Kirkland & Ellis
Client SatisfactionThe 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.
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Key clients
- Ad hoc group of holders of the USD-denominated senior notes and HKD-denominated convertible bonds issued and/or guaranteed by Country Garden Holdings Company Limited and its subsidiaries.
- Ad hoc group of holders of the offshore notes issued/guaranteed by China Evergrande Group and/or its subsidiaries.
- Ad hoc group of holders of the senior notes issued by KWG Group Holdings Limited.
- Ad hoc group of holders of certain public offshore notes and other offshore financial indebtedness issued and/or guaranteed by Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. or its subsidiaries.
- Ad hoc group of holders of the offshore notes and perpetual securities issued by CIFI Holdings (Group) Co. Ltd.
- Ad hoc group of holders of the offshore notes issued or guaranteed by Yuzhou Group Holdings Company Limited
- Ad hoc group of holders of US$1.35 billion offshore notes issued by China South City Holdings Limited (HKSE: 1668)
- Ad hoc group of holders of the US$350 million zero coupon convertible bonds due 2026 issued by Tequ Mayflower Limited and guaranteed by Hope Education Group Co., Ltd.
- Ad hoc group of offshore bondholders in restructuring and enforcement actions in respect of US$275,000,000 9.875% Senior Notes due 2022 issued by Hong Seng Limited and guaranteed by Hong Yang Group Company Limited.
- Ad hoc group of holders of the offshore notes issued by Fantasia Holdings Group Co., Limited.
- Sapura Energy Berhad and its subsidiaries
- Lenders under the approximately US$500 million senior and junior facility borrowed by PT Visi Media Asia Tbk, a leading Indonesia listed and based media convergence company
- Lenders under the US$1.2 billion term loan facility borrowed by BYJU’s Alpha Inc and guaranteed by, among others, Think & Learn Pvt Ltd
- Certain bondholders in connection with the restructuring of VNET’s indebtedness.
- Top-tier sponsor backed telecom tower infrastructure group in Myanmar
- Ad hoc committee of holders of the US$450,000,000 6% notes due 2020 issued by Unigroup International Holdings Ltd. and guaranteed by Tsinghua Unigroup International Co., Ltd. with benefit of a keepwell deed provided by Tsinghua Unigroup Co. Ltd.
- Ad hoc committee of holders of certain tranches of bonds including US$350,000,000 5.25% guaranteed bonds due 2018 issued by certain subsidiary of China Energy Reserve and Chemicals Group Company Ltd.
- Bain Capital Special Situations
Work highlights
- Advising an ad hoc group of holders of USD-denominated senior notes and HKD-denominated convertible bonds issued and/or guaranteed by Country Garden Holdings Company Limited in connection with the restructuring of its offshore indebtedness which is in excess of US$32.27 billion (including US$10.55 billion in the aggregate principal amount of the offshore notes).
- Advising US$1.2 billion syndicated lenders of BYJU’s, an Indian edtech firm which once counted among the world’s most valuable startups with US$22 billion valuation with respect to global enforcement strategy spanning from India insolvency process, US Chapter 11, Singapore receivership and multiple litigation proceedings worldwide.
- Advised an ad hoc group of holders of senior notes issued and/or guaranteed by China Evergrande Group in connection with the restructuring of its offshore indebtedness in excess of US$36 billion (including US$19 billion in aggregate principal amount of the offshore notes).
Lawyers
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Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Neil McDonald