Praised for offering a 'thorough understanding of international financial institutions', A&O Shearman's banking and finance team supports Chinese and international investment and commercial banks, private credit funds and pension funds. The team is supported by the Allen & Overy Lang Yue (FTZ) Joint Operation Office for PRC law capability, and works collaboratively with its teams in Hong Kong and Singapore. Team head Yvonne Ho handles project financing, export credit financing, structured lending, and acquisition financing, while Matthew Bisley has experience in asset finance including aviation and shipping. The pair are 'well respected in the industry', recommended for their 'technical skills'.

Recommended for its 'depth and breadth of knowledge in clients' industries', the banking and finance team at Linklaters 'has the exceptional capability of delivering top quality legal service'. Its practice includes complex structured lending and private credit transactions, advising borrowers, lenders, and other financial players. Team head and 'renowned partner' Frank Cui, in Hong Kong, is a specialist in leveraged financing, often assisting Chinese, Taiwanese, and international banks in the region. Also in Hong Kong, Maggie Ng has particular expertise regarding sustainability-linked facilities and green loans, while Bernard Chain advises on private credit, corporate and structured lending: the pair are 'market leaders'.

The banking and finance team at Ashurst is praised for its ability to ‘efficiently provide high-quality legal services‘, handling a range of complex deals including project financing, real estate financing, and margin loans. Head of team Patrick Phua specialises in PRC laws, advising on major outbound and cross-border financing transactions, while Chin Chuan Chen is sought out by international and Chinese banks and financial institutions for complex, critical matters. Daniel Lau is a go-to for sustainability-linked loans, experienced in complex regulatory changes and their impacts.

The ‘responsive and proactive‘ team at Baker McKenzie FenXun leads in aviation finance, real estate finance, and project finance, along with growing strength in leveraged and acquisition finance, fund finance and private credit. Andrew Lockhart heads the team from Hong Kong, while Simon Leung handles cross-border financing matters from both Hong Kong and Beijing. In Beijing, Duan Cui focuses on China related outbound banking and finance matters. Grace Li is a key name in Shanghai, working with both domestic and international banks on their financing and business operation matters.

Clifford Chance LLP’s banking and finance team is noted for its work in complex, cross-border financing transactions. It regularly works with international and domestic investment banks, private credit providers, and private equity sponsors. Team heads Anthony Wang and Matthew Truman are based in Hong Kong, while Maggie Lo is recommended across Hong Kong and Beijing for work in project and acquisition finance and corporate loan transactions. Jiahua Ni is the key name in Shanghai, specialising in PRC-related cross-border financings with a focus on significant outbound finances for major China banks.

The China banking and finance team at Pinsent Masons regularly works with Chinese state-owned contractors and developers throughout the life cycle of their projects. It has a growing restructuring practice. Head of team Kanyi Lui, based in Beijing, advises on sovereign debt restructurings alongside his complex projects work. Winnie Nie has experience working across Asia, Africa and Latin America in corporate financing. Olivia Wang is qualified in New York, and handles export credit projects for Chinese banks. Qiyu Lu has expertise in syndicated, bilateral, secured and unsecured facilities both domestically and cross-border.

Specialising in energy-related transactions, the DLA Piper banking and finance practice in Hong Kong is sought after for ESG linked financing and green lending. It also offers specialist expertise in fintech and digital forms of financing in the telecom and media industries. Matthias Schemuth, Paul Lee, and Trinh Hoang co-head the team, Schemuth offering Asia-wide experience and working between Singapore and Hong Kong, while Lee is a go-to for acquisition finance and Hoang focuses on financing and restructuring of debt facilities.

Hogan Lovells International LLP's banking and finance team has a 'deep bench and can move quickly', regularly supporting clients in highly regulated sectors including automotive, energy, financial institutions, life sciences, media and telecoms, and technology. It has specialist experience advising fund and distressed investors. Owen Chan, Hong Kong-based team head, focuses on cross-border acquisition finance. In Shanghai, Shantay Cong is the key contact; her practice combines international experience with PRC law capabilities, with particular experience of structured finance and restructuring.

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP‘s banking and finance team is sought after by private equity sponsors, credit funds, and strategic corporate investors; its focus is on acting on the debtor side and on complex, sponsor-led deals. Team co-head Jacqueline Zheng, in Hong Kong, acts on both onshore and offshore acquisition deals in Greater China. Manas Chandrashekar, co-head, has a practice emphasising acquisition and leveraged financings, including in India and Southeast Asia. Sean Zhang is the key contact in Shanghai, promoted to partner in October 2023.

The ‘responsive, experienced and helpful‘ banking and finance team at Stephenson Harwood provides a comprehensive service covering acquisition finance, leveraged finance, real estate finance, bilateral and syndicated lending, and derivatives. Its asset finance expertise includes ship and aviation finance. Katherine Liu heads the practice group from Hong Kong, bringing experience of personal data laws and technology matters. Also in Hong Kong, Elton Chan ‘is a very experienced banking and finance lawyer‘, acting for bot lenders and borrowers in corporate lending matters.

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s finance team has experience of complex acquisition financing transactions, syndicated loans, and leveraged lending. Andrew Bishop heads the team from Hong Kong and Singapore, advising private equity funds, venture funds, credit funds and strategic investors. Howard Lam, in Hong Kong, leads leveraged financing transactions, while Ruonan Duan primarily represents private equity sponsors and corporates.

Mayer Brown‘s banking and finance team is headed by Richard Stock from Hong Kong, an aviation specialist with extensive experience of secured debt financings. The team additionally handles real estate finance matters, alongside leveraged and acquisition finance, bilateral and syndicated loans, fund finance and project finance. Doos Choi, in the Singapore office, is a go-to in the regional fund financing market.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP handles pan-Asia financing matters from its bases in Hong Kong and Tokyo, with notable experience of sustainability-linked loans. Makiko Harunari heads the team from Hong Kong, focusing on cross-border financing transactions and often working with a range of financial sponsors, corporate borrowers, and financial institutions. She advises on the financing aspects of the formation of pan-Asia funds, and fund subscription facilities.

With a focus on borrower-side work, the Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP team works alongside its corporate and M&A colleagues to support acquisitions deals and margin loans. Rosanna Passmore heads the team from Hong Kong, advising bank, promoters, and corporate borrowers on bridge loans, leverage financing, and working capital loans. John Hartley retired in January 2024.