Morgan, Lewis & Bockius > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Capital markets (equity) Tier 3

The ‘experienced’ team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius provides ‘extremely commercial’ and ‘cost effective’ advice to  issuers and underwriters in IPOs, follow on offerings, private investments in public equity (PIPEs), as well as corporate/regulatory work for listed companies. The team, which is led by Edwin Luk, has built up a strong track record over the years advising on education-related IPOs on the HKEX, and has also recently handled work in the sports, life sciences and TMT industries. Other key practitioners include the ‘extremely hardworking and accessible’ Keith Cheung and the ‘very meticulous’ William Ho.

Hong Kong > Capital markets (debt) Tier 4

‘Commercially aware and well attuned to trending topics’, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius has a growing reputation in the market for an issuer-focused client base across a wide array of high yield, investment grade and hybrid offerings, as well as in relation to liability management matters. David Liao has been key to the firm’s recent increased market visibility and is ‘very reliable when it comes to acting as international counsel in bonds issuance under different structures’. In particular, Liao has recently handled numerous high-profile bond issuances with ESG features, including for Science City (Guangzhou) Investment Group on its Regulation S offering of $400m green bonds. Edwin Luk co-heads the overarching capital markets group with Liao, although his focus in on the equity front.

Hong Kong > Corporate (including M&A) Tier 4

The offering at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius maintains a broad practice which is active across the healthcare, tech, and logistics sectors. Working out of both the Beijing and Hong Kong offices, Ning Zhang regularly advises sovereign wealth funds and global financial institutions. Maurice Hoo is well-known for his longstanding experience in assisting both private equity and growth capital investors with restructurings and divestments, and Edwin Luk is well-placed to advise Chinese companies on securities regulation and cross-border M&A.

Hong Kong > Private equity Tier 4

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius houses a broad offering noted for its expertise in co-investment, buyout, and divestment mandates. Maurice Hoo leads the team with his longstanding experience in assisting both international and domestic venture capital and private equity investors on the full range of transactional issues. Qualified in both China and New York, Ning Zhang works out of both the Hong Kong and Beijing offices and specialises in acting for Chinese companies in outbound acquisitions. Connie Cheung has vast knowledge of cross-border retail, healthcare, and tech transactions, regularly representing Chinese and international companies.

China > TMT: foreign firms Tier 3

TMT matters at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP are handled by partners in IP, corporate, and M&A practices across mainland China, Hong Kong, and the United States. The team advises on TMT transactions, IPOs and M&A involving technology and financial institutions. Team head Maurice Hoo sits in Hong Kong and leads on private equity transactions, while co-leader Shaobin Zhu splits his time between Shenzhen and Silicon Valley, focusing on assisting domestic clients in IP and TMT issues. Co-head Ning Zhang handles cross-border transactions from Hong Kong and Beijing.

China > Corporate and M&A: foreign firms

Demonstrating considerable activity in the public and private M&A spheres, the Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP team leverages its specialist lawyers in capital markets, employment and antitrust issues to deliver bespoke advice to Chinese and international entities. Based out of both Hong Kong and Beijing, the duo of Edwin Luk and Ning Zhang co-head the firm’s Mainland China offering, each specialising in cross-border corporate transactions and regulatory compliance issues. From Shanghai, Alex Wang primarily focuses on the real estate, and TMT fields, whilst Connie Cheung concentrates on investments and divestments from the firm's Hong Kong office.

China > Life sciences and healthcare: foreign firms

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP’s China life sciences team covers research, development, regulatory approvals, marketing, fraud, product liability, and IP litigation. It also assists with licensing, transactions, outsourcing, and investigations. Working across Beijing and Hong Kong, Ning Zhang is a cross-border transactions expert; Beijing and Tokyo-based Lesli Ligorner advises life sciences companies on labour and employment matters; Maurice Hoo heads the corporate, M&A and private equity practice in Hong Kong; and Todd Liao, who works across Shanghai and Boston, advises life science sector clients on a range of issues.

China > Private equity: foreign firms

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP operates across several key industries, ranging from education, life sciences and medical devices, to energy, financial services, food, media, entertainment and technology. The team assists with the full range of private equity transactions, including buyouts, add-ons and co-investments, as well as dispositions and other exits. Private equity specialist Maurice Hoo leads the China-based group from Hong Kong; while dual-qualified (New York and China) Ning Zhang advises on cross-border transactions in both Hong Kong and the US.