The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. The clients guide to law firms

Transcription

1 ASIA PACIFIC The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019 The clients guide to law firms DA HUI LAWYERS SUITE 3720 CHINA WORLD TOWER, 1 JIANGUOMENWAI AVENUE, BEIJING Tel: Fax: Antitrust and competition Private equity and venture capital Dispute resolution TMT Regulatory and compliance Projects and energy Corporate and M&A Labour and employment Fintech

2 DA HUI LAWYERS SUITE 3720 CHINA WORLD TOWER, 1 JIANGUOMENWAI AVENUE, BEIJING, CHINA T: F: The firm DaHui Lawyers is redefining the standards of the Chinese legal market as the next generation PRC firm, with a particular strength in New Economy industries as well as complex cross-border transactions. Combining an in-depth knowledge of China s legal and business landscape with extensive international experience, DaHui has become a go-to firm for multinational companies across a broad range of industries and practice areas. DaHui s high-standard expertise and professionalism have led it to become a key advisor and strategist to clients of all types and sizes in China s emerging but challenging market, providing clients with the most effective and solution-oriented services tailored to their diversified business needs. Areas of practice Telecommunications, Media & Technology: DaHui s strength in the highly-regulated TMT industry is in providing practical advice containing insightful assessments, while highlighting key regulatory implications, trends and changes. As leading multinational and round-trip PRC investors seek to navigate challenges unique to China s TMT environment, DaHui guides clients using its consummate regulatory expertise with industry-focused services across a range of TMT sub-sectors, including Internet, IT/telecoms, mobile, publishing, new media, entertainment, sports, events, and exhibitions. Corporate/M&A: DaHui s increased capacity has allowed it to not only handle cross-border transactions, but to act as lead counsel rather than simply PRC advisers on virtually all of them. As such, the firm has significant experience coordinating legal teams across multiple jurisdictions and spearheading all stages of a transaction, including structuring, DD, negotiations, documentation and closing procedures.

3 ASIA PACIFIC LANGUAGES SPOKEN English Chinese Dispute Resolution: DaHui s dispute resolution team has lawyers qualified in the US, UK and Hong Kong, who have appeared before a range of international arbitration institutions (such as CIETAC, HKIAC, SIAC, LCIA). Domestically, the team s years of litigation experience has given it a well-developed understanding of PRC judicial procedure and practice, and a strong understanding of Chinese society. The firm s cross-jurisdictional expertise, as well as its strong network of international allied firms, allows DaHui to use effectively a range of procedural approaches, governmental resources, public security and even criminal measures to formulate and implement comprehensive dispute resolution strategies. Private Equity/Venture Capital: DaHui s PE/VC practice covers all stages of an investment, including fund establishment, project investment, capital restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, de-listings, IPOs, and others. The firm has rich practical experience in RMB funds, USD funds, parallel funds, and cross-border investment funds in multiple areas, with clients including PE fund investors of all sizes and all kinds of major participants, such as seed investors, fund promoters, fund managers and advisers. Energy: DaHui s extensive energy practice has steadily expanded by attracting new clients in traditional sectors, such as oil and gas, and significantly strengthening its renewable energy presence. Given the firm s focus on new economy industries, renewable energy was a logical area of expansion, with its renewable energy practice now reaching a range of sectors, including wind, solar, hydroelectricity and bioenergy. Number of lawyers: 103 Breakdown of work % Partners: 16 Lawyers: 87 Member of MSI Law Alliance

4 Antitrust and competition: PRC firms Tier 3 DaHui Lawyers 2017 hire of the highly experienced Jie Tong from Allen Overy LLP added an outstanding merger review, cartel investigations and compliance capability to its strong corporate offering. Recent instructions saw Tong representing a multinational chemical company in an antitrust investigation and litigation case and acting as local counsel on the China merger control aspect of a multijurisdictional acquisition for a private equity firm.

5 ASIA PACIFIC Private equity and venture capital: PRC firms Tier 4 DaHui Lawyers has an established practice that advises private equity, venture capital and hedge funds on domestic and cross-border investment transactions. The team acted for GSR Ventures, a venture capital fund that focuses on earlystage technology companies in China, in its series A equity investment in Moka, a domestic firm that helps companies optimise their recruiting services. Other highlights include advising a venture capital fund that invests in early and growthstage technology companies with substantial operations in China on its equity investments. Brendon Wu s industry experience includes the media, technology, internet, entertainment, real estate, education, natural resources and manufacturing sectors. Other notable advisors include Chris Chen and Julia Dai, the latter joining from Latham Watkins LLP.

6 Dispute resolution: PRC firms Tier 3 DaHui Lawyers is best known for disputes involving IP, trade secret, employment and commercial bribery. Xing Wan and Arthur Ma heads the six-partner team which has notable experience of handling cases in courts at various levels and in multiple jurisdictions. In 2017, it defended Rockwool in a product liability litigation; represented a financial group in a class action dispute involving the purchase of shares of a listed company; and acted for a Chinese SOE construction company in a UK-seated international arbitration proceeding regarding a water treatment project in the Middle East. Lin Bai is another name to note and advised Trammo in a multimillion-dollar sale and purchase contractual dispute and assisted a Hong Konglisted company with a series of disputes pertaining creditor s rights, with a total claim amount of over RMB300m.

7 ASIA PACIFIC TMT: PRC firms Tier 2 DaHui Lawyers team expanded with the arrival of Julia Dai from Latham Watkins LLP and Xikang Wang from Goldman Sachs. The practice advises clients across a range of TMT sectors, including internet, mobile, publishing, new media, sports and events. Managing partner Richard Ma is advising British Medical Journal on its China market entry strategy including licensing and regulatory matters, and assisted Newegg with its $250m equity sale to Hangzhou Liaison Interactive Information Technology. Other highlights include advising a Chinese investment bank on its multibillion-rmb financing for a fintech company via a private equity fund structure and handled a licensing mandate with a multinational e-commerce company for a publishing company. Brendon Wu and counsel Cloud Li are other names to note. Next generation lawyers Cloud Li

8 Regulatory/compliance: PRC firms Tier 3 DaHui Lawyers fields several litigators and corporate practitioners with expertise in PRC anti-bribery law as well as in the FCPA and UK Bribery Act saw the team handling investigations initiated jointly by the PRC and US governments, along with a stream of internal and government investigation instructions. Zheng Zha has notable experience in corporate investigation and regulatory compliance matters, while Xikang Wang is singled out for his expertise in handling investigations arising under US and Chinese securities laws. Representative clients include Beijing Huinong Equity Investment, Beijing Hang Tang Wealth Investment Management, Petro-Cyberworks Information Technology and Xinyuan Real Estate.

9 ASIA PACIFIC Projects and energy: PRC firms Tier 3 Somewhat unique among Chinese energy practices, the team at DaHui Lawyers focuses on the renewable energy sector, where it advises major domestic energy companies on a range of corporate, compliance and investment matters. Jointly headed by Owen Yang and Jida Zhang, the team also provides comprehensive legal services to SOEs and multinational companies including GE Oil and Gas. The practice co-heads acted as lead counsel to CECEP Solar Energy Technology in connection with its majority stake acquisitions in three project companies operating solar stations throughout China. The team acted for Beijing Sojo Electric on its investments in renewable projects in China and overseas. Additional clients include Daqo New Energy, Three Gorges Group International Investment, and China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group.

10 Corporate and M&A: PRC firms Tier 3 DaHui Lawyers handles an impressive mix of public and private M and regularly act as lead counsel on large cross-border M transactions. Among its recent mandates, it has been particularly active in TMT, energy, healthcare, manufacturing and education sectors. The team counts Comcast as a key client which it assisted with the acquisition of a Chinese multi-screen video entity. Other highlights include advising Genesis Capital, the shareholders of a Chinese mobile social networking platform Momo on its acquisition of a Chinese dating app company Tantan, and handling Newegg s 250m sale to Hangzhou Liaison Interactive Information Technology. Managing partner Richard Ma leads the 11-partner team, which also includes the highly recommended capital markets expert Zheng Zha, Brendon Wu who focuses on private equity and venture capital financing and outbound investment, and Shanghai-based Julia Dai who joined from Latham Watkins LLP.

11 ASIA PACIFIC Labour and employment: PRC firms Tier 3 DaHui Lawyers advises domestic and international employers on the full range of contentious and non-contentious labour and employment matters such as redundancy projects, collective bargaining and HR management. The team has been engaged in some particularly complex labour disputes, including one matter concerning the historical scope of an employers pension programme. Department head Xing Wan has considerable experience in employment litigation and has recently been involved in a strike settlement and a nationwide redundancy plan. Wan s team also provides ongoing comprehensive labour and employment advice to clients such as Shanghai Disney Resort. Another key contact is Lin Bai, who specialises in commercial disputes resolution, but also has experience in employee investigations and employment litigation. Air Products and Chemicals is also among the department s clients.

12 Fintech: PRC firms Tier 2 DaHui Lawyers highly active year included advising Xinyuan Real Estate on the regulatory and compliance issues related to its operation in Fyixin.com, a blockchain-powered real estate finance technology platform; acting for Qudian, a provider of online small consumer credit, in a series of financing and paymentrelated compliance matters; and handling an offshore financing investment in a major online financing company for a venture capital firm. Managing partner Richard Ma and Brendon Wu are the main contacts.

13 ASIA PACIFIC RICHARD MA WORK DEPARTMENT Corporate and M&A, Inbound Investment, Outbound Investment POSITION Richard Ma is the managing and founding partner of DaHui Lawyers. As a recognized expert and preeminent lawyer in the IT/telecoms and media sectors, Richard has advised multinational and Chinese companies on countless successful deals in China, ranging from market entry, M&A and joint ventures to financing and restructuring. Richard particularly excels in devising practical and creative solutions to transactional complications, which are frequent in China due to its complex and rapidly developing legal system and unique business environment. Clients frequently commend Richard on his high level of responsiveness, practical problem-solving skills, and strong commercial sense. CAREER Managing Partner of DaHui Lawyers LANGUAGES Chinese, English MEMBER ACLA EDUCATION LL.M. (South Central University of Finance & Law) LL.B. (South Central University of Finance & Law)

14 ARTHUR MA WORK DEPARTMENT Dispute Resolution POSITION Arthur is a partner in DaHui Lawyers litigation and arbitration team. With over 15 years of work experience with major international and PRC law firms in their Shanghai, London, Washington DC, Hong Kong and Beijing offices, Arthur has accumulated abundant experience handling disputes with a China element. He has represented numerous clients in complex commercial cases before Chinese courts and international arbitral tribunals. With his unique legal training, he is widely regarded as a leading international arbitration expert by both Chinese and international arbitration community. He also frequently acts as PRC law expert in overseas legal proceedings. CAREER Partner of DaHui Lawyers LANGUAGES Chinese, English MEMBER ACLA EDUCATION LL.M. (George Washington University) LL.B. (Peking University)

15 ASIA PACIFIC JIE TONG WORK DEPARTMENT Antitrust, Intellectual Property, Compliance, Corporate / M&A POSITION Jie is a partner in DaHui Lawyers. Jie s practice covers a broad range of industry sectors. His primary practice areas include antitrust, anti-unfair competition, compliance, international trade, M&A and intellectual property. Jie has represented clients in numerous complex merger filings and antitrust investigations. Jie also worked at the Ministry of Commerce of PRC for over 10 years, where he was deputy director of the Department of Treaty and Law. Therefore, Jie has a thorough understanding of the unique legal, political and cultural environment of China, and is adept at dealing with Chinese authorities and providing pragmatic solutions to clients. CAREER Partner of DaHui Lawyers LANGUAGES Chinese, English MEMBER ACLA EDUCATION LL.M. (Columbia Law School) LL.B. (University of International Business and Economics)

16 BRENDON WU WORK DEPARTMENT Capital Markets, PE/VC, Corporate and M&A, Outbound Investment POSITION Brendon Wu is a key partner in DaHui Lawyers private equity and TMT teams. His practice focuses on telecommunications, media, technology, film, entertainment and education industries. With more than a decade of experience, Brendon has represented many well-known PE/VC funds in their portfolio investments in China. He has also represented numerous well-known and early-stage Chinese Internet entrepreneurs in various types of financings including onshore RMB financing and offshore preferred stock or convertible note financing as well as various financingrelated matters, such as spin-offs and corporate restructurings and M&A transactions. CAREER Partner of DaHui Lawyers LANGUAGES Chinese, English MEMBER ACLA (All China Lawyers Association) EDUCATION LL.M. (University of International Business and Economics)