Kirkland & Ellis > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Kirkland & Ellis > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Capital markets (equity) Tier 1

Kirkland & Ellis maintains a solid roster of New York and locally-qualified practitioners based in Hong Kong, who work closely with PRC-based lawyers to provide a ‘very strong’ service to both issuers and underwriters on Hong Kong listings and follow-on offerings, as well as US IPOs and Rule 144A and Regulation S offerings. Mengyu Lu heads the team from Hong Kong, following David Zhang’s departure in January 2024, and draws upon vast experience assisting Chinese companies go public on the HKSE, including under the relatively newly enacted Rule 18A aimed at helping pre-revenue biotech companies go public. Lu is also one of a number in the team, including Joey Chau and Brian Ho, who have real world expertise of handling mandates under the newly enacted Hong Kong SPAC regime, with all three recently being involved in the first announced de-SPAC transaction since the introduction of the new listing regime in 2022.

Hong Kong > Corporate (including M&A) Tier 1

Joey Chau jointly leads the team at Kirkland & Ellis alongside Brian Ho; the group is known for its vast experience in advising on the full gamut of corporate mattes, including spin-offs, privatisations, and convertible offering-related mandates. Praised by clients for her ‘exceptional ability to think creatively‘, Chau is noted for her strong specialism in public M&A and take-private transactions. Ho is an expert in corporate finance work, particularly in relation to de-SPACs. Jesse Sheley is a key contact for SPAC clients within the tech and financial services sectors, while Peng Yu is recommended for his broad knowledge of the TMT and life sciences sectors, often advising on joint ventures and investments. Nicholas Norris left the firm in January 2024.

Hong Kong > Investment funds Tier 1

Kirkland & Ellis LLP remains very active in the market advising an impressive roster of fund managers, including Ares Management and Forebright Capital, on their Asia-based fund raisings – regularly drawing additional strength from the firm’s huge private equity offering throughout the US. The ‘very rigorous and professional’ Carol Liu has excellent traction among PRC and regional asset managers which she advises on the establishment of funds traversing a range of strategies including buyout, growth capital, venture capital, and private credit. Liu has also been very active of late advising on liquidity solutions for clients in the sector, both on the GP front (in terms of continuation funds) and for LPs, including Cathay Life Insurance which she advised on the $1.2bn sale of limited partner interests in 21 private funds. The vastly experienced Justin Dolling provides very strategic advice to international sponsors and regional fund managers establishing private funds in the region, as well as advising on carried interest and co-investment plans. Jennifer Feng co-heads the team with Dolling and Liu.

Hong Kong > Private equity Tier 1

Kirkland & Ellis houses a ‘capable and diligent‘ practice which is well-equipped to handle exits and acquisitions for special purpose acquisition companies (SPAC), investor and buyer consortiums, and investment firms. Jesse Sheley and Peng Yu jointly head the practice. Sheley is well-known for his deep knowledge of leveraged buyouts (LBO) and M&A, while Yu’s workload consists of a variety of cross-border transactional issues, including growth capital investment mandates. Gary Li is noted for his broad, longstanding expertise, often advising on high-value take-privates and equity investments. Pierre-Luc Arsenault is a key name within the team for joint venture and recapitlisation-related matters.

Hong Kong > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

The practice at Kirkland & Ellis is highly regarded for its specialist knowledge in restructuring the offshore debt of its domestic and international clients, alongside advising on complex global enforcement strategies relating to insolvency. The firm displays extensive cross-border capabilities, often leveraging its network of offices across North America, Europe, and Asia, when advising group holders of offshore notes. Neil McDonald heads the team, routinely assisting with complex restructurings in the real estate space, while Wei-Yang Lim acts for a client-base of major private equity sponsors and portfolio companies. Fergus Saurin concentrates on insolvency-related disputes, and was promoted to partner in October 2023, Anthony Wijaya stands out for his knowledge on cross-border restructurings.

Hong Kong > Banking and finance Tier 2

Counting private equity sponsors, corporate borrowers and credit funds among its key roster of clients, Kirkland & Ellis maintains a robust practice in debt financing, including leveraged and acquisition financing mandates. Manas Chandrashekar and Jacqueline Zheng jointly lead the practice; Chandrashekar advises on acquisition and structured financing matters across the APAC region, while acquisition finance expert Zheng focuses on onshore and offshore acquisition deals in Greater China. Karen Ho, who acts for private equity sponsors on cross-border leveraged finance transactions, is another key contact in the group.

Hong Kong > Regulatory: white-collar, compliance and investigations Tier 3

The 'exceptional' team at Kirkland & Ellis provides an 'incredibly responsive' service from a compliance/advisory and contentious perspective to global and regional investment fund, energy and healthcare entities, in particular, across a wide range of anti-corruption, fraud and bribery matters. As well as handling APAC-related matters, the team is also well-positioned to advise Chinese companies subject to US regulatory scrutiny - where it can resource matters with US-qualified local practitioners and practitioners on the ground in the US. Appreciated for her 'outstanding legal acumen, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering dedication', team head Jodi Wu has been particularly active of late conducting internal investigations for life sciences clients looking into allegations of  embezzlement, sales data manipulation and  self-dealing, inter alia. She also regularly provides anti-corruption advice to private equity clients relating to work throughout the life cycle of activity in APAC, work which is spearheaded by Cori Lable  who still maintains a strong presence in the region despite having relocated to Los Angeles.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: international arbitration Tier 4

Kirkland & Ellis houses a broad practice known for handling the full range of arbitration issues, with a strong focus on private equity and funds-related arbitration. Fergus Saurin leads the team, often advising on capital markets, M&A, and shareholder disputes, as well as banking, and international trade and investment cases. Saurin is supported by Paul Quinn, who handles complex insolvency and fraud cases. Amy Ngan is a key name for cross-border litigation, and Kevin Leung is also a key contact. Kelly Naphtali left the firm in 2024.

China > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms

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 > Dispute resolution: Litigation: foreign firms

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

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 > Investment funds: foreign firms

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

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

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

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.

India > Foreign firms

Highly active on both the contentious and non-contentious sides, Kirkland Ellis handles significant disputes, investigations and corporate matters for global clients active across a diverse array of sectors, from financial services to tech. The practice is spearheaded by four key players: Srinivas Kaushik, who is highly experienced at handling acquisitions and investments, Asheesh Goel, an expert in relation to risk issues and is relied upon by multinational investors and companies for advice, Atif Khawaja, whose realm of expertise lies in commercial disputes, and ‘razor sharp’ Cori Lable, who is noted for her ability to assist with corruption, money laundering, economic sanctions and financial fraud.