Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Number of lawyers worldwide: Approximately 650
Asia Pacific Offices: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo
International Offices: Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, London, New York, Washington DC


Firm Overview:
Debevoise & Plimpton is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. The firm’s clients look to them to bring a distinctively high degree of quality, intensity and creativity to resolve legal challenges effectively and cost efficiently.

Deep partner commitment, industry expertise and a strategic approach enable the firm to bring clear commercial judgment to every matter. The firm draws on the strength of their culture and structure to deliver the best of the firm to every client through true collaboration.

Approximately 650 lawyers work in nine offices across three continents, within integrated global practices, serving clients around the world. The firm’s lawyers prioritise developing a deep understanding of the business of their clients. They then pursue each matter with both intensity and creativity to achieve optimal results.

Main Areas of Practice:

Debevoise & Plimpton’s Asia team, based in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo is made up of experienced international corporate lawyers and litigators. In Hong Kong, the firm is established as a local practice, meaning it is able to provide local law advice alongside the international advice provided by its US and English law qualified team. Debevoise’s local knowledge and experience, together with approximately 650 lawyers in Asia, Europe and the United States, enables it to assist and guide clients in the Asia Pacific region and elsewhere throughout the world.

M&A in Asia:
As an integral part of the firm’s leading global practice, the Asia-based M&A lawyers are fluent in domestic and international acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and strategic investments. The team has a particular focus on advising national and international insurers and other financial institutions. It has a strong track record and deep knowledge of these sectors.

Private Equity in Asia:
As the only firm to couple fund formation capacity in Asia, Europe and the US with an internationally acclaimed private equity transaction practice, Debevoise is uniquely qualified to assist clients in navigating the complex issues surrounding fund formations, downstream investments and exits. The team has guided clients through many sophisticated private equity fund formations and investments throughout the Asia-Pacific region, representing sponsors, investors and target companies.

Litigation in Asia:
Debevoise lawyers have been active in Asia for many years representing clients in international arbitrations and corporate investigations and defense matters.

Debevoise’s Hong Kong-based Asian litigation practice is led by the Chair of European and Asian Litigation, Lord Peter Goldsmith, QC. The team also includes Mark Johnson, who has long been ranked as a top-tier advisor for regulatory and dispute resolution matters in Hong Kong. Mark Johnson has over 25 years’ experience representing clients in High Court litigation and is supported by the firm’s team of Hong Kong qualified lawyers, many of whom also have substantial experience in commercial litigation in the United States.

The team represents clients on a wide variety of international dispute resolution, white collar and regulatory defence matters, Hong Kong regulatory matters and High Court litigation, as well as working with Debevoise’s litigators world-wide on US, UK and European litigation involving the full range of commercial disputes.