Kirkland & Ellis houses a ‘capable and diligent‘ practice which is well-equipped to handle exits and acquisitions for special purpose acquisition companies (SPAC), investor and buyer consortiums, and investment firms. Jesse Sheley and Peng Yu jointly head the practice. Sheley is well-known for his deep knowledge of leveraged buyouts (LBO) and M&A, while Yu’s workload consists of a variety of cross-border transactional issues, including growth capital investment mandates. Gary Li is noted for his broad, longstanding expertise, often advising on high-value take-privates and equity investments. Pierre-Luc Arsenault is a key name within the team for joint venture and recapitlisation-related matters.

Simon Cooke heads the broad offering at Latham & Watkins LLP, which leverages its network across Greater China and Singapore to assist international private equity clients. Cooke is recommended for his vast knowledge of private equity driven M&A transactions across the APAC region. Frank Sun is noted for his strong focus on multijurisdictional work concerning privatisations and acquisitions. Richard Watkins routinely assists a variety of corporate and private equity clients across the tech, real estate, and asset management industries, while Stephen Shi primarily advises private equity firms and Chinese companies on the establishment of joint ventures.

Acting for lucrative list of global private equity houses, White & Case boasts broad strength spanning the tech, energy transition, and oil & gas spaces. The 'extremely commercial and aggressive' Daniel Yeh heads the practice, with his broad knowledge of tender offers and going private transactions. Having been promoted to partner in January 2024, the 'detailed oriented and thoughtful' Shifeng Ni routinely advises on private equity driven M&A transactions and strategic investments. Paul Tang counts private equity firms and their portfolios, and both public and private companies among his diverse client base, often assisting with buyouts and growth capital investment issues, while William Fong remains a key name for cross-border divestitures. Steven Sha is well-placed to advise on the full range of private equity transactions, including PIPEs and joint ventures.

 

Clifford Chance regularly assists a diverse client base of private equity and sovereign wealth funds, and investors notably including L Catterton Asia, Tencent, and PAG. Andrew Crook leads the group, and is noted for his expansive expertise spanning the tech, real estate, and infrastructure sectors. Alex Bidlake joined the firm from Linklaters in January 2024, contributing her vast knowledge of public and private M&A within the energy transition industry. Julie Fu is an expert in Greater China transactions, with a strong focus on private equity investments, routinely assisting both international and Chinese corporates and investors. Bryan Koo is known for his broad expertise in private equity fundraisings and public takeovers.

Goodwin houses a broad offering known for its strength in handling series financings, private equity investments, and take-over transactions. Yash Rana, Douglas Freeman, and Daniel Dusek co-lead the practice. Rana counts corporates and sponsors amongst his client base, often advising on LBOs and management buyouts. Freeman is a key name for cross-border M&A, while Dusek's workload consists of investment, take-private, and joint venture-related mandates. Victor Chen, Edwin Chan, and Chi Pan are key figures within the team known assisting financial sponsors, institutional investors, and corporate clients.

Praised by clients for its 'sheer breadth of expertise', Linklaters is well-equipped to handle privatisation issues and public M&A matters, operating across the real estate, tech, and life sciences sectors.  The 'dependable' Betty Yap leads the team, and is recognised for her longstanding expertise in co-investment and growth capital transactions, often assisting private equity funds. Xiaoxi Lin routinely advises investment fund and corporate clients on a broad range of transactional issues, including outbound acquisitions and LBOs. Wuji Zhang is noted for her broad knowledge of structured investment and exit mandates involving China.

Andrew Whan and Neeraj Budhwani jointly lead the team at Milbank, which is recommended for its expertise in transactions across the Philippines, Vietnam, and India, with take-privates being a key area of strength for the group. Whan is an expert in LBOs, investments, and asset sale transactions within the renewable energy and telecoms sectors, while Budhwani stands out due to his vast knowledge of public to private transactions, regularly advising financial services, healthcare, and fintech clients. Charmaine Yeo is a key contact for clients within the real estate, tech, and power sectors, and is noted for her expertise in cross-border M&A.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Hong Kong's broad offering encompasses investment transactions and M&A. The group routinely advises Asia-based private equity firms and global corporations. Practice head Ian Ho works out of both the Tokyo and Hong Kong offices, and is recommended for his vast knowledge of M&A and investment transactions across the APAC region. Jin Hyuk Park is noted for his strong capabilities in minority investments and capital markets-related work, often assisting strategic clients, while Erik Ping Wang is a key name for PIPE transactions and LBOs, in addition to take-privates.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP‘s diverse offering routinely assists with the full range of private equity mandates, including distressed M&A, spin-offs, and disposals. Following the departure of Tim Gardner in April 2024, Charles Ching has assumed leadership of the practice, dividing his time between Hong Kong and Shanghai. Chris Welty is noted for his broad knowledge, spanning leveraged and managed buyouts and minority investments, with a strong focus on take-private deals, and Sandy Lin handles a broad range of transactions across the TMT, energy, and manufacturing spaces, often assisting clients with cross-border M&A. Jie Yuan is particularly adept at advising private equity sponsors, and both public and private companies within on M&A and direct investments.

The ‘very knowledgeable‘ Derek Poon leads the ‘well-rounded‘ team at Baker McKenzie, which leverages its relationship with Fenxun to handle the full range of private equity issues. Poon is recommended for his vast knowledge of distressed M&A, while Xinxing Chen is noted for advising on LBOs and deals involving Chinese companies. Robert Wright is a key name for leveraged M&A transactions, co-investment mandates, and exits. Vivian Choi routinely assists both Chinese and international corporate and private equity clients with strategic investments and joint ventures.

Routinely assisting a diverse client base of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean clients, the team at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP handles a broad range of private equity matters, including recapitalisations and investments. Miranda So leads the team, and is recommended for her vast knowledge of buyouts, multijurisdictional M&A, and pre-IPO financing work, often assisting Asian companies. Sam Kelso is well-known for his expertise in high-profile transactional matters, while Sam Kelso remains a key contact for corporations and private equity sponsors, with his distinctive focus being South Korean transactions.

The broad offering at Gibson Dunn is noted for representing a varied client list of both international and regional private equity funds and investment managers. Practice co-head Scott Jalowayski is well-known for his vast knowledge of both unleveraged and leveraged control acquisitions and joint ventures. Co-head Brian Schwarzwalder has expansive experience in assisting with LBOs and consortium deals within the tech, manufacturing, and life sciences sectors.

Advising notable clients such as Ascendent Capital Partners, Happiness Capital, and Ally Bridge Group, the team at Morrison & Foerster is active across the life sciences and education sectors. Practice head Marcia Ellis is noted for her specialism in public M&A, buyouts, and disposals and acquisitions. Yilong Luo is recommended for his broad knowledge of privatisations and de-SPAC transactions. Maureen Ho has now left the firm.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison is well-known for handling the full range of private equity-related corporate work for its diverse client roster of funds, sovereign wealth investors, and corporates. Practice co-head Judie Ng Shortell splits her time between Beijing and Hong Kong, and is praised for her exceptional knowledge of private equity investment and cross-border M&A mandates within the retail, education, and TMT sectors. Bosco Yiu is well-placed to advise on privatisations and pre-IPO investments, in addition to Hong Kong takeovers.

The broad offering at Fangda Partners encompasses both public and private buyouts and co-investments; the group regularly acts for both Chinese and international sponsors. Colin Law leads the team with his expertise in tech, healthcare, and biotech transactions, displaying particular expertise in takeovers of public companies. Raymond Chan is a key name for strategic investments, acquisitions, and joint ventures. Tianyi Chen is noted for his broad knowledge of going-private transactions and cross-border M&A, often advising investment banks and corporations.

Noted for its strong focus on the Chinese private equity market, King & Wood Mallesons routinely assists with joint ventures and divestments. Hayden Flinn co-leads the team, and has extensive experience in assisting a broad range of clients, including private equity, infrastructure, and feeder funds. Operating out of Beijing and Hong Kong, practice co-head Helena Huang s an expert in the full spectrum of matters relating to private equity fund formation and investment, while co-head Wen Huang‘s workload consists of cross-border M&A and joint venture-focused mandates.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius houses a broad offering noted for its expertise in co-investment, buyout, and divestment mandates. Maurice Hoo leads the team with his longstanding experience in assisting both international and domestic venture capital and private equity investors on the full range of transactional issues. Qualified in both China and New York, Ning Zhang works out of both the Hong Kong and Beijing offices and specialises in acting for Chinese companies in outbound acquisitions. Connie Cheung has vast knowledge of cross-border retail, healthcare, and tech transactions, regularly representing Chinese and international companies.

The offering at Ropes & Gray LLP routinely leverages its international network to handle the full spectrum of private equity driven transactions for both international and state-owned Chinese clients. Practice head Oliver Nip is noted for his broad expertise spanning joint ventures and co-investments within the Greater China region. Boxin Wang is a key name for outbound investment transactions, often representing corporate clients and private equity houses. Wang is also an expert in regulatory issues surrounding foreign direct investment.

The team at A&O Shearman routinely collaborates with the firm's China and Singapore practices to handle real estate investment mandates. Practice head Li Chen splits her time between Beijing and Hong Kong, often handling China-related investments and M&A within the healthcare and TMT sectors. Lorna Chen is well-known for her experience in fund formation matters and cross-border transactions, in addition to her expertise in international co-investment projects.

Eversheds Sutherland handles a broad range of venture capital and private equity matters, including buyouts. Co-head Roderick Lai is noted for his experience in private equity driven deals, often advising on corporate venture mandates and investments, while Charles Butcher  is a key name for both corporate and private equity clients. Practice co-head Dickson Ng is well-known for his corporate expertise, often advising on both public and private M&A. Tom Van Hoof joined the group from DLA Piper in October 2023.

Mark Cornell and Denise Jong jointly lead the team at Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP, which routinely collaborates with the firm’s Beijing and Shanghai practices. Cornell is an expert in investment fund formation and financing, often advising clients on fund restructuring and cross-border M&A mandates, and Letty Luk is a key name for SFC licensing issues. Jong stands out due to her longstanding experience in assisting with public and private M&A matters across the South East Asia and Greater China regions.

 

Regularly collaborating with the firm’s US, China, and Singapore teams, Sidley Austin is recommended for its strong focus on private equity driven transactions within the life sciences and tech sectors. The group’s workload primarily consists of series financing, investment, and acquisition mandates. Practice head Raymond Oh maintains a broad practice spanning pre-IPO investments and PIPE transactions.

The offering at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP regularly collaborates with the firm’s Shanghai, Beijing, and Singapore practices to assist clients with pre-IPO investments and acquisitions. Jonathan Stone leads the team, and is known for his specialism in M&A. Stone routinely advises clients across the APAC region on take-private transactions and investments.