With a vastly experienced team based in Hong Kong and also able to leverage huge resources on the ground on the Mainland, King & Wood Mallesons is particularly skilled at advising buy and sell-side clients across a range of structured finance and derivatives products involving a nexus to China. Drawing upon its strong regulatory and transactional sensibilities, the team has gained plaudits for its ability to provide ‘very competent and practical advice on complex and sophisticated matters, particularly those requiring innovative solutions’. Recognised as the ’premier law firm when it comes to structured products for retail clients in Hong Kong’, the firm advises the majority of issuers in the listed and unlisted market. Leveraging her transactional and regulatory expertise, the ‘very responsive and approachable’ Minny Siu excels in the retail space, including work for clients looking to formulate new products, such as Goldman Sachs on its debut launch of derivative warrants linked to major single US stocks listed on the HKEX. The ’technically very strong yet also commercially driven’ Angus Sip also excels in retail work, as well as regularly advising arrangers and investors in relation to structuring of bespoke structured notes or repackaged transactions across different asset classes. Andrew Fei is noted for his thought leadership and regulatory skill in the area, and as well as advising a myriad market participants on derivatives and structured products is also noted for his work on behalf of industry association International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), including in the context of China netting and collateral opinions. Richard Mazzochi co-heads the team alongside Siu.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'KWM is the premier law firm when it comes to structured products for retail clients in Hong Kong. No one else has the experience and expertise that KWM possess.'
  • 'The experienced team is able to provide very competent and practical advice on complex and sophisticated matters, in particular those requiring innovative solutions.'
  • 'The team masters every detail in the transactions and provides sound advice, not only from a legal perspective but also from market practice.'
  • 'Angus Sip is a very hands-on partner who always goes above and beyond to support his clients around the clock. He is technically very strong yet also  commercially driven and able to step in to manage complex processes involving multiple parties and many moving parts with ease.'
  • 'Angus Sip is one of the best derivative lawyers in HK. He is able to help clients navigate complex legal issues, and is able to give practical guidance.'
  • 'Minny Siu is one of the most renowned practitioners in the HK structured products and derivatives market, she is very responsive and approachable. She consistently demonstrates technical excellence and business acumen.'
  • 'Minny Siu has very impressive experience of structured products in the Hong Kong retail market which allows her to quickly give precise and thoughtful advice. '
  • 'I find Andrew Fei impressive from his work with ISDA. He is able to explain complicated things in a clear manner.'

Key clients

  • The International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.
  • Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association
  • International Capital Market Association
  • J.P. Morgan Structured Products B.V.
  • Goldman Sachs Structured Products (Asia) Ltd.
  • Morgan Stanley
  • UBS
  • Agricultural Bank of China Limited
  • Barclays
  • Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited
  • DBS
  • CNCB (Hong Kong) Investment Limited
  • GF Global Capital Limited
  • Guotai Junan Securities (Hong Kong) Limited
  • ICBC Asia
  • Ping An Bank (Hong Kong SAR branch),
  • Shanghai Pudong Bank (Hong Kong SAR branch)
  • Huaxia Bank (Hong Kong SAR branch)
  • ING Bank N.V.

Work highlights

  • Assisted ISDA and its members in preparing bilingual written responses to a large number of important derivatives regulatory reforms in China over the past 12 months.
  • Advised on new product development, including the launches of listed derivative warrants linked to MSCI China A50 Connect Index and various US stock underlyings, the listed callable bull/bear contracts over various US indices, the development of a new listed structured product called “Inline Warrants”, and a first-in-market SFC authorised unlisted equity linked investment over US stocks in the Hong Kong SAR.
  • Advised Mizuho Bank on complex regulatory issues relating to the offering of sustainability-linked derivatives in the Hong Kong SAR.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Richard Mazzochi, Minny Siu

Other key lawyers

Angus Sip, Andrew Fei, Agnes Chan