17% ownership interest in Corsa Coal in May 2020, further reinforcing its access to the metallurgical coal mining industry in the US market.Blackhawk Mining is one of the largest metallurgical coal producers in the US. With annual production capacity of seven to eight million tonnes of metallurgical coal among its five underground and open pit mining complexes in West Virginia and Kentucky, Blackhawk Mining is an important supplier of metallurgical coal both locally and internationally. It also owns three thermal coal mine complexes producing three to four million tonnes per annum. In 2019, Blackhawk Mining had $1bn revenues and $120m EBITDA. Commenting on the acquisition, Dentons partner Petr Zákoucký, said: “Having worked for Sev.en Energy for many years, I am inspired by their sustained dynamism, and by this bold strategic move, even during these difficult market conditions. We were delighted to have opportunity to play our role in this success.” Alan Svoboda, Executive Director of Sev.en Energy who leads the Group’s international expansion added: “Once again, the Dentons team exceeded our expectations and delivered the transaction within a tight time frame of less than a month, nailing both the complexity of the deal and challenges created by the current worldwide pandemic. What was really outstanding was the dedication and flexibility that the entire team showed.” Dentons’ cross-border team was composed of partners Petr Zákoucký (Prague, Energy/M&A), Ilan Katz (New York, M&A), Lee Smith (New York, Finance), Christopher Van Bever (Lexington, Mining) and John Rhine (Evansville, Mining) Robert E. Richards (Chicago, Insolvency), Managing Associate Gregory DiBella (New York, M&A) and Associate Barbora Obračajová (Prague, Energy). Alvarez & Marsal advised Sev.en Energy on financial due diligence and Weir on technical due diligence. About Sev.en EnergySev.en Energy owns significant coal and energy production assets in the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Australia and the USA. It is the largest private operator of coalmines and conventional power plants in the Czech Republic, and employs more than 3,500 people. In 2019, Sev.en Energy acquired additional power generation assets from Swiss energy group Alpiq and a 50% stake in the multinational energy company – InterGen N.V., which is one of the leading independent power generators with gas-fired power plants in the UK and coal-fired power plants and coal mines in Australia. When pro-forma aggregated with the financial results of InterGen and Alpiq CZ, Sev.en Energy group combined revenues in 2019 were EUR 1,4 billion and EBITDA of EUR 319 million. About DentonsDentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com

Dentons supports German subsidiaries of the Recylex Group in restructuring

3rd August 2020 Global law firm Dentons is assisting Weser-Metall GmbH and Harz-Metall GmbH, both subsidiaries of the French-German Recylex Group, with their restructuring through ‘self-administration’ proceedings. In addition, Dentons restructuring lawyers Andreas Ziegenhagen and Dirk Schoene and their team are advising the German management of the Recylex Group within the scope of its self-administration.As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the dramatic decline in metal prices, the German subsidiaries of Recylex have each applied for protective shield proceedings under German insolvency law. The aim of the protective shield is to allow the companies to continue their individual restructuring measures and to return to economic stability after the pandemic - if necessary, in a new shareholder structure.Weser-Metall produces about 100,000 tons of lead per year at its headquarters in Nordenham (Lower Saxony), making it the third largest lead smelter and the second largest lead recycler in Europe. Harz-Metall has its headquarters in Oker in the Harz Mountains and is one of the leading European recycling companies for lead and zinc contaminated waste.The Recylex group has a total of eleven operating units and two administrative sites in France and Germany. In addition to the companies supported by Dentons, two other companies in the group, Norzinco GmbH and PPM Pure Metals GmbH, have also submitted applications for protective shield, whilethree other German subsidiaries requested self-administration under creditor protection. The Group's French companies are not affected.Andreas Ziegenhagen, Head of the Europe and German Restructuring practice, said: "With the filing for protective shield proceedings, we are making use of the most restructuring-friendly court proceedings in the interest of all stakeholders of the companies”.Advisor to Harz Metall / Weser Metall / German management of Recylex:Dentons (Berlin): Andreas Ziegenhagen (Partner, Restructuring, Berlin/Frankfurt), Dirk Schoene (Partner), Dr. Jan Seelinger (Counsel), Dr. Benjamin Kurzberg (Counsel), Judith Schmid (Senior Associate), Dr. Jakob Pickartz (Senior Associate), all Restructuring and InsolvencyAbout DentonsDentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status quo to advance client and community interests in the New Dynamic. www.dentons.com

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