Asia Pacific

We opened our first Asia Pacific office in 1980 and have since gone on to build a significant presence in the region. Our 400-plus lawyers advise clients on the full range of business law for their regional and international activities.

Our Asia Pacific network began with our Hong Kong and Singapore offices which opened in 1980 and 1981 respectively. Since then, we've invested to keep pace with our clients' businesses and worked on opportunities both within and beyond the region.

We now have seven offices in four Asia Pacific countries. These include Beijing (1985) and Shanghai (1993), Tokyo (1987), Sydney and Perth (2011). In other countries where we don’t have offices, we have close working relationships with local law firms. This gives us a cost-effective way to deliver results for clients in every country in the region.

Multi-jurisdictional teams with a dedicated ASEAN focus

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) offers huge opportunities for investors. The ten country bloc – Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Laos the Philippines and Cambodia – is one of the fastest growing regions in the world.

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was set up in 2015. It is built to create a single market across ASEAN nations. With the AEC beginning to emerge, we offer a dedicated taskforce of partners and associates focusing on industry trends, opportunities and challenges for clients in the ASEAN region. Our Country Focus Groups for Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, include teams of lawyers based in all our practice areas and offices worldwide. These teams pool their knowhow and expertise for issues involving ASEAN jurisdictions.

Recent highlights

Directory and client comments

Directory Listings

Chambers & Partners, Asia Pacific 2025

Band 1 in Arbitration (International)
Band 1 in Aviation: Finance
Band 1 in Banking & Finance
Band 1 in Capital Markets: Debt
Band 1 in Capital Markets: Equity
Band 1 in Capital Markets: Securitisation
Band 1 in Corporate/M&A
Band 1 in Corporate/M&A: Private Equity
Band 1 in Investment Funds: Hedge Funds
Band 1 in Investment Funds: Private Equity
Band 1 in Investment Funds: Registered Funds
Band 1 in Projects & Infrastructure

Client comments

"Clifford Chance's service delivery is top notch."
"They have very good analytical skills and they know their materials, so they have very strong ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters."
Clifford Chance has an experienced and capable team."

Chambers & Partners, Asia Pacific 2025 – Arbitration (International)

"Clifford Chance's aviation finance team is very stable and has gained extensive experience in assisting foreign lessor clients in their leasing and financing business in the Chinese market."
"The Clifford Chance team are fantastic. They're very knowledgeable and responsive and able to handle complicated and unique transactions."

Chambers & Partners, Asia Pacific 2025 – Aviation: Finance

"They are simply the best. I can always rely on the Clifford Chance team to draft documents thoroughly and pick out and resolve contentious points."
"Clifford Chance always delivers the optimal outcome for its clients and demonstrates outstanding technical knowledge with a personal touch. Its people are the best in class."

Chambers & Partners, Asia Pacific 2025 – Banking & Finance

"With vast experience in the APAC ECM market and a strong team of attorneys of the highest calibre, Clifford Chance is one of the go-to law firms for APAC ECM deals."

Chambers & Partners, Asia Pacific 2025 – Capital Markets, Equity

"The team has a broad international vision and can set up a cross-jurisdictional and cross-practice team with smooth coordination. The lawyers can solve complex legal problems in multiple fields."

Chambers & Partners, Asia Pacific 2025 – Corporate/M&A

"The team was excellent at handling highly complicated structural issues and driving to a positive outcome for all parties."
"They demonstrate a strong commitment to client needs, providing personalised and strategic advice promptly."

Chambers & Partners, Asia Pacific 2025 – Investment Funds: Hedge Funds

"The Clifford Chance team can recognise the problems quickly and precisely, point them out and provide ways to solve them.
"The breadth of expertise available to Clifford Chance is absolutely essential for a complex deal and greatly contributed to its success."

Chambers & Partners, Asia Pacific 2025 – Projects & Infrastructure

"They are commercially very astute and mindful of the client's objectives. Their ability to understand the novel applications of technology and adapt current laws and regulations is highly regarded."
"Clifford Chance has a strong bench on TMT-related matters. It is my go-to firm because of the responsiveness. I work in a fast-paced environment and require that support and agility."

Chambers & Partners, Asia Pacific 2025 – Technology, Media, Telecoms (TMT)

Awards

Our teams of talented lawyers have won us a string of awards that include:

International Firm of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024
China Practice of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024
M&A Team of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024
Securitisation and Structured Finance Team of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024
Specialist Award: Financial Services Regulatory – International
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2024
Asia Pacific Law Firm of the Year
Chambers Asia Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2023
China (International Firms) Corporate & Finance Firm of the Year
Chambers Asia Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2023
Innovative Law Firm (headquartered outside of Asia Pacific)
FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia 2023
Innovative Lawyers in Transforming Industries
FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia 2023
Debt And Equity-Linked Capital Markets Team of the Year
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2023
Specialist Award: Financial Services Regulatory – International
IFLR Asia Pacific Awards 2023
International Firm of the Year
China Law and Practice Awards 2022
Competition International Firm of the Year
China Law and Practice Awards 2022
Aviation Law Firm of the Year
Asian Legal Business Hong Kong Law Awards 2022
Investment Funds Law Firm of the Year
Asian Legal Business Hong Kong Law Awards 2022
M&A International Firm of the Year
China Law and Practice Awards 2022
TMT International Firm of the Year
China Law and Practice Awards 2022