Kirkland & Ellis International LLP > Beijing, China > Firm Profile

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

China > Dispute resolution: Litigation: foreign firms Tier 1

With an enviable track record in high-stakes disputes, Kirkland & Ellis International LLP's expertise covers the gamut of general commercial and civil claims, along with international arbitration and government and internal investigations. In Shanghai, mainland China litigation practice head Tiana Zhang acts in major litigation concerning fraud, securities law, compliance, anti-corruption, trade secrets, antitrust, data privacy, and US trade control issues; and Yue Qiu routinely represents domestic and international clients from the manufacturing, real estate and chemicals industries in cross-border disputes. Over in Hong Kong, Paul Quinn is ‘one of the most technically-capable solicitors around’; Amy Ngan acts in commercial and insolvency-related disputes; and Fergus Saurin is a multi-jurisdictional litigation specialist. Former partner Kelly Naphtali departed the firm during 2024.

China > Regulatory/compliance: foreign firms Tier 1

Home to experts in corporate investigations and anti-corruption, Kirkland & Ellis International LLP is consistently mandated by global private equity sponsors, asset managers and multinational corporations, as well as Chinese companies facing serious allegations of improper conduct. The team of ‘truly exceptional compliance and investigation lawyers’ is particularly experienced in high-stakes, cross-border government investigations, enforcement actions and civil litigation, as well as related compliance advice. In Shanghai, Tiana Zhang is a specialist in US and China-related crisis management, including compliance issues, and financial fraud and trade secret theft investigations; and Yue Qiu regularly assists with compliance issues and government investigations. Over in Hong Kong, Jodi Wu‘s clients include private equity firms and multinational life sciences companies.

China > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms Tier 1

Leveraging the expertise of its network of offices in Asia, Europe, and the United States, the team at Kirkland & Ellis consistently handles complex financial restructurings, enforcement and litigation strategy, alongside insolvency proceedings. The practice has vast experience in representing domestic and international clients in the real estate, energy, and media sectors, regularly demonstrating strong multi-jurisdictional capabilities. Based out of Hong Kong, Neil McDonald leads the group, specialising in advising bondholders in connection with the restructuring of offshore indebtedness, while Hong Kong-based Wei Yang Lim has notable experience handling restructurings and special situations investment across the region. Fergus Saurin primarily focuses on cross-border commercial and insolvency-related disputes, and Anthony Wijaya stands out for his work with global hedge funds. Former partner Kelly Naphtali departed in 2024.

China > Investment funds: foreign firms Tier 2

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP‘s Hong Kong-based group acts on the gamut of funds work. It handles fund structuring and formation, as well as fund-related restructurings, buyouts, special situations and distressed investments. The practice’s principal advisers are Justin Dolling, who advises on major deals across the investment funds spectrum, including fund structuring and establishment, secondary transactions, restructuring, and refinancing; Carol Liu, a regular adviser on fund structuring, and liquidity and GP solutions; and Jennifer Feng, who is experienced in fundraising, fund establishment, restructuring and carried interest schemes. The team further includes Jamie Hill, who is particularly focused on private equity, credit and real assets, and secondary transactions specialist Michelle Cheh. Damian Jacobs relocated to the firm’s US offices.

China > Private equity: foreign firms Tier 2

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP's ‘top-notch’ China private equity practice has an enviable market reputation for high-end private equity transactions. The practice acts across the full spectrum of private equity work, including buyouts, SPAC transactions and take-privates. It also fields experts in growth capital, joint ventures and disposals. The team is co-led from Hong Kong by Jesse Sheley, an expert in major investments, acquisitions, LBOs and SPACs; and Peng Yu, who ‘has a great problem-solving mindset’ and is experienced in LBOs, take-privates, PIPEs, and growth capital investments. The group further includes high-regarded private equity specialist Gary Li; and Pierre-Luc Arsenault, an adviser on LBOs, minority investments, joint ventures, and special situations-related private equity deals.

China > Banking and finance: foreign firms Tier 3

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP‘s banking and finance team is sought after by private equity sponsors, credit funds, and strategic corporate investors; its focus is on acting on the debtor side and on complex, sponsor-led deals. Team co-head Jacqueline Zheng, in Hong Kong, acts on both onshore and offshore acquisition deals in Greater China. Manas Chandrashekar, co-head, has a practice emphasising acquisition and leveraged financings, including in India and Southeast Asia. Sean Zhang is the key contact in Shanghai, promoted to partner in October 2023.

China > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms Tier 3

Highly regarded for its expert handling of cross-border SPAC and de-SPAC transactions, in conjunction with a strong corporate finance offering, the Kirkland & Ellis International LLP team is renowned for its ‘responsiveness’ and ‘professionalism’. The firm regularly advises on major take-private transactions and sales of shares, with the duo of Joey Chau and Brian Ho spearheading the practice from Hong Kong. Mengyu Lu is knowledgeable on multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions, while Jesse Sheley and Peng Yu predominantly concentrate on the TMT and life sciences spaces. All lawyers mentioned are Hong Kong-based.