A well-established presence in Asia through its Hong Kong and Singapore offices and also noted for its collaborative approach with colleagues through its global network, Maples Group provides ‘responsive, commercial and knowledgeable’ advice on Cayman Isles and BVI laws across a broad range of transactional and litigation work. Under the guidance of Matt Roberts corporate and securities work has always been a strength and despite the relatively difficult economic conditions, the firm continues to pick up a high proportion of capital markets work. As well as Roberts himself, the ’very knowledgeable and experienced’ Derrick Kan also excels in handling issuer HKSE-listed IPOs, both in the context of conventional issuances and SPAC matters. As well as advising on new money mandates, the firm has also been at the forefront of restructuring/insolvency work within the beleaguered Chinese real estate market, with leading litigator Nick Stern picking up both debtor and creditor roles in relation to the three Cayman Islands schemes of arrangement that were implemented by PRC real estate companies in 2022. Aisling Dwyer has also been involved in the aforementioned real estate-related insolvency matters leveraging her wide-ranging litigation skills that are also regularly brought to bear on high-profile shareholder disputes. Open and closed end funds, including hedge funds, private equity and venture capital, real estate and infrastructure funds. Other recommended practitioners include John Trehey, who heads up the overarching dispute resolution and insolvency group in Asia; the ‘fantastic’ Ann Ng for investment fund work; and Josie Ainley in relation to fund formation as well as subsequent downstream transactional work.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
Rising stars
Josie is a partner of Maples and Calder's Funds & Investment Management team in the Maples Group's Hong Kong office. Her practice focuses on investment funds for international clients advising on all aspects relating to the formation and maintenance of both private equity and hedge funds, including extensive regulatory advice. She also has experience in advising on corporate and downstream transactions.
Leading individuals
Aisling is partner of Maples and Calder's Dispute Resolution & Insolvency team at the Maples Group. A barrister by training, Aisling specialises in complex, high value, international cross border litigation and acts in some of Asia's largest offshore corporate, insolvency/restructuring and shareholder disputes. She is an expert in contentious matters and has a particular interest in take-privates, statutory mergers, contentious valuations and schemes of arrangement.
Terence is partner of Maples and Calder's Funds & Investment Management team at the Maples Group. He specialises in investment fund formation and maintenance and has been working in this practice area for over 15 years. His practice covers all types of investment funds, including private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge funds and hybrid funds. His clients include asset management companies, banks, insurance companies, brokers, distributors, professional trustees and fund administrators in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Australia. He is particularly active in advising Chinese fund sponsors on both China inbound and outbound funds given his fluency in Chinese. Terence is recommended by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific. The publication says: "The professional and very diligent Terence Ho is picking up a significant amount of work from PRC fund sponsors, which are appreciative of not only his excellent quality of work but also his ability to speak and write in Cantonese and Mandarin."
Ann is Co-Head of Maples and Calder's Asia Funds & Investment Management teams in Hong Kong and Singapore. Ann focuses on the international investment fund market. She has expertise in the formation, structuring and restructuring of all types of open and closed end funds, including hedge funds, private equity and venture capital, real estate and infrastructure funds. Ann's recent experience includes advising on a number of new investment funds for the largest and most high-profile wealth manager in China, as well as assisting with the launch of multiple investment funds in support of the Belt and Road initiative. Her practice also involves advising a number of international family offices on their strategic investments.
Matt is a partner and Head of Corporate, Asia of the Maples Group. He specialises in advising financial institutions, publicly listed and private companies, asset managers and promoters on mergers and acquisitions, special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), private equity, joint ventures, reorganisations, corporate governance and capital markets (including initial public offerings, secondary offerings and preferred share financings). Matt also has significant experience in advising on the establishment, structuring and restructuring of offshore investment funds at all stages of their life cycle.
John is Head of Maples and Calder's Asia Dispute Resolution & Insolvency team. In addition, he advises on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, banking and general corporate matters. He has a broad international client base comprised of major corporates, financial institutions and insolvency-related officeholders. His expertise covers both Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands law.
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Ann Ng, Matt Roberts, John Trehey