East Asia - Hong Kong

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

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Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has a dedicated restructuring practice that is renowned for its proficiency across both debtor and creditor-side mandates. Regularly advising credit funds, creditor committees, bondholders, asset investors, and insolvency practitioners, among others, the practice exhibits prowess in both contentious and non-contentious dimensions of insolvency matters. Leveraging the strengths of its comprehensive US restructuring expertise, the team adeptly navigates chapter 11 and chapter 15 intricacies within a multi-jurisdictional context. Illustratively, the practice has notably represented various bondholders in the context of China property development restructuring. Spearheading this accomplished team is Kathleen Aka, a seasoned authority proficient in guiding clients through the complex contours of restructurings spanning an array of industries, from banking and financial services to the retail and property sectors. Supporting Aka is associate Tara Hamilton, who lends her expertise to a spectrum of stakeholders embroiled in distressed scenarios. Hamilton’s advisory scope encompasses a broad spectrum of mandates, spanning informal restructuring of distressed entities, formal in-court insolvencies, and subsequent recovery processes. Recently promoted to counsel, Graham Price has expertise in acting for a range of global and Asia-based clients on sophisticated financings and specialised special situations loans.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Weil's restructuring and insolvency team have an excellent set of lawyers. The team is driven, constructive, solution oriented and commercial.'
  • 'I have worked with Kathleen Aka and Tara Hamilton for many years now and their practice is absolutely top tier.'
  • 'Kathleen Aka is an outstanding restructuring and insolvency lawyer. She is very responsive, practical, dedicated, hands-on and solution oriented. Clients are appreciative of her deep domain knowledge, analytical abilities and overall capabilities.'
  • 'Kathleen Aka is able to navigate commercial and legal situations to find a path forward. For restructuring and insolvency matters in Hong Kong, Kat would be my first point of contact.'
  • 'Commercial, practical and approachable.'
  • 'Kathleen Aka is personable, loyal and gets the job done.'

Key clients

  • Ad hoc group of holders of notes issued by Shimao Group
  • Ad hoc group of holders of notes issued by China Aoyuan Group
  • Kroll

Work highlights

  • Advising the ad hoc group of bondholders in relation to the potential restructuring of more than US$6bn of offshore bond debt issued by Shimao Group.
  • Advising the ad hoc group of bondholders in relation to the restructuring of more than US$3 billion of offshore bond debt issued by China Aoyuan Group.
  • Advising the Receivers and Managers of Smart Edge Limited (a subsidiary of the HK listed Goldin Financial Holdings) in relation to the sale of the Goldin Financial Centre.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Kathleen Aka

Other key lawyers

Tara Hamilton, Graham Price