Corporate/M&A: Highly Regarded (International Firms) | Greater China Region

Baker McKenzie’s M&A team is well known for its longstanding activity in real estate deals, and also maintains a busy practice in the life sciences, retail, finance and technology industries. The team assists an impressive array of domestic and multinational clients on both inbound and outbound transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and joint ventures. The team regularly leverages its regional and global presence to handle multi-jurisdictional mandates.

Herbert Smith Freehills' solid corporate practice is active on public and private transactions from its Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai offices. Areas of expertise include joint ventures, acquisitions and dispositions. The team is renowned for its expertise in transactions relating to energy, including oil and gas, as well as other highly regulated industries. It also assists clients from the retail, pharmaceutical and TMT sectors. Clients also benefit from the firm's PRC joint operation firm, Kewei.

Norton Rose Fulbright's vibrant corporate practice is well regarded for assisting significant Chinese clients, including major state-owned and privately owned groups, with both domestic and overseas investments. The team is noted for handling big-ticket transactions in the real estate, consumer products and financial services sectors, and offers a broad international practice to energy and logistics clients. It is active on TMT-related transactions, including joint venture arrangements, acquisitions and disposals.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP's corporate team has an outstanding private equity offering and an impressive following among clients in the TMT, pharmaceutical and financial services sectors. It has a widely recognised bench with experience assisting global brands with significant investments in automotive and insurance. Joint ventures and cross-border M&A work are other key areas of focus. The team also advises on investments across the globe, including China, South Korea and Chile-related matters, from the firm's Hong Kong office.

DLA Piper LLP fields an experienced team that regularly acts for Chinese clients on outbound investments into the EU and USA. The team also advises international corporates and PE funds on inbound investments and transactions. The firm is renowned for the strength of its Mainland China offices combined with a notable presence in Hong Kong. DLA Piper is particularly active in the healthcare, insurance and technology industries.

The robust corporate team at King & Wood Mallesons is widely acknowledged for its skills in advising on PRC law issues from its Mainland China and Hong Kong offices, and is a counsel of choice for transactions that involve a substantial Mainland or Australian component. The team is particularly adept at advising on outbound investments, assisting a range of major China corporates and SOEs with transactions in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as Europe and North America. It is active across a wide range of sectors, including significant experience working on transactions in the mining and real estate sectors, as well as financial services.

Reed Smith LLP houses a prominent practice with a seasoned bench of corporate lawyers in its Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai offices. It is capable of advising on the full spectrum of corporate matters, including acquisitions and capital markets deals as well as regulatory compliance issues. The team acts for an impressive roster of Hong Kong-listed companies, advising on both domestic and cross-border transactions, and additionally acts on domestic matters for private and state-owned enterprises. Reed Smith is frequently active for clients in the banking, manufacturing and healthcare sectors.

Sidley Austin LLP's M&A team represents an impressive roster of multinationals in complex, cross-border matters across a range of industry sectors including technology, real estate and healthcare. The team is noted for its track record of handling mergers, acquisitions, disposals and privatisations. Sidley Austin shows great involvement in a number of big-ticket acquisitions involving Chinese and US parties. It frequently acts for PRC real estate developers on high-profile transactions.

Ashurst's solid and respected team remains active on a range of cross-border acquisitions and joint ventures. The firm serves East Asian and South-East Asian clients from its offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. Its client roster includes private and state-owned Chinese corporates as well as multinational conglomerates. The team taps into a strong global network ensuring an extensive transactional offering in a range of sectors including insurance, TMT and manufacturing. Clients also benefit from the firm's Shanghai Joint Operation Office with Guantao Law Firm.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP's corporate department is recognised as a streamlined team harnessing a depth of resources in the USA, alongside a growing Hong Kong-based offering. It maintains a strong focus on work in the insurance sector, advising on cross-border deals for multinational clients. The team boasts an impressive client list including a number of major multinationals.

Eversheds Sutherland's corporate practice advises a wide clientele, from Chinese corporates and SOEs to US investment firms, on joint ventures, acquisitions and sales. The energy, media and technology industries are important areas of focus for the team, which often advises on cross-border investments in these sectors. It also handles a number of acquisitions and investments in Brazil's energy and infrastructure sectors. The team is also active in the logistics and automotive sectors. It maintains a strong roster of international private equity houses, advising on their investments across Asia.

Fangda Partners has an emerging corporate presence in Hong Kong. The firm has an extensive experience handling M&A deals, joint ventures, restructuring, distressed M&A and financing matters. It advises a range of clients, including private corporates, venture capital funds and asset management firms. Fangda also leverages its global network in serving multinational clients.

Johnson Stokes & Master has a notable corporate team which split from Mayer Brown at the end of 2024. The team is well established in the Hong Kong market and noted for its work advising leading REITs on real estate transactions, as well as advising clients in the transportation, insurance and shipping sectors. The team maintains longstanding relationships with a mix of clients, acting for both Chinese corporates and foreign investors from a range of industries including energy and aviation.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has a noteworthy team that utilises the strengths of its Hong Kong and Beijing offices to advise on inbound acquisitions, as well as privatisations and investments. It assists a broad array of clients ranging from real estate companies to sovereign wealth funds and private equity firms. The team also regularly acts on private equity investments for both fundraising entities and investors.

Hogan Lovells' sizeable corporate group in Hong Kong and Mainland China leverages access to the firm's global network. It is especially proficient in working with clients from highly regulated sectors, including automotive, TMT and financial services. The team is particularly proficient in outbound transactions, with notable experience assisting Chinese clients with their investments into US targets. Hogan Lovells also offers additional experience advising US clients on inbound transactions.

K&L Gates's corporate group serves a range of clients including Chinese SOEs and listed enterprises as well as private equity funds on their investments and corporate deals. The team is frequently involved in deals involving clients from the real estate, healthcare and technology sectors. It regularly advises clients on acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures, as well as private equity investments and venture capital transactions.

Ropes & Gray LLP's sophisticated corporate practice assists an enviable roster of domestic clients with outbound investments. It is engaged by key local and international corporates for M&A, sales and joint venture formation. The team is active on large corporate transactions in the technology sector, assisting major multinational conglomerates and financial services companies with their investments. Ropes & Gray ably advises on acquisitions and fundraisings in the TMT sector.