Hong Kong

Charltons is a boutique law firm specialising in corporate finance. The firm is experienced in representing domestic and international clients on complex cross-border transactions, IPOs, securities, funds as well as cryptocurrency. Julia Charlton, Clinton Morrow and Calvin Ho are key partners at the firm specialising in corporate, finance and capital markets.

Capital markets

Work highlights

Assisted BitMain Technologies, the world’s largest bitcoin mining machines manufacturer and mining pool operator, in its application for listing on the HKEX. The firm was involved in the regulatory aspects of the case.

Listing of Tianli Education Group, a leading private education service provider in Western China, on the HKEX.

Key clients

China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities, Shangdong Xinhua Pharmaceutical Company

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Advised Great Rise Properties and Posang Capital respectively, on investment fund for the acquisition of three properties in Tseung Kwan O.

Advised a major publicly listed bank on its repurchase of $76 million shares under the Hong Kong code on share buybacks.

Key clients

China Taiping Insurance, Great Rise Properties, Silverlink Capital, Taiping Financial Holdings

The firm focuses on IP with particular strength in IP litigation. It has a wide range of clients in the fashion, consumer goods and services, technology and healthcare industries. Alan Chiu and Ella Cheong are respected figures in the IP field.

Intellectual Property

Work highlights

Assisted a client in the luxury goods industry on a trademark opposition case. The firm obtained a favourable result for the client.

Advising on various collaboration projects involving technology inventions.

Key clients

Bosa Technology, China Oceanwide Holdings, Hysan Properties, Louis Vuitton, Pandora

Capital markets

Work highlights

Assisted Jinxin Fertility Group in its IPO. The client is the first US medical business to be listed on the stock exchange. This is expected to be the largest healthcare IPO in 2019 and the first assisted reproductive services provider to be listed on the HKEX.

Key clients

Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Sun Car Insurance Agency

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Representing SAIF Partners, a China based private equity fund, in proceedings brought forth by former partner claiming breach of agreement and failure to pay for carried interest distributions.

Key clients

China Oriental Group Company, Foodpanda HK, Fullerton Healthcare Group, Perfect Growth

Client feedback

“The service was satisfactory with strong industry knowledge and local culture familiarity.” – Corporate and M&A

Gall is a dispute resolution boutique with five dedicated disputes partners, one consultant and six associates specialising across all forms of litigation, arbitration and mediation. The firm maintains its dispute resolution ranking in the ‘Outstanding’ tier.

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Acting for Hammer Capital Private Investments, the second mortgagee for a group of properties, in damage claims against Industrial and Commercial Bank of China for breaching equitable duties during the sale of properties.

Key clients

Cellmark China, Techno Capital

Labour and employment

Work highlights

Defending TFS Derivatives in a claim brought by its former employee for wrongful termination and unpaid wages. The client has also filed a counterclaim against the former employee for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.

Restructuring and insolvency  

Work highlights

Advised the liquidators of Swing Media Technology Group in the recovery of assets and potential claims against the former company management.

Key clients

Remedy Asia, Tiger Ventures

Client feedback

“Extremely professional, concise, timely and creative.” – Banking and finance

“Gall is a first class firm, offering practical and cost effective advice in complex and high value matrimonial finance, as well as children's matters.” – Dispute resolution

“Very effective and focused on the executive termination matter, and helped it reach a conclusion that was positive for the client. Overall, the quality of the advice has been fantastic.” – Labour and employment

“The firm has very strong and attentive client service, detailed and thoughtful analysis of relevant case law, and demonstrated deep experience in Hong Kong employment related matters. In terms of areas of improvement, my main concern is that the firm has few senior partners with strong Mandarin skills, and relies more on junior associates when analysing some contracts that were in Chinese.” – Labour and employment

Nick Gall

“Nick is one of the best lawyers I have dealt with. He is extremely knowledgeable and problem solving. He uses a large network to understand the scope of all work.”

Caroline McNally

“Caroline is brilliant and highly sought after. She is very experienced and gives practical, effective advice.”

Andrea Randall

“Andrea is an excellent employment and labour lawyer in HK. The advice that she provides is top notch and she saw a very difficult matter through to a positive resolution for us.”

“She is an excellent counsel (in the truest sense of a counsellor who offered sharp and thoughtful advice) and her service standards were of the highest order.”

Founded in 1977, Gallant is one of the full-service law firms in Hong Kong with about 40 lawyers. The firm offers services covering various aspects of commercial, corporate and property related activities both contentious and non-contentious. The firm is recognised for its insurance sector strength.

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Acted for several major banks on the securitisation of loan facilities.

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Advised Fullsun International Holdings on the acquisition of two companies holding properties in Kowloon.

Dispute resolution 

Work highlights

Assisting the Employees Compensation Assistance Fund Board in a case over the statutory intervention of an accident involving a foreign employer and a local employee.

Client feedback

“Gallant provides professional legal services with outstanding efficiency and quality. Their experienced solicitors offer advice based on an in-depth understanding of the client's specific business needs.” – Banking and finance

“Gallant's work is very high standard and its advice is extremely professional.” – Insurance

Established in 2015, HM Chan & Co in association with Taylor Wessing specialises in public and private M&A, fundraising through IPO and private equity or venture capital investments. The firm’s key industry sectors include retails, food and beverage, e-commerce, fintech, life sciences and education. Mark Chan is a key figure.

Capital markets

Work highlights

Advised JLogo Holdings, a food and beverage group in Singapore and Malaysia, on its Hong Kong GEM listing.

Key clients

China Global Lines Group, C-Link Squared, GHW International, Lianwai Education Group

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Assisted BreadTalk, a Singapore-listed food and beverage corporation, on its acquisition of Wingain Global's 25% stake in Food Republic Guangzhou F&B Management, a Guangzhou JV.

Key clients

Agribuddy, CW Group Holdings

Private equity

Work highlights

Advised Agribuddy, an agricultural support application developer in Cambodia and India, on its issuance of preferred shares for its series A financing raising $2.8 million.

Client feedback

“They are very responsive, helpful, detailed and was able to provide us with good legal services. Happy to have engaged them and will continue to do so.” – Corporate and M&A

Mark Chan

“He is very professional, experienced and responsive.”

Founded by Adam Hugill and Alfred Ip in 2018, who were previously partners at Oldham Li & Nie, the firm is known for its expertise in labour and employment and private client. Despite being a newcomer, Hugill & Ip enters our rankings for the first time.

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Advising an international submarine cabling company on the spinoff and transfer of its joint venture with a global telecoms company.

Key clients

Central Venue Management, Onward Helmet Company

Labour and employment

Work highlights

Assisted an individual client in a claim filed against Xian Corp for unpaid commissions related to profit share agreement made with the company. 

Key clients

Hargreaves Services

Private client

Work highlights

Advised client in a trust set up for succession planning. The firm ensured that the client’s preferences were met.

Client feedback

“We are happy with the comprehensive and holistic work done by the law firm. They helped us to revise the trust deed to fulfil the requirement of the client.” – Private client

Adam Hugill

“Adam Hugill is canny, smart and well educated as well as being easy and pleasant to communicate with.”

“Adam is an excellent communicator, listening intently and giving helpful advice, not shielding us from the ‘bad news’. Emails are answered promptly and succinctly, and I trust his judgment thoroughly.”

LC Lawyers is the Hong Kong member firm of EY Law. The firm has extensive experience representing private equity and venture capital firms on their investments and operations in Asia. The firm also offers services in a range of areas including corporate and M&A, capital markets, investment funds and regulatory. Rossana Chu is a key partner. The firm enters the Capital markets and Corporate and M&A practice area rankings for the first time this year.

Capital markets

Work highlights

Acted for Miji International Holdings on its IPO and listing on the HKEX.

Key clients

Ample Capital, BaoQiao Partners Capital, China Cinda (HK) Asset Management, CMB International, Red Sun Capital

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Acted for Hanergy Mobile Energy Holding Group, the controlling shareholder of the Hong Kong-listed company Hanergy Thin Film Power Group (HTF), on withdrawal of its listing status from Hong Kong and for HTF to be listed on a stock exchange in Mainland China through a scheme of arrangement.

Key clients

Asia Allied Infrastructure Holdings, CLSA Capital Markets, Hanergy Mobile Energy Holding Group, Li Ning, Victory Intelligence Industry 

Full-service law firm Oldham Li & Nie is particularly known for dispute resolution. Gordon Oldham, Richard Healy and Anna Chan are main partners for dispute resolution, while Tracy Yip and Jade Tang are key partners for corporate and M&A. Partners Adam Hugill, Alfred Ip and Tony Chik left the firm to set up their own firms.

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Acted for YCP Holdings in its acquisition of a Singaporean company. The firm was involved in various aspects of the transaction including legal due diligence, preparation of documents and follow-ups. 

Key clients

Grace Continental, Toridoll Holdings Corporation

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Acted for plaintiffs in a claim made against Standard Chartered Bank for monetary loss sustained by clients allegedly due to the bank’s breach of duties and misconduct.

Key clients

Shadow Trading and Investment

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Represented a sunglasses manufacturing company in a trademark opposition case against a Japanese costume company for similarities between the client’s mark and the opposing party. The firm was involved in negotiations to achieve a global settlement.

Labour and employment

Work highlights

Advised Olympus Corporation on the review and revision of employment policies to be in compliance with the new employment laws.

Key clients

Aeon Credit Service, Mykita Asia Pacific

Private client

Work highlights

Advising a client who owns a substantial amount of assets on restructuring his personal tax planning as well as setting up a trust.

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Acted for a local bank on mortgage financing through the acquisition of a BVI company.

Capital markets

Work highlights

Advised a Hong Kong based toy company on its IPO.

Key clients

Luzhou City Commercial Bank, Pacific Legend Group

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Assisted a Macau-based IT operations service provider company in a case related to corporate reorganisation with the entrance of new shareholder.

Key clients

Moody Technology Holdings, Sino Energy International Holdings

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Representing Angola Group Holdings and Achieve Goal Holdings on a dispute over the shares in a joint venture specifically related to the interpretation of certain terms in the JV agreement.

Private client

Work highlights

Assisted a husband in divorce proceedings concerning the division of assets.  

Client feedback

“Excellent services with practical advice.” – Banking and finance

“Very familiar with requirements for various rules, good communication skills, and a high level of drafting capability.” – Capital markets

Heidi Chui

“Problem solving skills with excellent service.”

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Defended a trade association against claims of anti-competition brought by an applicant who was rejected from membership.

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Representing Apple in cases related to enforcement against the exportation of counterfeit Apple products to overseas buyers.

Key clients

Amway, Ford, Yves Saint Laurent

Vivien Teu & Co has a particular focus in the areas of asset management and financial services including the establishment of a wide range of funds, financing agreements, structured finance and corporate and M&A work. The firm hired a dedicated tax lawyer in November 2018.

Investment funds

Work highlights

Advised for several Mainland funds before the Hong Kong Securities and Future Commission on the revision of their fund contracts to reflect the new liquidity rules.

Regulatory

Work highlights

Advised several qualified domestic institutional investors from Mainland on legal and regulatory aspects of note arrangements.

Client feedback

“We appreciate their knowledge on the subject and high responsiveness.” – Investment funds

“The firm provides very detail and precise work. The principal, Vivien is very hands-on and always provide us with timely advice and report.” – Regulatory

Wilkinson & Grist is best known for its expertise in dispute resolution, intellectual property and restructuring and insolvency, where the firm is maintaining ‘Outstanding’ tier. Keith Ho and Florence Chan are key figures for dispute resolution and private client.  

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Represented United Overseas Bank in the acquisition financing for a shopping mall in Guangzhou.

Key clients

China CITIC Bank International, ICBC

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Acted for Yoho Bravo in the takeover of Top Dynamic Holdings.

Key clients

CK Asset Holdings

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Representing Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks in a case regarding an application for an interim injunction to restrain the client from leasing land granted to them by the government.

Key clients

Chinachem Charitable Foundation, The Bank of East Asia (BEA)

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Acted for a Korean Ginseng company in an enforcement action case against a shop selling counterfeit products.

Key clients

Universal Music

Private equity

Work highlights

Assisted Franklin Templeton in the restructuring of its investment in a listed company in the food and beverage industry.

Client feedback

“The firm provides in-depth recommendation and opinions regarding the JV structure, mechanism, and potential restrictions.” – Banking and finance

“Professional, efficient, responsive and delivers personal services.” – Intellectual property

“We use the firm as counsel for difficult cases that require insights of Hong Kong IP and out of the box thinking. The answers come fast with solutions relying on the long-term experience in the IP world.” – Intellectual property

Mena Lo

“Mena is awesome - professional, friendly, meet all deadlines.”

“She is highly professional, always giving her best, produces work of a high standard not only technically excellent, but she understands the core issues and what we want, and comes up with the best possible solution. She journeys with me. That makes her the preferred external counsel.”

Annie Tsoi

“Professional, technically sound, efficient, responsive, tailored her services to our company's needs instead of delivering standard work.”

“Annie is our point of contact when it comes to difficult trademark filings or complicated office actions. With her in-depth knowledge and friendly client-focused attitude, it is a pleasure working with her and getting her advice.”