Awards and milestones

Our China practice frequently wins industry awards from various independent legal publications for its extensive experience and ever-growing prominence.

As an acknowledgement of our market-leading position in China, we have been awarded:

• 2017: China Business Law Journal (China Business Law Awards 2017)
• 2016: Private Equity Law Firm of the Year – International (Asian Legal Business China Law Awards 2016)
• 2016: Law firm of the year (International) (China Business Law Journal)

Recent assignments

• 2017: Advised one of Asia's largest alternative investment management firms, PAG Asia Capital on its US$170 million investment as part of a combined US$225 million investment with existing investor Meridian Capital into Europe-based dairy and ice cream producer Food Union Group
• 2017: Advised United Luck Group Holdings Limited (United Luck) on its US$1 billion acquisition of 100% of the shares of Outfit7. Outfit7 is headquartered in UK and Cyprus, and is the creator and developer of highly-popular mobile APPs such as 'Talking Tom' and 'Talking Angela', which were hailed in 2016 as one of the 'Most Downloaded APPs of All Time' for Android. The acquisition was completed on 28 December 2016
• 2017: Advised ANZ on its agreement to sell its 20% stake in Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank (SRCB) to China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited and Shanghai Sino-Poland Enterprise Management Development Corporation Limited
• 2016: Clifford Chance maintains its market leading position advising on the biggest initial public offerings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for 2016. The firm's Greater China team advised on 10 IPOs totalling US$15.293 billion. The list includes Postal Savings Bank of China's US$7.6 billion IPO, the largest IPO globally for 2016, CR Pharmaceutical's US$1.8 billion IPO, China Merchants Securities' US$1.3 billion IPO and Everbright Securities' US$1.1 billion IPO
• 2016: Advised the underwriters including China Securities, UBS, and ABCI Capital Limited, on CSC Financial Co. Ltd.'s US$992 million IPO and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. CSC Financial is a leading large full-service investment bank in the PRC which ranked sixth in terms of operating revenue and net profit for the six months ended June 30, 2016
• 2016: Advised The Coca-Cola Company on the signing of definitive agreements relating to the re-alignment of the company's bottling operations in China, its third largest market by volume
• 2016: Advised China Resources Pharmaceutical Group (CR Pharma) on its US$1.8 billion IPO and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. CR Pharma is a leading integrated pharmaceutical company in China engaged in the research and development, manufacturing, distribution and retail of an extensive range of pharmaceutical and other healthcare products
• 2016: Advised on Postal Savings Bank of China's US$8 billion IPO, the largest this year globally
• 2016: Advised COFCO International on acquisition of full ownership of Nidera
• 2016: Advised COFCO International on acquisition of full ownership of Nidera (Chinese translation)
• 2016: Advised the joint lead managers on Bank of China's issuance of US$3.03 billion green bonds, the largest green bond issued by a Chinese entity in the international market and the first time that two offshore branches of a PRC-based financial institution have issued green bonds
• 2016: Advised the underwriters, including Everbright Securities, UBS and Merrill Lynch, on China Everbright Securities' US$1.11 billion listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. China Everbright Securities is one of the largest securities brokerage by assets in China and is controlled by state-owned financial conglomerate, China Everbright Group
• 2016: Advised Biostime International Holdings Limited, a leading provider of baby care and nutrition products in China on the financing of its acquisition of Swisse Wellness, a leading Australian adult care and nutrition company
• 2016: Advised China's State Grid International Development Co. Ltd. on its joint venture with Rosseti OAO, Russia's largest power transmission and distribution company. State Grid is the largest utility company in the world, and has been ranked seventh in the Fortune Global 500 for five consecutive years since 2011

Chambers Asia Pacific 2017

• Tier One in Aviation: Finance (International Firms)
• Tier One in Banking & Finance (International Firms)
• Tier One in Banking & Finance: Leveraged & Acquisition Finance (International Firms)
• Tier One in Capital Markets: Debt (International Firms)
• Tier One in Capital Markets: Equity (International Firms)
• Tier One in Corporate/M&A: The Elite (International Firms)
• Tier One in Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
• Tier One in Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
• Tier One in Financial Services (International Firms)
• Tier One in Investment Funds (International Firms)
• Tier One in Private Equity: Buyouts & Venture Capital Investment (International Firms)
• Tier One in Projects & Infrastructure (International Firms)
• Tier One in Restructuring/ Insolvency (International Firms)

Chambers Asia Pacific 2016

• Tier One in Aviation: Finance (International Firms)
• Tier One in Banking & Finance (International Firms)
• Tier One in Banking & Finance: Leveraged & Acquisition Finance (International Firms)
• Tier One in Capital Markets: Debt (International Firms)
• Tier One in Capital Markets: Equity (International Firms)
• Tier One in Corporate/M&A: The Elite (International Firms)
• Tier One in Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
• Tier One in Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
• Tier One in Financial Services (International Firms)
• Tier One in Investment Funds (International Firms)
• Tier One in Private Equity: Buyouts & Venture Capital Investment (International Firms)
• Tier One in Projects & Infrastructure (International Firms)

Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2016

• Tier One in Banking and finance: Foreign Firms
• Tier One in Corporate and M&A: Foreign Firms
• Tier One in Projects and energy: Foreign Firms

IFLR 1000 (2016)

• Tier One in Banking and finance: Foreign Firms
• Tier One in Project finance: Foreign Firms
• Tier One in Competition: Foreign Firms
• Tier One in Energy and infrastructure: Foreign Firms
• Tier One in M&A (including Private Equity): Foreign Firms

Client comments

• "From the relationship perspective, I think they are the best. They do the top-notch market-leading jobs and stay close to their client - they are there when you need them."
  "They are very reliable. They will take into account a lot of factors for clients that you may not have thought of."
  Chambers Asia Pacific 2017 – Aviation: Finance (International Firms)
• "a big player for both sponsor and lender-side work."
  "Their quality is stable and many of the associates are quite experienced. You get quality when you go to Clifford Chance."
  Chambers Asia Pacific 2017 – Banking & Finance (International Firms)
• "The partners are easily accessible, responsive, experienced and practical."
  "We see them on a lot of investment-grade deals, they're very active."
  "They are willing to be flexible on fees, and it was good value for money."
  Chambers Asia Pacific 2017 – Capital Markets: Debt and Equity (International Firms)
• "They are always very customer-focused and committed. The lawyers always provide support whenever you need it, even if it is short notice."
  "Clifford Chance is a very trustworthy full-service firm. I feel comfortable picking up the phone and asking them a question."
  Chambers Asia Pacific 2017 – Corporate/M&A: The Elite (International Firms)
• "They were a great sounding board. I really felt they gave a more customised approach as opposed to a tactical position. They were engaged, we debated and challenged each other."
  "They have a thoughtful and deep litigation team. The members all think about their cases very carefully."
  Chambers Asia Pacific 2017 – Dispute Resolution (International Firms)
• "They have good strength in depth with industry-leading seniors and a strongly developing, high-calibre bench"
  "They're pretty practical. It's a combination of friendliness and approachability, plus dealing with matters and being hands-on. In terms of how we can plug in and get value, they've been able to provide very practical advice."
  Chambers Asia Pacific 2017 – Financial Services (International Firms)
• "The firm has the capability to help large international fund managers navigate the regulatory landscape in China. We go to Clifford Chance because this is extremely complex and so you need the highest quality."
  "I think highly of Clifford Chance. The firm is absolutely outstanding."
  Chambers Asia Pacific 2017 – Investment Funds (International Firms)
• "Their experience of having worked on many different types of investments and working with the regulators is very helpful."
  Chambers Asia Pacific 2017 – Private Equity: Buyouts & Venture Capital Investment (International Firms)
• "Their services are outstanding. They understand our needs, sometimes even better than us, and are always responsive. We trust Clifford Chance to fight battles for us, and they exceed our expectations."
  Chambers Asia Pacific 2017 – Projects & Infrastructure (International Firms)
• "They are absolutely dedicated to the matter at hand. They work around the clock, and facilitate the transaction while protecting our interests."
  Chambers Asia Pacific 2017 – Restructuring/ Insolvency (International Firms)

Practice areas

• Antitrust & Competition
• Asset Finance
• Capital Markets
• Corporate
• Finance
• Funds & Investment Management
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution
• Private Equity
• Regulatory Investigations, Enforcement & White Collar
• Restructuring & Insolvency

Sectors

• Banks
• Consumer Goods & Retail
• Energy & Resources
• Funds & Investment Management
• Healthcare, Life Sciences & Chemicals
• Industrials
• Insurance
• Private Equity
• Real Estate
• Telecommunications, Media & Technology