Corporate/M&A: The Elite (International Firms) | Greater China Region

Clifford Chance LLP has an exceptional corporate practice that houses an impressive bench of high-quality lawyers. The strong outbound practice has additional support available through its well-resourced and coordinated regional and global networks across the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. The team capably advises international clients on inbound transactions, including advice on acquisitions, joint ventures and equity investments. The financial services sector remains a key focus, with the team often advising on high-value transactions in this area, in addition to being active on insurance and energy deals. Clients benefit from the firm's notable antitrust capability in China. The firm counts Fujian Highsun Engineering Plastics, Sheares Healthcare Management and Plastic Omnium New Energies among its key clients.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer houses an outstanding cross-border M&A team which is sought after by prominent clients from a range of industries including finance, technology, and oil and gas. It is also instructed by Chinese SOEs on their regional investments. The team often acts on the most complex and high-profile transactions, offering an extensive bench of senior practitioners lauded by peers and clients alike. It effectively leverages its global coverage to advise on matters involving jurisdictions as diverse as France, Germany, the USA, Indonesia and Singapore. The firm can boast Volkswagen, Danone and CPP Investments among its key clients.

Kirkland & Ellis's corporate department has significant expertise in private M&A and its esteemed bench represents clients in global investments. The team is able to leverage its national footprint, with offices based in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai. It is often mandated by leading international private equity houses to advise on their inbound Chinese investments. The team also provides a well-established public M&A practice acting for corporates and investors on disposals and take-privates. It has a large volume of domestic clients from a wide variety of industries, including life sciences and financial services. Kirkland & Ellis is frequently complimented on its bench strength and ability to work with its US offices on cross-border deals. Alkegen, Voyager Innovations and Power Heritage are among the firm's major clients.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP's M&A juggernaut continues to operate at the forefront of the market. Its bench of experienced practitioners makes it well equipped to advise on the highest-value M&A matters. It has an enviable roster of Chinese clients, especially leading TMT companies, as well as retail and biotech clients and US public companies. The team acts closely with its US offices on cross-border acquisitions, with clients also benefiting from its market-leading US-based CFIUS practice. The firm includes Lotus Technology, ECARX and Prenetics among its key clients.

Latham & Watkins LLP's corporate practice is recognised for its work on high-profile transactions and regularly assists major Chinese clients with regional and global investments. The team has the ability to marshal teams across the globe to provide a well-rounded offering. It is well equipped to handle cross-border M&A, both inbound and outbound, including matters relating to Asia-Pacific jurisdictions such as South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Thailand as well as the USA. The team increasingly handles deals involving clients from the private equity and technology sectors. Trustar Capital, China Jinmao and Platinum Equity are among the firm's key clients.

Linklaters' impressive corporate team is particularly commended for its work handling transactions in the financial services and insurance sectors. Private equity work is also a key focus of the firm. The team is able to draw on the resources of its other departments, including its notable finance and antitrust group. Clients benefit from the firm's impressive regional network of offices, including its Shanghai Joint Operation Office with Zhao Sheng Law Firm. The firm counts HSBC, the Bank of East Asia and FWD Group among its key clients.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP has an accomplished team that works on high-value acquisitions, mergers and financings. The practice is bolstered by its exceptional private equity capabilities. The firm's impressive client roster consists of international PE houses and prominent listed corporates, including Baring Private Equity, Primavera Capital Group and New Frontier Health. The team is especially strong in its handling of healthcare and TMT transactions. It frequently cooperates with its overseas offices to offer clients globally coordinated advice on major cross-border transactions, often working with the US and Japan offices.

Slaughter and May houses a stellar bench of corporate lawyers with an established reputation for public M&A. The team demonstrates sophisticated capabilities in representing an impressive clientele, spanning Hong Kong and PRC corporates and multinational companies. It is active for clients across the TMT, financial services, logistics, energy and insurance sectors. The firm includesINEOS, Swire Beverages and Alibaba among its key clients.

A&O Shearman has a robust corporate practice which serves leading multinationals and PRC corporates, including Maersk, BMW and Wagas. The team often acts for clients within the retail, chemicals and finance spheres and is active in the energy sector. It is sought after for its expertise in cross-border matters, frequently assisting on cross-border joint ventures as well as investments and disposals. Clients benefit from the firm's extensive global network, including an impressive regional footprint in South-East Asia as well as a market-leading offering in Europe. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP's dynamic corporate team maintains a stellar record of handling major M&A transactions and is experienced in representing heavyweight corporates. The team also boasts a significant private equity and venture capital practice. It often works in conjunction with its US offices to handle large cross-border mandates. The firm's client roster is composed of multinational organisations, Chinese private-owned enterprises and Hong Kong-listed companies. The team is well suited to handle transactions relating to the life sciences and TMT sectors. The firm counts China Resources Beer, Tencent and Esco Lifesciences among its major clients.

Morrison Foerster's corporate department boasts a significant M&A clientele, including corporate heavyweights such as Alibaba Group and Amperex Technology. Key areas of focus include cross-border private equity investments in retail and energy, de-SPAC transactions as well as setting up joint ventures. The team is active across the region in jurisdictions such as Singapore and Japan. It is also active in the technology and life sciences sectors. SoftBank, Silver Crest Acquisition and Amperex Technology are all clients of the team.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP's multifaceted corporate team undertakes sizeable corporate mandates across a range of industry sectors, particularly TMT and financial services. The team has an exemplary track record of representing financial advisers in high-value take-privates. The team handles complex cross-border transactions across the Asia-Pacific region, including private equity investments and venture capital financings, joint ventures and strategic partnerships and acquisitions. Recruit, AcBel Polytech and Foxconn Interconnect Technology are among the firm's major clients.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's versatile corporate group is recognised for its deft handling of a range of transactional mandates, including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and strategic partnerships. Its outbound work is a specialism, particularly US-China deals, where the team works closely with its international network. The team is especially proficient in deals involving leveraged financing and private equity, and is frequently sought out for privatisations. It is particularly active on transactions relating to the healthcare and TMT sectors. The firm includes Baring Private Equity, Advent International and MGM Resorts among its key clients.

White & Case LLP houses a proficient M&A team, advising clients on the financial services, energy and technology sectors on cross-border investment and regulatory issues. It is capable of handling the full range of corporate matters, including high-value cross-border M&A and joint ventures, as well as corporate restructurings and private equity investments. The team benefits from the firm's pre-eminent US-based CFIUS experts. China Molybdenum, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Creative Artists Agency are among the firm's major clients.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP's respected M&A practice is well regarded for serving a diverse client base featuring key names in the telecommunications, manufacturing and technology sectors. It is frequently sought by Nasdaq and Hong Kong-listed companies as well as leading private equity funds. The team also has a broad array of high-value work, including restructurings, acquisitions and dispositions, as well as joint venture agreements and private equity investments. CPE Advisors, Huamao Property and Special Committee of China Index are among the firm's major clients.

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 China offices. The firm includes DCP Capital and The Carlyle Group among its key clients.