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. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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 its 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.

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.

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 its 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 on outbound deals.

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.

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 in 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.

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. 

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, D.C. and Singapore.

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.

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 in 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, Gotshal & Manges 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.