Kirkland & Ellis houses a broad team which acts for a wide range of notable clients, including Bain Capital and Baring Private Equity Asia. The group is noted for its strength in handling debt financing matters and series financings for a wide variety of real estate funds and SPACs, and is led by Gary Li, who heads the practice alongside Jesse Sheley. Li has broad expertise in leveraged buy-outs, growth equity investments, and take-private transactions; while Sheley assists both domestic and international private equity funds and sponsors with a broad range of transactional issues, including PIPEs and de-SPACs. Peng Yu regularly advises marquee corporates on growth capital investments and divestitures, in addition to the formation of joint ventures.

The team at Latham & Watkins LLP has broad expertise spanning the technology, healthcare, and logistics sectors, frequently assisting private equity funds and investors with late stage investments. Additionally, the team exhibits deep expertise in consortia arrangements, management buyouts and accordion financings. Practice head Simon Cooke has deep expertise in a broad range of acquisitions, exits, and mergers. Leading the China practice, Frank Sun handles both in and out bound transactions within China, including joint ventures, venture capital investments, and series angel financings. Dividing her time between Hong Kong and Singapore, Amy Beckingham acts as the vice chair of the global corporate department.

The team at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP handles a broad array of issues for Chinese state-owned companies, private corporations, and financial institutions. The group frequently advises on fund formation and cross-border private M&A. Dividing his time between Hong Kong and Tokyo, practice head Ian Ho advises sponsors and private equity funds on investments into infrastructure funds and fundraisings. Jonathan Hwang has vast expertise in disposals and joint ventures, primarily handling real estate transactions concerning shopping centres and logistics parks in China and Korea; while Jin Hyuk Park is well-placed to advise on minority investments and social bond offerings. Promoted to partner in January 2023, Erik Ping Wang primarily focuses on advising clients on leveraged buyouts and PIPE transactions.

The team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP displays deep experience across the full spectrum of private equity matters, including international and regional investments, distressed M&A, and spin-offs. The team advises a number of family offices, and both international and Asia-based sovereign wealth and pension funds on auctions, exits, and PIPEs. Tim Gardner leads the team, primarily acting for financial sponsors and private equity firms in IPOs and cross-border deals. Chris Welty is noted for his vast experience in take private transactions involving public North American companies. Welty also frequently handles numerous leveraged and managed buyouts for a range of strategic corporate clients. ‘Great mind‘ Sandy Lin advises a range of private equity sponsors and sovereign wealth funds on restructuring issues and minority investments. Counsel Jie Yuan is noted for her expertise in LBOs and growth equity investments.

The team at White & Case is known for advising a lucrative client roster of funds, namely CVC Capital, Goldman Sachs, and PAG. Having experienced growth in the digital health and digital infrastructure sectors, the team exhibits deep knowledge surrounding investments and M&A concerning data centers and bioprocessing. Team lead Daniel Yeh is commended for his vast experience in advising sovereign wealth funds and financial investors on take-private transactions. Steven Sha is noted for his broad knowledge of de-SPAC transactions and pre-IPO financings. William Fong regularly assists a number of private equity sponsors with domestic and international divestitures and acquisitions. Having been promoted to partner in January 2023, Tzi-Yang Seow’s practice remains focused on the Southeast Asian region, where he continues to provide expert advice.

Jointly led by Andrew Crook and Terence Foo, the practice at Clifford Chance handles a variety of issues, including PIPEs, take-privates, and mezzanine financings. The team is recognised for its leveraged financing expertise, in addition to its combined knowledge of venture and growth capital investments. Crook has broad experience in assisting financial investors across a broad range of sectors, including energy and resources, education, and healthcare. Promoted to partner in May 2023, Julie Fu utilises her vast expertise in private equity led joint ventures and M&A within greater China to advise a range of pharmaceutical companies and international funds. Bryan Koo maintains a diverse practice consisting of fundraisings, secondaries transactions and restructurings, often assisting Chinese PE funds and financial investors.

Yash Rana, Douglas Freeman, and Daniel Dusek lead the practice at Goodwin, which is known for its vast experience in handling a myriad of issues for clients. The group regularly advises clients on the full spectrum of issues, from early stage investments to dispositions and exits, in addition to growth equity transactions. Rana handles a broad range of multinational transactions for a number of notable investors and private equity funds, while Freeman regularly advises on large leveraged buyouts and acquisitions. Dusek has broad expertise spanning take-privates, series fundraisings, and business combinations.

Led by Betty Yap, the practice at Linklaters is recognised for its broad and varied expertise in leveraged finance and restructuring processes, regularly acting for numerous Chinese real estate developers. The team is also noted for handling transactions in a variety of sectors, including digital infrastructure, financial services, and energy. Yap is well regarded for her longstanding expertise in assisting private equity funds and sovereign wealth investors with divestments, joint ventures, and co-investment transactions. Xiaoxi Lin is particularly adept in advising both public and private companies, and financial sponsors on outbound acquisitions and leveraged buyouts, with a strong emphasis on transactions involving US public corporates.

Headed by Derek Poon, the team at Baker McKenzie is known for leveraging its international network, having ‘deep experience‘ in servicing private equity sponsors and sovereign wealth funds with transactions within the life science, digital infrastructure, and retail sectors. Praised for being ‘reliable and engaged’, Poon advises a varied client base consisting of investment banks, funds, and companies on joint ventures and private mergers. Robert Wright primarily assists financial sponsors with co-investments and exits, often handling transactions across both Hong Kong and Australia, while associate Xinxing Chen has broad expertise spanning leveraged buyouts and minority transactions, regularly acting for Chinese businesses.

Gibson Dunn houses a broad team which assists clients with a myriad of issues, including both leveraged and unleveraged control acquisitions, divestments, and joint ventures. Scott Jalowayski and Brian Schwarzwalder jointly head the practice. Spending time between Hong Kong and Singapore, Jalowayski assists a diverse client roster consisting of portfolio companies, domestic and international investment managers, and private equity funds in the telecommunications, energy, and retail industries. Schwarzwalder handles a broad range of issues for asset managers and funds, including carve outs and co-investments.

The team at Milbank is known for handling a broad range of issues for investors in a number of industries, including financial services, e-commerce, and telecoms. Praised for being ‘solid and dependable', Andrew Whan has longstanding expertise in advising clients on public take-private deals concerning unicorn companies, and digital infrastructure transactions in the Philippines. Neeraj Budhwani is a ‘strong lawyer' who is noted for his expansive knowledge in leveraged buyouts, PIPE disposals, and structured exits, often acting for investment banks and private equity funds.

Morrison Foerster houses a team which is praised for its ‘deep bench of talent', regularly handling transactions within a myriad of sectors, including e-commerce, fintech, and online gaming. The ‘outstanding' practice is co-led by Marcia Ellis and Thomas Chou. Ellis is noted for her vast expertise in assisting financial investors with investments, joint ventures, and the setting up of SPACs. Chou regularly handles minority investments, in addition to advising on seed extension funding issues. The ‘excellent' Maureen Ho has ample knowledge of bolt-on acquisitions, and both public and private mergers.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison handles a broad range of transactional issues concerning co-investments and direct investments. The group assists both funds and corporates from a wide variety of sectors, including education, transportation, and biotechnology. Dividing her time between Beijing and Hong Kong, practice co-head Judie Ng Shortell primarily handles regional private equity investments and spin off transactions. Co-head Bosco Yiu joined the team from Goodwin in October 2022, contributing his broad knowledge of M&A and investment related issues, often assisting venture capital firms, companies, and sponsors.

Regularly collaborating with the Beijing practice, the team at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP handles the full gamut of issues for emerging companies seeking advice on fund formations, recapitalisations, and dispositions. Notable clients include Tencent Holdings Limited and Esco Lifesciences. Miranda So and Yang Chu jointly lead the practice. So is recognised for her broad knowledge of pre-IPO financings, PIPEs, and cross border M&A, while Chu leads the corporate team.

Colin Law leads the team at Fangda Partners, which is known for handling a broad range of transactions with elements of China law. The practice regularly assists financial and strategic investors across a variety of sectors, including education, energy, and chemical. Law represents a number of bulge bracket investment banks on takeovers and privatisation matters, particularly in relation to the biotech and healthcare sectors.

The broad team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius attracts a stellar client roster, notably including Warburg Pincus, Sequoia Capital, and Bank of China International. The practice is recognised for its collective experience in handling a wide variety of issues, including buyouts, dispositions, and add-ons. Maurice Hoo co-heads the practice alongside Beijing’s Ning Zhang. Hoo is known for his longstanding expertise in advising both international and local venture capital and private equity investors on divestments, investments, and cross-border M&A.

The team at Proskauer Rose LLP is known for handling a varied range of issues concerning co-investments, restructurings, and continuation funds. Dividing his time between Beijing and Hong Kong, practice head Yuval Tal has broad expertise in securities and M&A within the fintech, real estate, and healthcare sectors.

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.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP houses a broad team which advises a variety of clients, including financial sponsors, sovereign wealth funds, and family offices on leveraged acquisitions and take private transactions. The group is also known for assisting a number of both domestic and international investment managers. Practice head Edwin Northover displays vast expertise in bancassurance distribution agreements and strategic partnerships, while associate Sheng Shao is noted for his broad knowledge of corporate matters. William Chua left the practice in May 2023 and Wen-Wei Lai rejoined the team from an in-house role.

Led by Luke Gannon, the team at DLA Piper assists clients with a whole host of issues, ranging from control and minority investments to fund formation. The group regularly assists private equity funds and corporates with distressed investments and growth capital matters. Xin Fang joined the team from Mayer Brown in January 2023, contributing her broad experience in advising multinational corporates on bidding processes and joint ventures within the Chinese and wider Asia Pacific regions.

The broad team at King & Wood Mallesons assists a varied client roster on bilateral exit agreements, dispositions, and investments. Helena Huang, Hayden Flinn, Gong Mulong, and Wen Huang jointly head the practice, dividing their time between Hong Kong and Beijing. Helena Huang regularly advises both Chinese and international companies on fund formation, while Wen Huang focuses on takeovers and joint ventures. Flinn assists a wide variety of clients, including infrastructure, feeder, and registered funds.

Paul Hastings LLP houses a broad team which exhibits strength across a broad range of areas, namely investment strategy, fund management, and exits. Fang Pei and Vivian Lam jointly lead the Hong Kong team. Lam is particularly adept at assisting Chinese companies and financial institutions with transactional issues, whilst Pei has deep knowledge of venture capital financings and securities offerings. Neil Torpey left the practice in March 2023.

The team at Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP advises a number of target companies, sovereign wealth funds and venture capital funds. Practice co-head Mark Cornell has broad knowledge of investment fund formation and restructurings. Dividing her time between Hong Kong and Singapore, co-head Denise Jong utilises her longstanding expertise to advise on private M&A, secondary debt issues, and privatisations. Vivian Ji joined the team from Jeffrey Mak Law Firm in February 2023, bringing longstanding experience in overseas bond issuance transactions and compliance issues.

Shearman & Sterling’s team is known for handling a vast range of issues for portfolio companies and investors. Lorna Chen acts as the regional managing partner for Asia and leads the investment and asset management practice, often advising on co-investment projects and joint ventures. Working between the Beijing and Hong Kong offices, Li Chen acts for both Chinese and international companies and financial institutions within the TMT and infrastructure sectors.

Constance Choy and Raymond Oh act as joint practice heads at Sidley Austin, which is noted for advising emerging companies on venture capital investments and financings. Choy has broad experience of the real estate, consumer retail, and life sciences sectors. Oh divides his time between Hong Kong and Singapore, advising on a range of issues, including PIPE transactions and pre-IPO investments.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s team is known for its expertise in financial sponsor-led M&A, often handling asset acquisitions and divestitures, and joint ventures. Jonathon Stone has a great deal of corporate expertise, representing numerous target companies and financial investors in transactions. Paloma Wang is particularly adept at acting for issuers and underwriters in IPOs, in addition to assisting corporates with private equity investments.