Banking & Finance (International Firms)
Greater China Region Guide 2025 : China
Band 4
About
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills
At Herbert Smith Freehills, our China finance group advises leading financial institutions and corporates on a broad range of debt, structured finance and restructuring transactions, acting for both borrowers and lenders (including export credit agencies). The finance group covers all forms of debt finance, including structured financings (including all types of pre and post-IPO financings), asset-based finance, commercial bank lending, project financing, debt capital markets and off-balance sheet financing techniques.
Our China finance team are highly experienced in advising on complex cross-border financing transactions, including preparation of documents, negotiation and liaising with local legal counsel. The team has Mandarin, Cantonese and English language capabilities, offering an integrated seamless service to regional and global lenders, borrowers, advisers and other intermediaries in China and globally.
The finance team of Herbert Smith Freehills advise these players regularly on all forms of financings including real estate finance, trade finance, pre-exporting finance, acquisition and leveraged finance, corporate finance, restructuring and special situations, Islamic finance, energy finance, project finance, and asset and aviation finance. Clients value the perspective we bring to deals based on our extensive experience, our strong transaction management and our ability to handle demanding structuring issues.
Chambers Review
The established banking and finance practice of Herbert Smith Freehills maintains strong relationships with Chinese banks and financial institutions for outbound financing work. The law firm regularly acts for the Hong Kong subsidiaries of Chinese banks on lending into the wider region, including the Pacific area and South America, and is an established choice of counsel among international and regional lenders. The practice maintains a flow of work on term loan facilities and loan restructuring and is also experienced in handling syndicated lending, project and trade finance.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Whenever I work with them, I always have good experiences."
"Whenever I work with them, I always have good experiences."
Notable Practitioners
Alexander Aitken is an established lawyer who leads Herbert Smith Freehills' Asian finance team and is active in both Chinese and Indian financial markets. He has significant expertise in outbound matters relating to trade and project financing.
"He is definitely a seasoned lawyer who has been around in the market for a while."
"He is technically strong."
Ranked Lawyers at
Herbert Smith Freehills
China
Members
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills
Industries
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills
Financial Investors
Financial Services
Property, Construction and Infrastructure