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

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. The firm counts Gaw Capital Partners, Kerry Logistics Network and Tyme among its major clients.

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. China Resources Enterprise, Luxshare Precision and Dalian Wanda are three of the firm's key clients.

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. The firm includes Geely Auto, Inspiration Capital Partners and Lego Corporate Finance among its key clients.

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. Blue Ocean Structure Investment, Arcadis and Huntsman are among the firm's key clients.

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. The firm counts Jiangxi State-owned Capital Operation, Xiamen C&D and Chemchina Petrochemical among its major clients.

Shearman & Sterling's M&A department is sought after for its skilled handling of a variety of corporate mandates for an impressive Chinese client base. The team is known for its work acting on privatisations, as well as advising on joint ventures, minority investments and franchising matters. It works closely with its offices in the USA for cross-border mandates. The team is also able to handle transactions in a range of sectors including technology, healthcare, energy and financial services. The firm includes Investcorp, PetroChina and CNODC among its major clients.

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 multinational clients, including AIA, Brunei Investment Agency and Sun Life.

Mayer Brown LLP has a notable corporate team. It 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. The firm includes Sun Hung Kai & Co, Kerry Properties and Principal Financial Group among its major clients.

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 fund-raising entities and investors. The firm includes the Merck, Sequoia Capital and NIO Capital among its key clients.

The notable corporate team at Dechert LLP is able to advise on both inbound and outbound investments involving China. The team is recognised for its handling of M&A deals, privatisations, joint ventures, corporate financings and refinancings. It also acts for an impressive clientele, including clients from the pharmaceutical, financial services and real estate sectors. Its key clients include Nocturne Acquisition, Yue Xiu Enterprises and Yuexiu Transport.

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. CTG Development, AstraZeneca-CICC Capital and Société Générale count among the firm's major clients.

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. The firm counts Ping An Global Voyager Fund, Glory Star New Media and Bending Spoons among its clients.

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. DIC Corporation, Wolfspeed and Taiwan Liposome are among the firm's major clients.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP's M&A group handles high-profile investments from its offices in Beijing and Shanghai, underlining its expertise in TMT-related transactions for private and public listed companies, as well as Chinese SOEs. It is also notable for its experience handling complex cross-border deals in the healthcare sector. The team is regularly involved in cross-border investments and acquisitions by working closely with its international offices in Japan and the USA. The firm counts JD.com, Baidu and Hailiang Education among its major clients.

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.Alibab, Manulife Investment Management and Didi Global are among the firm's key clients.

Pinsent Masons has a promising corporate practice, with a focus on advising SOEs and corporates based in China. The team actively handles inbound and outbound M&A deals, joint ventures, delisting and financing matters. It is sought after by clients from the energy, manufacturing and automotive sectors. The team also advises on IP, compliance, competition and tax legal matters.