Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance celebrates 35 years in Hong Kong

Clifford Chance's Hong Kong office marks its 35th anniversary this year, having been one of the first international law firms to establish a local office in 1980. Hong Kong serves as hub for the firm's 400-lawyer full-service capability and eight other offices in the region. Recent investments include an office opening in Seoul, mergers with Australian firms in Sydney and Perth, and the establishment of a Formal Law Alliance in Singapore with Cavenagh Law and of an associated firm in Indonesia, Linda Widyati & Partners.

Regional Managing Partner for Asia Pacific, Peter Charlton said, "It has been extraordinary to witness the development of our Hong Kong and Asia Pacific teams that have grown as the region has increased in importance in the global economy. Combined with our Beijing office which this year celebrates its 30^th anniversary and our Shanghai office, our Greater China team has over three decades of experience providing clients with an unrivalled depth and breadth of practice."

Global Managing Partner Matthew Layton said, "It has been truly rewarding to see how the Clifford Chance team here in Hong Kong and also more broadly across Asia Pacific has grown as the region has increased in importance for our clients and the world economy. We are deeply committed to growing in this region in line with the needs of our clients."

The firm has a 35-year history of leading across practice areas in the following:

• A series of groundbreaking Debt Capital Markets deals such as advising on Bank of China's US$3.55 billion four currency multi-tranche bond issuance (June 2015).
• Advising on some of the largest Hong Kong IPOs including this year's HTSC on its US$4.5 billion initial public offering (May 2015) and on GF Securities' US$3.5 billion listing (April 2015). In 2014 alone, we completed 14 IPOs in Hong Kong including four with offering sizes exceeding US$1 billion each.
• Regularly advising on inbound and outbound M&A transactions such as Haitong Securities on its proposed acquisition of Banco Espirito Santo de Investimento for US$467 million from Portuguese banking group, Novo Banco (December 2014).
• Staying ahead of regulatory developments and the barrage of regulatory requirements globally including advising a consortium of 16 banks on the regulatory and compliance issues in preparation for Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect project (November 2014).
• Working to obtain critical rulings on high profile dispute resolution matters on behalf of clients including Malaysian broadcasting group Astro in its enforcement against an Indonesian business in Hong Kong of a multi-million US dollar arbitration award (favourable rulings permitting enforcement obtained in 2014 and 2015 are now being defended on Appeal).

Community service and diversity initiatives are a priority and the firm provides financial and pro bono support to a number of local and regional organisations. Recent initiatives include an art exhibition by local and international artists presented by Clifford Chance's network 'Arcus', for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered colleagues; participation in the annual Charity Cup Football Tournament in support of Heep Hong Society, Rainbow Project and Child Welfare Scheme; and the annual charity quiz for South China Morning Post's Operation Santa Claus.

Peter added, "Our efforts are focused on widening access to education, justice and finance. Over the years we have made Corporate Responsibility a priority and have strived to harness the ideas, energy and professionalism of our people to support the Hong Kong community."