Tag: M&A
OS Law assists Gunkul on Asia’s largest floating solar project
Ocampo & Suralvo Law Offices advises Gunkul Engineering on a deal to develop Asia’s largest floating solar project on Laguna Lake in the Philippines
China’s CTI buys Singapore’s Ugene Laboratory Services
Shook Lin & Bok and BR Law Corporation advise on Centre Testing International Group’s 100% acquisition of Ugene Laboratory Services
YKVN, Shin & Kim drive Phat Dat’s USD291m Lotte Properties buy
YKVN and Shin & Kim assist on Phat Dat Real Estate Development Corporation’s (PDR) 35% purchase in South Korea’s Lotte Properties HCMC
Indonesia’s AHP powers Indosat, Lintasarta’s launch of IFT
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners advises Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Aplikanusa Lintasarta on establishing Infra Fiber Teknologi that will operate an 86,000 kilometre fibre optic network
KKR, SK launch Korea’s largest renewable energy platform
Firms assist on the launch of South Korea’s largest renewable energy platform by KKR and SK Group, which is valued at KRW2 trillion (USD1.3 billion)
AHP steers Bank Tabungan Negara’s pension loan portfolio buy
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners advises Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) on acquiring Bank SMBC Indonesia’s pension loan portfolio for a reported IDR19.9 trillion (USD1.1 billion)
New global law firm Novara launches with four offices
Newly established global law firm Novara officially launches with the opening of offices in Singapore, Tokyo, London and New York
Indonesia’s Arianto & Partners launches Japan desk
Arianto & Partners establishes a dedicated Japan desk and is open to collaborating with Japanese firms
Clyde & Co adds ex-KWM Asean energy, infrastructure co-head
Clyde & Co expands its Asia-Pacific energy and construction practice with David Phua’s addition in Singapore
Firms act on USD5.6bn global aluminium portfolio sale
Mallesons, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, and Ashurst Perkins Coie advise on South32’s sale of its global aluminium portfolio to Alcoa Corporation
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu to launch Silicon Valley office
Japanese law firm Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu will grow its US presence with the launch of a Silicon Valley office in August 2026
BKL, Kim & Chang steer USD326m Korean biodiesel acquisition
Bae Kim & Lee and Kim & Chang advise on KRW500 billion (USD326 million) acquisition of Daekyung O&T, Korea’s largest biodiesel feedstock producer
LHAG hires three from Zaid Ibrahim & Co, including former MP
Malaysia’s Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill (LHAG) recruits three lawyers from Zaid Ibrahim & Co, including former managing partner Amin Abdul Majid
Kotak Mahindra to buy Deutsche’s India’s banking business
Firms are advising on Deutsche Bank’s sale of its retail, private banking and wealth management business in India to Kotak Mahindra
Kudun hires technology team head, launches antitrust practice
Kudun and Partners appoints Nopparat Lalitkomon, as head of its technology and data team, and Piyapat Tubin to lead the new antitrust practice
CPPIB in strategic CAD1bn Indian data centre partnership
Firms counsel on Canada Pension Plan Investment Board’s strategic CAD1 billion partnership with India’s CtrlS Datacenters
HHP Law Firm appoints Ponti Partogi as new managing partner
HHP Law Firm, the Indonesian member firm of Baker McKenzie, names Ponti Partogi as its new managing partner
Gagan Kathuria joins AnantLaw as corporate M&A partner
AnantLaw recruits Gagan Kathuria as a partner in its corporate M&A practice and will be based in the New Delhi office
OS Law onboards commercial and transactions partner
Philippines law firm Ocampo & Suralvo Law Office strengthens corporate and M&A team with partner Lyra Flores-Bisnar’s arrival
Green Channel Route: Gains and predictability
In India’s green channel route, binary deemed approvals are strained by affiliate overlaps, needing de minimis guidance
Taking the Pune advantage
Pune a balanced hub for investment, manufacturing, technology, GCCs and compliant market entry strategies
BKL wins mandate to advise Korea’s financially strained Sambu
Bae Kim & Lee (BKL) is the sole legal adviser working on Sambu Engineering & Construction’s corporate rehabilitation proceedings in South Korea
Latham & Watkins charts USD386m Changi Airport hotel purchase
Latham & Watkins guides Japan’s Tokyo Century Corporation on its joint venture with Singapore’s OUE to acquire the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
Prateek Bhandari boosts SAM’s infrastructure & project finance
Prateek Bhandari joins Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co as a New Delhi partner in the firm’s infrastructure, energy and project finance practice
Freshfields acts on DFS’ Okinawa travel retail business sale
Freshfields advises DFS Holdings on the sale of its DFS Okinawa travel retail business to Switzerland’s Avolta for an undisclosed sum.
Baker McKenzie steers Mitsui Chemicals’ USD900m acquisition
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise) has advised Tokyo-headquartered Mitsui Chemicals on its USD900 million acquisition of US-based Ultradent Products
Indonesia’s Dentons HPRP launches China desk to back growth
Dentons HPRP, the global law firm’s Indonesian arm, establishes a China desk to support business opportunities
Firms fire up on Yum! Brands’ USD2.7bn Pizza Hut sale
Yum! Brands sells Pizza Hut business to Yum China and LongRange Capital, within and outside the Chinese mainland, respectively
Freshfields guides USD850m Interplex Datacom sale to BizLink
Freshfields assists Blackstone on the sale of Singapore-headquartered Interplex Datacom to Taiwan-based BizLink Holding for USD850 million
Adnan Sundra & Low beefs up M&A practice with new partner
Adnan Sundra & Low recruits partner Wong Mei Ying, strengthening the Malaysian law firm’s M&A and equity capital markets practices
Shihui opens HK office in association with HM Chan & Co
Shihui Partners launches a Hong Kong office in association with local peer HM Chan & Co, marking the Chinese mainland firm’s fourth branch
Jones Day appoints OpenAI secondee as of counsel in Tokyo
Jones Day strengthens its corporate practice in Tokyo with the appointment of Daigo Takahashi as of counsel
White & Case lands M&A partners from Freshfields in Tokyo
White & Case beefs up its global M&A practice in Tokyo with the addition of partners Noah Carr and Gordon Palmquist
Allens acts on BGH Capital’s USD1.6bn APAC pharma purchase
Allens advises BGH Capital on its AUD2.37 billion (USD1.6 billion) acquisition of Aspen Pharmacare’s Asia-Pacific business
Tilleke & Gibbins brings in employment partner in Thailand
Tilleke & Gibbins appoints Chanakarn Boonyasith as a partner at its Bangkok office, strengthening the employment practice
K&L Gates appoints corporate and M&A partner in Hong Kong
Dechert’s former China practice head Wang Yang joins K&L Gates in Hong Kong as a partner
HSF Kramer hires ex-Nishimura & Asahi partner in Tokyo
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer bolsters corporate practice in Tokyo with the addition of partner James Campbell
Clifford Chance acts on Japanese animal health JV Ceva Bussan
Clifford Chance advises Mitsui & Co on a deal with French multinational Ceva Santé Animale to establish Japanese joint venture Ceva Bussan Animal Health
Beating burnout
The hours are brutal and the stakes are high. So what keeps elite lawyers balanced and able to carry on?
Firms act on Jardine Matheson’s AUD3.4bn purchase of I-MED
Allens, Linklaters, Mallesons, Chapman Tripp and Cooley advise on Jardine Matheson’s AUD3.4 billion acquisition of I MED Radiology Network
MinterEllison drives USD3.8bn steelmaking coal portfolio sale
MinterEllison counsels mining giant Anglo American’s USD3.8 billion sale of its Australian steelmaking coal portfolio to UK-registered peer Dhilmar
AllBright and Jingtian & Gongcheng steer SMIC RMB40.6bn M&A
SMIC’s planned RMB40.6 billion acquisition of subsidiary SMIC Northern is the largest restructuring on the Star Market to date
Allen & Gledhill appoints head of China practice
Allen & Gledhill appoints Wang Xin partner to lead China practice in Shanghai, strengthening M&A
Jipyong, Kudun steer Korean beauty company’s Thailand entry
Jipyong and Kudun and Partners advise RIMAN’s Thailand entry, managing licensing, regulation and compliance strategy
Firms drive ENEOS’ USD2.1bn multijurisdictional Chevron deal
ENEOS acquires Chevron Asia-Pacific downstream fuels and lubricants assets for JPY336 billion, pending 2027 approvals
KICA, JILA deepen cross-border legal ties in Tokyo exchange
KICA and JILA strengthen cross-border collaboration at a joint legal exchange event in Tokyo
LPA Tokyo boosts corporate, M&A with new partner
LPA Tokyo hires partner Yoshiki Tsurumaki from King & Wood to boost corporate and M&A
Hogan Lovells, Freshfields assist Brookfield’s WFC purchase
Hogan Lovells and Freshfields advise on Brookfield’s acquisition of World Freight Company
Allen & Gledhill launches two new practices in Singapore
Allen & Gledhill establishes two new practices – technology disputes, and healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceuticals
Drew & Napier acts on Payward’s USD600m acquisition of Reap
Drew & Napier assists digital asset platform Payward on its USD600 million acquisition of Hong Kong-based fintech Reap
HSF Kramer, Oh-Ebashi steer JV and airline catering buy
Firms serve Kobe Bussan and Gourmet Kineya on their Meal Hub joint venture and airline catering business acquisition
Hong Kong-based partner joins Italian firm Gianni & Origoni
Italian law firm Gianni & Origoni appoints Hong Kong-based partner Teresa Lee
Dechert hires two partners, including ex-Milbank Seoul MP
Dechert appoints two partners from Milbank – David Cho, ex-managing partner of the Seoul office, and special counsel Min Kim
Australia’s Corrs, Mallesons act on Vault-Regis gold merger
Firms advise on Vault Minerals and Regis Resources merger to establish a new Australian Securities Exchange-listed gold company
Global Vietnam Lawyers unveils new partner, Hanoi office head
Global Vietnam Lawyers names Le Phuong Dang as a partner and head of its Hanoi office, effective 4 May 2026
Mallesons unveils Mark McNamara as new chair
Mallesons appoints Mark McNamara as the firm’s new chair, effective 30 June 2026, succeeding David Friedlander
Pinsent Masons names pair to co-lead Singapore joint venture
Pinsent Masons appoints partners Chen Han Toh and Nicholas Hanna as co-heads of the firm’s Singapore joint law venture, Pinsent Masons MPillay
Makarim & Taira S names Vincent Lie as managing partner
Indonesian law firm Makarim & Taira S appoints Vincent Lie as its new managing partner, effective 1 May 2026
MinterEllison steers Queensland gold exploration joint venture
MinterEllison has advised Sumitomo Metal Mining Oceania, the Australian subsidiary of Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining
Nishimura & Asahi acts on Nippon Seiki’s USD312m Toyodenso buy
Nishimura & Asahi advises on Japanese automotive instrument manufacturer Nippon Seiki’s JPY49.8 billion (USD312 million) Toyodenso share buy
Firms act on Huixing’s German knitting machinery acquisition
Fujian-based knitting machinery leader Huixing Machine completes the acquisition of the core business of 120-year-old German counterpart Mayer & Cie
Walkers, Baker McKenzie guide USD1.9bn Singapore tower buy
Walkers and Baker McKenzie advise on Malaysian developer IOI Properties Group’s SGD2.5 billion (USD1.9 billion) Singapore tower buy
Ashurst ADTLaw drives USD3bn Singapore real estate buy
Ashurst ADTLaw advises CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT) on its SGD3.9 billion (USD3 billion) acquisition of Paragon
Mori Hamada guides Hitachi’s USD690m reorganisation
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto advises Hitachi Global Life Solutions on the JPY110 billion reorganisation of its home appliance business
AJ & Co adds ex-Rouse Lawyers director as a partner
AJ & Co appoints Rouse Lawyers founder's brother as a partner in its corporate advisory team in Brisbane
Baker McKenzie, Gibson Dunn steer USD1.5bn AI acquisition
Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow, the Singapore arm of the global law firm, and Gibson Dunn advised on regulatory technology company Diginex’s
Grandall welcomes six equity partners in four offices
Grandall Law Firm has added six equity partners across its Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Fuzhou and Wuhan offices
Lee & Ko guides Netmarble on Netmarble Neo integration bid
Lee & Ko guides Korean global game developer Netmarble and affiliate Netmarble Neo on a bid to integrate the latter as a wholly owned subsidiary
Zaid Ibrahim & Co elevates Jonathan Lim to managing partner
Malaysian law firm Zaid Ibrahim & Co promotes Jonathan Lim Hon Kiat as managing partner, effective 3 April 2026
Regulatory scrutiny over red-chip structures raises conundrum
Practitioners say that while red-chip model is unlikely to disappear, companies will increasingly have to demonstrate its commercial necessity and regulatory compliance
Corporate partner returns to Fieldfisher in Shanghai
Fieldfisher has welcomed the return of Margaret Tan back to the firm’s fold as a partner at the Shanghai office, strengthening the corporate practice in Greater China
Four lawyers launch Puno & Partners in Philippines
Four lawyers launch their own firm, Puno & Partners, in the Philippines
Nishimura & Asahi guides Panasonic power tool sale to Makita
Nishimura & Asahi assists Panasonic on the transfer of its power tool division to Japanese manufacturer Makita
Clifford Chance acts on Delivery Hero’s Taiwan sale to Grab
Firms are advising Delivery Hero on selling its foodpanda transport business in Taiwan to Grab for USD600 million
Simmons & Simmons brings in intellectual property partner
Simmons & Simmons has hired trademark lawyer Patsy Lau as a partner at its Hong Kong office, further strengthening its Asia
Capital markets partner returns to JunHe in Hong Kong
JunHe Law Offices welcomes return of partner Ryan Choi at the Hong Kong branch to bolster its capital markets practice
Simpson Thacher to reopen in Singapore after 23-year absence
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is planning to reopen a Singapore office to strengthen cross-border capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region
A&O Shearman makes history hiring Nagashima Ohno partner
A&O Shearman hires partner from one of Japan’s big four in a historic first for an international law firm in Tokyo
Former MoFo private equity partner joins JunHe
JunHe has recruited private equity lawyer Zhao Rongjing as a partner, based at the firm’s Shanghai and Hong Kong offices
Case study: Seeking compensation for ‘no contract’ overseas projects
In 2018, a large state-owned design institute signed a strategic co-operation agreement with a Hong Kong investment company to jointly develop a hydropower project in Nepal
Philippines’ Sabornay Law forms alliance with Uryu & Itoga
Manila-based firm Sabornay Law has formed an alliance with Japan’s Uryu & Itoga (U&I) to strengthen cross-border legal capabilities between the Philippines and Japan
Lee & Ko, Shin & Kim advise on USD200m Kakao Games investment
South Korean law firms Lee & Ko and Shin & Kim are counselling on LY Corporation-backed LAAA Investment’s KRW300 billion (USD200 million) investment in Kakao Games
Firms steer Arise’s USD3.2bn stake buy in Thailand’s True Corp
Firms assist Thailand-based Arise Digital Technology’s USD3.2 billion acquisition of a 25% stake in telecoms company True Corporation
Using SPVs to control founder risks in VAM agreements
In investment and M&A deals, valuation adjustment mechanism (VAM) agreements, also known as bet-on agreements, are increasingly used to bind the parties’ interests and drive the target’s performance
Capital markets partner joins Han Kun in Hong Kong
Han Kun Law Offices has appointed Joanne Loi as a partner at its Hong Kong branch, further strengthening the firm’s capital markets practice
M&A: A new way
As M&A activities climb across the region, rising regulatory complexity and shifting market dynamics are redefining strategy, execution and the evolving role of general counsel
Duan & Duan set to open Guangzhou office in GBA expansion
Duan & Duan Law Firm has received regulatory approval to establish a Guangzhou office
Singapore becoming ‘first stop’ for China M&A: GHP’s Ivy Liu
“Singapore is increasingly emerging as the first stop for many Chinese companies entering Southeast Asia” to pursue M&A activity, says Ivy Liu
Firms act on Inox Clean Energy’s SkyPower MENA acquisition
Firms have advised on Indian company Inox Clean Energy’s acquisition of Dubai-based solar project developer SkyPower MENA for an undisclosed amount
Firms advise on Stonepeak’s USD10.1bn Castrol engine oil buy
Indonesian law firm Hendra Soenardi and India’s AZB & Partners are among several firms, having acted on Stonepeak’s acquisition
Firms steer Anta’s EUR1.5bn acquisition of 29% stake in Puma
Fangda Partners, Freshfields, Noerr and DVMB acted as legal advisers on the deal
Firms advise on micro-drive maker Zhaowei’s HKD1.9bn HKEX IPO
Zhaowei Machinery & Electronics listed on the HKEX on 9 March, raising HKD1.9 billion (USD243 million)
ASL Law first Vietnamese firm to launch in US legal market
ASL Law is the first Vietnamese law firm to launch an office in the US, primed by local businesses’ appetite to move into the American market
Loeb & Loeb recruits investigations partner for Greater China
Loeb & Loeb has hired Phoebe Yan as a partner in its Beijing and Hong Kong offices to strengthen its investigations and regulatory practices across Greater China
Geopolitics to hit 2026 M&A: New Donaldson & Burkinshaw partner
Yi Wayn Ng acknowledges that ongoing geopolitical factors “will undoubtedly influence M&A dynamics in 2026”
White & Case adds partner from KWM to boost M&A practice
White & Case has hired Alex Elser as a partner in Sydney to strengthen its global M&A practice, private capital industry group
LPA’s Lanvers-Shah sees cross-border activity uptick in India
Lisbeth Lanvers-Shah, the newly appointed head of the India desk and of counsel at LPA Singapore, believes India is poised for increased cross-border activity across multiple sectors
Chandler Mori Hamada brings in M&A partner from Linklaters
Thailand’s Chandler Mori Hamada has strengthened its corporate and M&A practice with the appointment of Paveen Khiewvichit as a partner, effective 6 March 2026
Clifford Chance, White & Case lead Shimadzu’s USD678m buy
Clifford Chance and White & Case have acted on Japanese scientific instrument manufacturer Shimadzu’s acquisition of Tescan
Chooi & Company’s MP sees big rise across practice areas
Fresh from taking the reins as Chooi & Company’s managing partner, Yeong Hui Yap is already preparing for the growth
MoFo, Paul Hastings advise on USD4.5bn homebuilder deal
MoFo and Paul Hastings advised Japanese forestry and housing company Sumitomo Forestry on its approximately USD4.5 billion
Firms act on USD5.1bn STT GDC buyout
Seven firms advised global investment firm KKR and Asian communications technology group Singtel on the full SGD13.8 billion
Private equity partner rejoins Weil in Hong Kong
Weil welcomed back private equity expert Yu Peng as a partner in its Hong Kong office, where he had previously practised for three years
DLA Piper adds two partners and a team from Sidley and Weil
DLA Piper has strengthened its capital markets capabilities in Hong Kong and Chinese mainland with two major hires
Firms steer Montage Technology’s HKD7bn Hong Kong IPO
Montage Technology, a leading provider of data processing and interconnect chips, listed on the HKEX on 9 February, raising USD901 million
A&O Shearman adds partner to bolster Australia M&A practice
A&O Shearman has strengthened its M&A practice in Australia with the appointment of Clayton James as a partner
Vietnam head at Jipyong shares growth plans, market outlook
Dong Ho Yoo, the new head of Jipyong Vietnam as of 1 February, has unveiled his plans to strengthen the firm’s existing services
Mercado Libre adds former AliExpress legal director for Shanghai
Latin American e-commerce giant Mercado Libre has appointed Mah Soon Sin as its China head of legal and government relationship
Withers adds senior corporate partner from Sidley Austin
Withers has appointed former Sidley Austin partner Raymond Oh as a senior partner based in Hong Kong and Singapore, where he will lead the firm’s corporate practice
Malaysia’s Skrine opens India desk to tap cross-border work
Malaysian law firm Skrine has launched a dedicated India desk in response to a sharp increase in cross-border corporate activity between the two countries
Jia Yuan opens branch in Changsha becoming its 8th office
Jia Yuan Law Offices has opened an office in Changsha, marking another expansion move following the opening of its Wuhan office
Zhong Lun opens Xi’an office in Belt and Road expansion
Zhong Lun Law Firm has recently established a branch office in Xi’an, marking its first presence in northwest China and its 17th office worldwide
Capital markets partner rejoins K&L Gates in Hong Kong
K&L Gates has rehired Lu Guiping as a partner at the Hong Kong office to strengthen its international debt and equity capital markets practice
Firms assist on DFS Greater China sale to CTG Duty Free
LVMH will sell DFS’s Greater China business to CTG Duty Free for no more than USD395m. Freshfields, Ruimin Law Firm and KWM advised on the deal
White & Case boosts real estate practice, adds Tokyo partner
White & Case has hired Eduard (Ed) Sheremeta as a partner in Tokyo to expand its real estate, mergers and acquisitions, and private capital offerings in the Asia-Pacific region
SG managing partner Manoj Purush outlines Reed Smith vision
Reed Smith’s newly appointed Singapore managing partner Manoj Purush says his first order of business at the firm’s helm is to sharpen focus across multiple industries.
Market volatility challenges risk management amid M&A stumbles
Terminated M&A deals sweep China’s semiconductor sector, drawing widespread market attention









































































































































