International & Cross-Border Transactions (International Firms) | Global

A&O Shearman is a premier firm with a highly integrated network of international offices, including a solid operation in China with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The team advises on some of the biggest and most complex cross-border deals in the market, and is particularly highlighted as having an edge over many competitors in banking and capital markets work.

Its Chinese offering is also characterised by a prominent project finance team seasoned in infrastructure work. Utilising its comprehensive network of offices, the firm is well equipped to handle cross-border lending and acquisitions for projects in service of the Belt and Road Initiative. 

The firm also boasts a capable disputes practice, spearheaded by a top-ranked international arbitration team in Hong Kong, as well as a capable litigation team with a notable focus on derivatives cases. 

A key player in the Chinese cross-border market with offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, Clifford Chance enjoys a leading reputation for carrying out international work across a full-service range of practice areas. The firm has significant appeal for handling cross-border work because of its impressive global network and remains a popular choice for leading sophisticated international mandates. 

Clifford Chance boasts a formidable transactional offering and is renowned for its peerless expertise in corporate finance, acting for an elite clientele of major international and PRC lenders. The firm also houses market-leading practices in M&A, private equity and capital markets. 

Its disputes practice is spearheaded by a leading litigation team and a strong arbitration offering. The firm is additionally well versed in corporate investigations and is hailed as a significant presence in this arena. 

A distinguished full-service firm, Freshfields is recognised for its international mindset and its ability to coordinate cross-border work. Its impressive Chinese offering consists of offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai, which regularly collaborate across the firm's regional and global network. The firm has outstanding international capabilities and collaborates with offices in its integrated network of top-tier teams across Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Africa. The firm has also established the 'Stronger Together' group of allied firms to serve clients' needs in jurisdictions where collaboration with co-counsel is required. 

Freshfields enjoys a prominent reputation in the Chinese transactional space, which is driven by market-leading M&A and competition practices, alongside strong teams in private equity, banking and capital markets. The firm is highlighted for its work for Chinese clients on outbound cross-border investments into Europe. 

Its China operations also include cross-border disputes, with an active presence in arbitration, litigation and corporate investigations. 

Latham & Watkins is recognised as an excellent option for clients that require counsel on highly complex and multifaceted cross-border matters. The firm provides an impressive, well-integrated team across its global offices and is praised for consistently excelling across multiple practice areas and sectors, while delivering an internationally oriented approach and comprehensive global support. The firm's efficient coordination across its international network is key to its appeal among high-profile multinational corporations, banks and investment funds.

Latham & Watkins' Hong Kong office houses a strong private equity practice, regularly representing regional and international funds in a broad range of transactions. It is noted for its particularly impressive cross-office collaboration with its Singapore colleagues for deals in the Asia-Pacific region. The team is additionally well versed in high-value M&A transactions. Its Chinese offering also features a highly regarded banking team, sought after by large international financial institutions for acquisition finance and syndicated loans. Its transactional expertise is also characterised by an impressive capital markets team, with expertise in IPOs and convertible bonds and frequent instructions from Chinese SOEs and private companies. 

Linklaters is a prominent firm renowned for the quality of its international work throughout its wide-ranging scope of expertise. The firm's distinguished global platform is also noted as a key attraction to clients, extending the firm's reach across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia-Pacific. This includes a long-established presence in China, with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Linklaters' Chinese operations are strengthened by its Shanghai Joint Operation Office with Zhao Sheng Law Firm, enabling the firm to offer PRC advice to all of its international clients. The firm demonstrates a strong sector-focused approach, with an active presence in the financial services, TMT, life sciences, energy and infrastructure sectors.

The firm is frequently instructed by established Chinese and international financial institutions in addition to Hong Kong-listed companies, and also houses a first-rate competition team operating out of Beijing and Hong Kong, well versed in multi-jurisdictional merger control and enforcement matters. The firm also boasts a formidable reputation in the banking arena, with considerable experience in structured finance, leveraged and acquisition finance and syndicated loans. The group is a major presence in the outbound projects and infrastructure space, regularly advising lenders on multi-jurisdictional financing matters. 

Additionally, with an accomplished disputes practice, the firm is regularly sought out by global investment banks and funds for complex finance-related litigation. The team is also noted for its proficiency in cross-border regulatory investigations conducted by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. 

Baker McKenzie offers one of the most expansive and established international footprints in the legal industry, and its global reach is frequently referenced by multinational clients as one of its primary assets. Its China practice comprises a skilled team of lawyers with international and local experience based across Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The offering is bolstered by its joint operation with PRC firm FenXun. Utilising its impressively vast regional and global office network, the firm is well equipped to handle multi-jurisdictional matters. 

Baker McKenzie is an active presence in the transactional space, boasting considerable experience in outbound lending work for PRC clients, notably on real estate and energy-related matters, as well as handling leveraged finance for major PRC banks and international financial institutions. Its transactional offering also includes a strong competition practice, with a focus on compliance, audits and merger control. Further strength across the M&A and dispute resolution spheres frequently sees the firm representing companies in cross-border matters from the PRC and Hong Kong. 

The firm is a growing presence in the disputes arena, with a strengthening litigation practice. Team members are adept at anti-corruption investigations and a broad range of international trade mandates. 

Davis Polk & Wardwell is a New York-headquartered firm with high-end capabilities across the transactional, regulatory and contentious areas. It is set up to serve global clients and project-manage matters from key financial centres - including London, Paris, Beijing and Hong Kong - and to collaborate with selected partner firms in other jurisdictions for local law aspects as required. Primarily serving large banking institutions and corporates, the firm has extensive experience handling sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional M&A, financing and capital markets offerings, as well as running international investigations and disputes. 

Davis Polk & Wardwell is an imposing transactional presence in China, driven by a formidable capital markets team in Hong Kong, boasting leading expertise in cross-border equity, debt and high-yield matters. The firm is additionally well equipped to handle large M&A and private equity transactions for its elite corporate client base. 

Its disputes offering is spearheaded by a top-ranked litigation team which coordinates effectively with the firm's New York and Washington, DC offices for cross-border matters. The group represents a broad range of PRC and international corporates, financial institutions and asset managers in disputes in key jurisdictions across the Asia-Pacific region. It is also sought out by clients for its advice on regulatory enforcement matters and white-collar investigations. 

Skadden is a premium global practice which has built widespread coverage and expertise across regions and areas of law on the foundation of its long-standing, market-leading reputation for US law advice. An excellent presence in key Asian markets also boosts the firm's global offering, boasting particularly solid foundations in China, with offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The firm is a dominant force on international M&A and finance transactions. It also regularly navigates clients through cross-border disputes and investigations as coordinating counsel. 

The firm is highlighted for its work in tandem with its US offices on inbound and outbound cross-border acquisitions, and its competition team provides support on merger control issues out of Hong Kong and Beijing while being bolstered by teams in New York, Washington DC and Brussels. It is also highlighted for its experience advising private equity clients on take-private deals involving US-listed Chinese companies. Its market-leading capital markets offering regularly assists with major US and Hong Kong IPOs and is also recognised for its first-rate high-yield expertise. 

Skadden's China operation also features an international disputes practice, driven by its strength in cross-border investigations and compliance, with particular expertise in cases relating to FCPA and insider trading. The firm is also active in commercial arbitrations across the Asia-Pacific region.

White & Case provides clients with an impressive global platform. The firm handles high-end, complex mandates, building multi-office teams with its expansive network across Asia-Pacific, EMEA, and North and South America. This includes an established base in China, with offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai.

The firm offers experience in high-value cross-border M&A, joint ventures and complex private equity deals. The group is additionally in high demand for its leading expertise in syndicated loans, secured and unsecured credit facilities, and acquisition financing. It also houses a notable contingent of project finance specialists, who leverage the firm's comprehensive global network to advise PRC state-owned entities and large energy multinationals on cross-border investments and international project development.

Morrison Foerster particularly stands out in the market for its grasp of cross-border work between the US and Asian markets, which is driven by the firm's long-standing investment into its technology sector expertise. The firm boasts a particularly established base in China, with offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The firm has a notable transactional offering in China, driven by an impressive private equity practice, which acts for a broad range of Chinese and international investors and businesses. The group readily collaborates with the firm's California offices when handling transactions in the technology and pharmaceutical sectors, and offers additional experience in the equity capital markets space, regularly acting for Hong Kong and other Chinese companies on their IPOs and secondary offerings. 

In addition, the firm's disputes offering in China is increasingly prominent, with noted expertise in cross-border commercial litigation led out of the Hong Kong office. 

Sidley Austin is frequently sought out by international clients for its global sector expertise and strong reputation for advising clients in the financial services, energy, life sciences and biotechnology sectors. The firm attracts ample praise for its ability to join up experts across its platform throughout Europe and Asia, with offices in London, Singapore and China playing a vital role in the firm's international offering. The firm has an impressive ability to handle global transactions, disputes and investigations, enabling it to provide a comprehensive service on sophisticated matters for clients in its key industry groups.  

Sidley Austin has an impressive disputes offering, constituted by a strong arbitration team well versed in cross-border commercial cases concerning China and other parts of the Asia-Pacific region. Proving adept at large-scale, multi-jurisdictional investigations involving the FCPA and other regulations, as well as compliance matters, the firm offers further experience in cross-border litigation, with a notable focus on outbound securities class actions. 

The firm boasts additional transactional capabilities, with active practices in M&A and private equity, and a debt capital markets team with leading expertise in high-yield work. 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is a New York-based firm regularly sought out by major private equity houses and global corporations as a go-to firm for advice on international transactional mandates. Predominantly advising on high-end M&A as well as complex fund formation, financing and cross-border tax matters, its Hong Kong and Beijing offices constitute an impressive transactional offering in China. The offices regularly coordinate with the firm's prominent US teams.  

The standout M&A practice is at the forefront of the firm's transactional operations in China. The team is seasoned in high-stakes cross-border acquisitions, mergers and take-privates, and is routinely instructed by an established roster of global banks, as well as notable PRC corporates. The group's transactional offering is reinforced by its formidable private equity expertise, particularly within the TMT and pharmaceutical sectors. It maintains a very strong reputation for complex and high-value capital markets, regularly advising Hong Kong-listed clients on IPOs and follow-on offerings. Also capable at representing major Mainland China-based entities in outbound deals. 

Ashurst has a network of international offices throughout Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. The firm provides its multinational clients with a targeted full-service offering that is delivered by industry sector specialists assembled in global teams. It has developed an established presence in the Chinese market, coordinated by its Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong offices, providing domestic and international clients with access to inbound and outbound cross-border advice, notably within the transactional sphere. The firm has reinforced its PRC capability by formalising a joint operation with Guantao in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

Ashurst's corporate team, seasoned in cross-border acquisitions and joint ventures, frequently acts for an established roster of Chinese corporates, financial institutions and SOEs. The firm also houses a capital markets team with market-leading expertise in securitisation matters, and it is noted for providing Hong Kong and US law advice to international and PRC banks and corporates. The group is also reputed for its projects and infrastructure strength, with additional experience in cross-border project acquisition and outbound financing work for PRC clients.

A firm frequently endorsed for its geographic reach, DLA Piper is highlighted by sources for delivering an integrated approach to an array of transactional and contentious proceedings. Across its network, the firm has a strong commitment to sector groups and industry-focused expertise, with retail, pharmaceuticals and technology representing key areas of focus. With offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, DLA Piper combines effective PRC office coverage with a useful gateway to the international market.

The firm presents a notable transactional offering in China, including an M&A team that routinely advises PRC and international corporates on inbound and outbound investments. It boasts additional private equity expertise, along with a banking team seasoned in multi-jurisdictional acquisition finance, project finance and syndicated lending. 

The group also has a broad disputes practice that covers cross-border litigation, arbitration and corporate investigations. The firm is highly experienced in working with leading domestic and international names from a host of sectors, including financial services and technology.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is a highly regarded US firm with a cast-iron reputation for its disputes and investigations capabilities on an international platform. Its operation in China consists of offices in Beijing and Hong Kong that service its global and Asia-based clients on cross-border transactions and regulatory matters across the region. It is noted for its ability to coordinate multi-jurisdictional matters for its established multinational client base. 

The firm's Chinese disputes practice is predominantly driven by its market-leading white-collar practice, boasting considerable expertise in internal and government investigations across the region, particularly those pertaining to the US FCPA. In addition to leveraging its peerless US expertise, the firm is able to utilise its extensive global network and in-house language capabilities for document analysis. 

It also houses a noteworthy capability in the transactional sphere, with added expertise in cross-border M&A, private equity, acquisition finance and competition law matters.

Herbert Smith Freehills is an internationally-oriented team that is recognised for coordinating seamlessly across the firm's integrated network of offices. The firm is renowned for its exceptional strength in the Asia-Pacific region, which includes an impressive presence in China. Its Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai offices coordinate regionally and globally, offering domestic and international clients advice across disputes, transactions and projects. The firm offers access to PRC law advice through its joint operation with Herbert Smith Freehills Kewei (FTZ) in Shanghai.

A pre-eminent force in the cross-border disputes space, Herbert Smith Freehills is widely recognised for handling a broad range of international litigation for high-profile clients. It is ever-present in litigation in the financial services sector, shareholder disputes and cases arising from regulatory investigations. The team is further bolstered by a market-leading international arbitration team which is reputed for its expertise in sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional disputes. It also boasts an impressive roster of investigations specialists, so it is well positioned to handle white-collar defence, criminal and regulatory enforcement proceedings and internal compliance. 

In the transactional sphere, the firm is regularly sought out by multinationals and state-owned enterprises for its strength in energy and infrastructure projects. It also houses capable M&A, finance and capital markets teams. 

Hogan Lovells provides an excellent cross-border service for a range of contentious, transactional and regulatory work. Its operations in China are coordinated from offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai, which advise on inbound and outbound transactions. The teams readily coordinate with the firm's London office for multi-jurisdictional work, and the firm's Chinese capability is bolstered by its Shanghai-based joint operation with Fujian Fidelity. Hogan Lovells also leverages its impressively broad global network, regularly collaborating with offices in other key jurisdictions throughout Europe, the USA, the Middle East and Africa. 

The firm is widely recognised for its expertise in international disputes and handles a broad range of contentious matters. Its litigation team is well versed in cross-border shareholder disputes, as well as financial regulatory matters. Housing a proficient international arbitration practice that represents clients in disputes across the Asia-Pacific region, it frequently assists with energy and construction disputes relating to joint ventures and projects. Its disputes expertise further extends to a host of international trade matters, including export controls and economic sanctions, and trade remedy cases. 

The firm is also an active presence in the transactional sphere, driven by its impressive competition team and further bolstered by strong teams in M&A, banking and finance, and ECM. 

Mayer Brown is a full-service global outfit which brings considerable expertise to a broad spectrum of matters. Its offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai service Chinese and international clients, predominantly in international disputes. The firm's outbound investment cross-border capability in China is strengthened by a network of offices located in major financial centres worldwide. 

Its disputes offering is characterised by an impressive litigation team boasting substantial experience in international disputes. Highlighted for its long-established presence in the Hong Kong market, the firm is particularly active in cases concerning the construction and financial services sectors. It also houses a strong and all-encompassing international trade practice, operating in China and across the Asia-Pacific region, which frequently collaborates with global colleagues, notably those in Washington, DC and Singapore. 

Mayer Brown is also capable in the transactional sphere, advising international and Chinese clients on major DCM and hybrid products, as well as high-yield covenants. The Hong Kong corporate team is routinely instructed by leading property developers on real estate transactions in China. The finance team advises domestic and international banks on supply chain, commodities and real estate acquisition finance.

Milbank is an impressive international firm that is best known for its expertise in the projects and energy sector. The firm services an international client base with offices in Beijing and Hong Kong, while it maintains a wider network of offices in the USA, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. 

The firm has a robust transactional offering in China, with expertise across a range of practice areas. The team is adept at handling complex banking and finance matters, as well as high-profile M&A. In addition to this, the team has expertise in private equity and capital markets-related matters, regularly representing an international client base. 

Norton Rose Fulbright has an extensive network of offices distributed throughout North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. The firm is structured in alignment with global industry sectors, which, combined with the geographic spread of its lawyers, makes it a popular choice for global clients seeking a full-service offering. It focuses on building teams with sector-specific multi-jurisdictional expertise to meet the needs of clients with global operations. Its Chinese offering is made up of teams in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. 

The firm delivers an impressively broad transactional offering in Greater China that includes a solid M&A practice which advises SOEs and private PRC clients on domestic and overseas matters, and is also active on cross-border capital markets transactions concerning China and other jurisdictions across South-East Asia. The banking team is well positioned to handle outbound financing and refinancing for international financial institutions across the Asia-Pacific region. It is also active in the oil and gas sector throughout the region, with outbound projects experience in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh as well as South-East Asia. 

Boasting a well-developed disputes offering, with experience in cross-border commercial litigation and cyber fraud cases, the firm utilises its impressive global network to coordinate multi-jurisdictional international arbitration cases. 

Paul Hastings is renowned for its work on complex cross-border issues in the financial sector and corporate governance for large US-headquartered companies and multinationals. It provides concerted international coverage through boots on the ground in key European and Asian markets, which includes an established presence in China, with offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. 

The firm has an active presence in the Chinese transactional sphere, with a skilled corporate team reputed for its expertise in outbound M&A, joint ventures and take-privates. Additionally, Paul Hastings houses a capable private equity practice, which routinely represents Chinese and international private equity houses in cross-border investments, with noted expertise in the real estate sector. It boasts further experience in capital markets matters, including cross-border IPOs for PRC clients, and multi-jurisdictional bond and convertible bond issuances. 

The firm is adept at handling a range of international contentious matters. Its skilled practitioners are experienced in advising clients in corporate investigations, including cases centred on fraud. 

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison is a highly regarded New York-headquartered firm with a strong corporate identity and focus. The firm's typical clients include financial institutions, multinational companies and large private equity houses and asset managers. The firm's own offices connect its US base with a presence in London, China, Tokyo and Toronto, and it is also known to collaborate effectively with high-end firms in other jurisdictions. Its Chinese base consists of strong teams in Beijing and Hong Kong, with a particular focus on cross-border transactions.

The firm's market-leading private equity team is at the forefront of its Chinese transactional offering. It boasts an elite clientele of asset managers and sovereign wealth funds, and frequently advises on high-value investments, M&A and joint venture formation. Acting on inbound and outbound investments in China and across the Asia-Pacific region, the team is highlighted for its leading TMT expertise and is additionally active in the real estate and pharmaceutical sectors.

Ropes & Gray provides an integrated international offering with a strong global focus on investment funds and financial services, life sciences and pharmaceuticals. Key areas of geographic strength include the Asian markets, and Ropes & Gray is often considered a top law firm by US and Asian clients for investments into China and Japan, where the firm can also offer locally-based US law-qualified experts. It is particularly well resourced in China, with offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Housing a well-regarded private equity team, the group is additionally experienced in assisting key Chinese and international corporates with M&A, spin-offs and joint venture formation. Its clientele comprises regional and global private equity funds, in addition to alternative capital investors and sovereign wealth funds. The firm offers further expertise in leveraged and acquisition finance, frequently assisting with take-privates as well as LBOs.

Offices in Beijing and Hong Kong enable Slaughter and May to bring its renowned corporate law expertise to bear for Chinese clients and leading international businesses with operations in China. The firm's stellar cohort of blue-chip corporate clients regularly choose to instruct it as lead counsel on complex cross-border transactions, with an emphasis on transformative M&A deals.

The firm is well positioned to offer expertise in inbound and outbound acquisition finance and syndicated loan transactions, and also houses a well-regarded capital markets team with experience in IPOs, convertible bonds and MTN programmes. The firm's Chinese offices also offer a skilled competition practice, with on-the-ground specialists in Hong Kong and the PRC who regularly advise on the Chinese merger clearance aspects of global transactions. 

Weil, Gotshal & Manges's Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong teams integrate with its far-reaching network of offices, which extends across the USA and Europe. All the firm's offices have a principal focus on advising international banks, large multinational corporations and private equity funds. The firm typically offers strength in cross-border finance, restructuring, high-end M&A and tax across its platform. 

The firm's impressive private equity practice is at the forefront of its international transactional presence in China. The group is highlighted for its expertise in advising US clients on China investments and is also frequently instructed by regional private equity houses. Utilising its impressive global network, Weil is additionally experienced in outbound M&A transactions, notably US-China deals, and the firm is also sought after for inbound and outbound leveraged and acquisition finance.