Elizabeth Broomhall In Hong Kong

March 02, 2014 | International Edition

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Shearman & Sterling have snared roles on the upcoming US IPO of Chinese microblogging site, Weibo. News of the hotly anticipated listing emerged last week, with media reports estimating that it would take place in the second quarter of this year and raise around $500m.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

2 minute read

February 27, 2014 | International Edition

Herbert Smith Freehills will not practice local law in Singapore from October this year after not renewing its Qualifying Foreign Law Practice (QFLP) licence. The UK firm was one of six outfits originally permitted to practice local law in 2008 and understood to have been in discussions with the authorities about renewing its licence along with the other firms.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

3 minute read

February 27, 2014 | International Edition

New York firm Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle (Curtis) is to open a Beijing office in March this year, the firm's first base in East Asia. The 300-lawyer outfit, which currently has 15 offices globally, said the Beijing base will initially focus on international trade matters, with a view to launching new practices in the future. Located in the China Life tower in the Chaoyang district of the Chinese capital, it will be led by international trade partners William Barringer and Daniel Porter, alongside two senior associates and two trade analysts, three of whom are Chinese nationals.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

2 minute read

February 26, 2014 | International Edition

Australia's HWL Ebsworth has recruited five new partners to bolster its insurance, commercial and banking practices domestically. The firm is understood to be on a growth drive, having also recruited three insurance partners and twenty lawyers from DLA Piper to join its Sydney office in November, as well as a workplace relations partner from Herbert Smith Freehills and a commercial property partner from Minter Ellison to join its Perth practice in September.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

2 minute read

February 26, 2014 | International Edition

Simpson Thacher Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis are advising as Alibaba looks to acquire digital mapping company AutoNavi in a $1.58bn (£947,000) take-private transaction. Alibaba, which took a 28% stake in the company last year, has offered to pay cash for the shares that it does not own in AutoNavi - currently listed on Nasdaq.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

2 minute read

February 25, 2014 | International Edition

Allen & Gledhill (A&G), one of Singapore's big four law firms, has set up a base in Myanmar. A&G has formed an associate firm, Allen & Gledhill (Myanmar), and opened an office in commercial centre Yangon led by arbitration partner Minn Naing Oo, who is fluent in English, Burmese and Malay.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

2 minute read

February 25, 2014 | International Edition

Japan's largest law firm, Nishimura and Asahi (N&A) has opened an office in Shanghai after receiving approval from the Ministry of Justice in China. The base, located in the Jingan District, will be staffed by two of the firm's Japanese lawyers, finance partner and Chinese business specialist Toshihiro Maeda, and counsel Takashi Nomura who focuses on Chinese IP and M&A work.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

3 minute read

February 25, 2014 | International Edition

Clifford Chance (CC) and Linklaters have landed lead roles on the planned Hong Kong IPO of Harbin Bank, estimated to be worth around $1bn in value. The commercial lender, headquartered in Harbin in the north east of China, is expected to list in the city in the second quarter of this year if it receives approval from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, reports have said.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

2 minute read

February 24, 2014 | International Edition

Bird & Bird has become the latest international law firm to enter Korea after signing a cooperation agreement with Seoul-based outfit Hwang Mok Park (HMP). The non-exclusive partnership will allow the two firms to participate in joint marketing and collaboration of client services, with a view to a more formal merger in the next two to three years.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

4 minute read

February 24, 2014 | International Edition

Gide Loyrette Nouel has advised two Chinese luxury brands on their expansion into France. The firm acted independently for eco-friendly fashion brand ICICLE and jewellery designer TTF, assisting both companies with premises, intellectual property issues and French employment law. Leading for ICICLE was Fan Jiannian in Shanghai, alongside David Boitout and Arnaud Michel in Paris.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

1 minute read