Cori A. Lable

Registered Foreign Lawyer (Kirkland & Ellis, Hong Kong) and Partner (Kirkland & Ellis LLP, U.S.) Litigation

Hong Kong +852 3761 3592

Cori A. Lable

Overview

Cori’s knowledge of the law is beyond comparison in the region... she has a strong commercial sense and will think outside the box for clients to get a positive end result. - Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022

Cori Lable is a Registered Foreign Lawyer in Kirkland & Ellis’ Hong Kong office and a member of the Firm’s Government & Internal Investigations Group. She is also a partner in Kirkland & Ellis LLP (U.S.). She concentrates her practice on advising multinational clients throughout Asia on international risks related to cross-border investments and operations, including corruption, money laundering, economic sanctions, and financial fraud. Cori has extensive experience working with clients in the private equity, asset management, industrials, and pharmaceutical and medical device sectors facing regulatory and criminal enforcement actions related to potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other U.S. securities, trade compliance, and export controls statutes.

Cori has been named as a leading anti-corruption practitioner for India and China by Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Chambers Greater China and Chambers Global, in which clients praised her “broad experience on compliance matters and internal investigations across Asia,” and singled her out for “great knowledge and acumen in terms of moving the deal forward, navigating the local legal landscape and best protecting clients.” According to Chambers Greater China, Cori is recognized as “an expert on matters relating to anti-corruption and financial misconduct, as well as internal investigations”. A client opined that she is “a steadfast and experienced counsel with a very solid relationship with the major PE firms”. She is also “excellent for transactions involving multiple investors and is skilled at navigating complex issues in challenging markets”, while offering “very pragmatic advice.” India Business Law Journal has described Cori as “the best in class in the FCPA practice area.” Cori’s practice spans the Asia-Pacific region, where she has led numerous investigations in jurisdictions including India, China, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia.

Cori also regularly advises clients on anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and sanctions and trade compliance risk assessments and due diligence related to investments and acquisitions in Asia; global cybersecurity and data breach investigations and litigation; provides advice on the design and implementation of international risk compliance programs; and publishes and speaks frequently on these topics across Asia.

While at Kirkland, Cori's representative matters have included:

  • L Catterton Asia Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: LCAA), a special purpose acquisition company formed by affiliates of L Catterton, a leading global consumer-focused investment firm, on its business combination with Lotus Technology Inc., a leading global luxury electric vehicle maker that operates under the iconic British brand, Lotus. The combined business is expected to be listed under the ticker symbol “LOT”. The transaction values the combined business at a pro forma enterprise value of approximately US$5.4 billion

  • Nexus Point Capital in its leveraged acquisition of Honour Lane Shipping Ltd. This transaction was named “Deal of the Year - Mid Cap” by AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards 2022

  • Bain Capital on its leveraged buy-out of VXI Global Solutions, a leading provider of Business Process Outsourcing services to businesses around the world, from the Carlyle Group 

  • Bain Capital on its approximate US$485 million acquisition of a 24.98% stake in IIFL Wealth Management (NSE: IIFLWAM), a company listed on the National Stock Exchange of India, from General Atlantic and Fairfax Financial. IIFL Wealth Management is one of the largest and fastest growing wealth and asset management firms in India 

  • LimeTree Capital, a fiduciary private equity investment manager with a focus on under-researched real estate asset classes across Asia, on a platform consolidation of the commercial car park assets held by its two China-focused private investment funds 

  • The Blackstone Group on its acquisition of all of the issued share capital of Interplex Holdings Pte. Ltd., which was indirectly owned by funds managed by Baring Private Equity Asia, in a transaction valued at approximately US$1.6 billion 

  • TPG, a leading global alternative asset firm, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a globally diversified investment institution that prudently invests funds on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi, on the acquisition of a minority stake in The CrownX 

  • A consortium of investors, comprising Centurium Capital, PW Medtech Group Limited (HKSE: 1358), CITIC Capital, Hillhouse Capital, Temasek and Marc Chan, in the take-private of China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBPO), a leading fully integrated plasma-based biopharmaceutical company in China, at a valuation of approximately US$4.6 billion. This transaction was named "Pharmaceuticals, Medical and Biotech M&A Deal of the Year" by Mergermarket China M&A Awards 2021, "2021 Deals of the Year” by China Business Law Journal, “M&A Deal of the Year” by China Law & Practice Awards 2021 and “Private Equity Deal of the Year” by IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2022

  • FountainVest on its acquisition of Ziwi, a New Zealand-based ultra-premium pet food manufacturer and global exporter 

  • Poema Global Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: PPGH), a special purpose acquisition company affiliated with Princeville Capital, on its business combination with Gogoro Inc., a global technology leader in battery swapping ecosystems that enable sustainable mobility solutions for cities

  • Artisan Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: ARTAU), a special purpose acquisition company founded by renowned Hong Kong cultural entrepreneur Adrian Cheng, on its business combination with Prenetics Group Limited, a global leader in genomic and diagnostic testing. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2022” by China Business Law Journal 

  • Magnum Opus Acquisition Limited (NYSE: OPA), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, on its proposed business combination with Forbes Global Media Holdings Inc., the iconic business information brand 

  • Azentio Software, a Singapore-headquartered software products business owned by funds advised by Apax, on its binding agreement to acquire certain software assets from Path Solutions, a provider of core banking software

  • Azentio Software, a Singapore-headquartered software products business owned by funds advised by Apax, on its binding agreement to acquire Beyontec, a leading insurance technology company 

  • Lead counsel to global energy services platform in investigation of accounting fraud allegations relating to operations in UAE, UK, India, and Singapore

  • Lead counsel to medical device company in investigation of potential distributor misconduct in Thailand

  • Lead counsel to global industrial manufacturer in investigation of allegations of corruption in China subsidiary

  • Lead counsel to global technology distributor in DOJ/SEC investigation of potential corruption issues in Thailand

  • Lead counsel to Indian real estate asset management company in investigation of potential procurement fraud issues 

  • Advised Carlyle on its acquisition of Jagex, a leading developer and publisher of video games. Jagex is one of the largest and most successful British video game studios, developing and publishing video games on PC and mobile, and is best known for its online role-playing living game franchise, RuneScape, which has attracted almost 300 million player accounts since its launch 20 years ago 

  • Advised an investor consortium comprised of Ocean Link Partners and Sequoia Capital China in the proposed privatization of Zhejiang New Century Hotel Management Co., Ltd. (HKSE: 1158) by way of a voluntary general offer

  • Advised Apax Funds in their acquisition of the software products business of 3i Infotech Limited (NSE: 3IINFOTECH), an Indian IT solutions company listed on the National Stock Exchange of India Limited 

  • Advised Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company, in the acquisition by its digital entertainment arm, Garena, of Phoenix Labs, an acclaimed independent games development company founded in Vancouver

  • Advised Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK), a leading global real estate services firm, on international risk compliance in the formation of a new asset services company with Vanke Service

  • Advised Partners Group (SIX:PGHN) in the establishment of an investment platform in Singapore focusing on Indian real estate assets with the Xander Group acting as operator

  • Lead anti-corruption counsel to one of Asia’s largest renewable energy independent power producers

  • Lead counsel to multinational software company in antitrust investigation before Hong Kong Competition Commission

  • Lead compliance counsel to global animal health company in Chinese joint venture for the development, manufacture and sale of a vaccine in the PRC

  • Lead Asia anti-corruption and international risks counsel to prominent global alternative asset management firm

  • Lead anti-corruption and trade sanctions due diligence counsel for global merchant bank’s India, China, and Korea investments

  • Lead counsel to global industrial manufacturer investigating anti-corruption and accounting fraud matters in India

  • Lead counsel to global intermodal logistics company investigating potential anti-corruption matters in India, China, Korea, Indonesia, and Japan

  • Lead counsel to leading medical device company investigating potential procurement and bid-rigging issues in Korea

  • Independent legal counsel to Indian Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code resolution professional regarding U.S. economic sanctions and securities laws

  • Lead anti-corruption, economic sanctions, and anti-money laundering training and compliance program implementation and monitoring for dozens of private equity portfolio companies across India, China, and South Asia

Prior to joining Kirkland, Cori’s representative matters included:

  • Advised Blackstone on its joint venture with China Vanke, China’s largest residential developer, in the first transaction to receive clearance from the PRC Ministry of Commerce under the simplified merger filing procedure. Named “Real Estate & Construction Deal of the Year” for 2015 by China Law and Practice

  • Anti-corruption and international risks counsel to multiple global private equity firms regarding investments across Asia-Pacific, including China, India, Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia, Myanmar, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand

  • Lead counsel representing Chinese telecommunications executive in DOJ, Department of Commerce, and Department of Treasury export controls investigation

  • Lead counsel to special litigation committee of leading Chinese ecommerce retailer regarding allegations of improper revenue recognition and other accounting-related misconduct

  • Lead counsel to Fortune 50 client in SEC investigation involving allegations in Malaysia

  • Represented multiple multinational life sciences clients in anti-corruption investigations in China, India, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan

  • Represented major medical device company regarding alleged FCPA violations across Asia-Pacific region

  • Directed anti-corruption reviews of commercial sales, marketing, and distribution practices in UAE, Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran for leading global pharmaceutical company

  • Defended prominent medical device company at trial against 13-count felony indictment, resulting in Department of Justice’s mid-trial dismissal of all felony charges in exchange for single misdemeanor resolution

  • Represented multiple international investment advisers in investigations and litigation relating to foreign currency exchange transactions and practices

Honorable Christopher F. DroneyUnited States District Court for the District of Connecticut

Partner, Ropes & Gray LLP

More

Thought Leadership

Publications

Co-author, "INSIGHT: Hong Kong Financial Regulator Can Seize Devices, Access Accounts," Bloomberg Law (April 27, 2020)

Co-author, "Hong Kong’s Corruption and Markets Regulators Have Signed a Collaboration Memorandum to Combat Financial Crime," Hong Kong Lawyer (December 9, 2019)

Co-author, "Newly Released Draft Measures on Data Security Management Strengthen China’s Data Protection Framework," Pratt's Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Report (November–December 2019)

Co-author, "The U.S. Probe of Chinese Banks—What Counterparties Need to Know," Bloomberg Law (September 6, 2019)

Co-author, "Shifting U.S. Enforcement Priorities—Should Chinese Companies be Worried," Bloomberg Law (June 17, 2019)

Co-author, "A Shift in U.S. FCPA Policy—Should Chinese Companies be Worried?" Bloomberg Law (June 10, 2019)

Co-author, “India,” From Baksheesh to Bribery: Understanding the Global Fight Against Corruption and Graft (April 2019, Oxford University Press)

Quoted, "From the March Issue: Adapting to Volatility," Asian Legal Business (March 27, 2019)

Co-author, "Anti-corruption due diligence in cross-border transactions," Thomson Reuters (March 19, 2019)

Quoted, “What's Next: Google & The Great Firewall, Plus Taking Net Neutrality to SCOTUS?” Law.com (August 8, 2018)

Co-author, “Heads or Tails? Are Europe’s GDPR and China’s Cybersecurity Law Two Sides of the Same Coin?” China Business Law Journal (May 25, 2018)

Quoted, “The GDPR and China's Cyber Law: Following One Doesn't Mean Following Both,” The American Lawyer (May 24, 2018)

Co-author, “Singapore Introduces Deferred Prosecution Agreements,” New York University Compliance and Enforcement Blog (April 4, 2018).

Co-author, “Challenges and Advice for Multinational Companies in Complying With Chinese Cybersecurity Law,” New York Law Journal (February 2018)

Co-author, “How Should Chinese Companies Face Increased U.S. Enforcement Risk From Their Global Business Operations?” China Business Law Journal (January 31, 2018)

Co-author, “U.S. Expands Efforts to Target Corrupt Foreign Officials,” Westlaw Journal on White-Collar Crime (August 2017)

Co-author, “Third parties – corruption risk and control,” Fraud Intelligence (June/July 2016)

Co-author, “Clearing India’s corruption hurdle,” PERE News (June 2016)

Co-author, “From Corruption To AML: The Future Of Chinese Enforcement,” Law360 (March 2016)

Co-author, “Bribery and Corruption Reporting Obligations: China,” Practical Law Global (July 2015) (updated August 2017)

Co-author, “Corruption and Bribery Concerns Affecting Japanese Pharmaceutical Companies Operating in the United States,” New York Pharma Forum (January 2015)

Seminars

Panelist, “Focus on APAC: A Look Back at 2020 and What Lies Ahead in 2021,” Legility Symposium (May 2021) 

Panelist, “Technology, Behavioral Science and Investigations,” GIR Regional Spotlight Asia Conference (December 2020)

Panelist, “WeChat, TikTok, and Messaging Applications: U.S. Regulatory Implications for Private Fund Sponsors,” Kirkland Regulatory Solutions Group Webinar (September 2020)

Presenter, “Regulatory Issues in Cross-Border M&A,” Nishimura & Asahi Cross Border M&A Seminar, Tokyo (February 2020)

Co-Presenter, “Compliance Representations and Warranties in Cross-Border Transactions,” Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Tokyo (February 2020)

Panelist, “Conflicts of Interest: Local Issue, Global Dilemma,” Blackpeak Seminar, Hong Kong (November 2019)

Moderator, “’Speak Up’ and Whistleblowing: Encouraging Internal Reporting and Open Lines of Communication,” ACI Asia-Pacific Summit on Anti-Corruption, Singapore (October 2019)

Keynote Speaker, “Fundamentals of Cybersecurity,” American Women’s Association, Hong Kong (February 2019)

Moderator, “Global Turbulence, Regional Solutions,” AVCJ India Forum, Mumbai (December 2018)

Keynote Speaker, “Diligence and Compliance Pre- and Post-Transaction,” Exiger Lunch & Learn Seminar, Hong Kong (October 2018)

Presenter, “U.S. Economic Sanctions and Regulatory Developments Affecting Cross-Border Transactions,” Kirkland & Ellis Client Seminar, Tokyo (May 2018)

Moderator, “Focus: India,” Asialaw Asia-Pacific In-House Counsel Legal Summit, Hong Kong (May 2018)

Presenter, “Cybersecurity: Global Legal and Compliance Developments,” IDEX Legal Counsel Congress Roundtable, Mumbai (April 2017)

Panelist, “International White Collar Practice,” Women’s White Collar Defense Association Annual Meeting, Miami (March 2017)

Moderator, “What keeps us awake at night – the industry perspective,” Ethixbase - 2nd Asia Pacific Ethics & Compliance Summit, Singapore (November 2016)

Presenter, “Focus on India,” AdvaMed/APACMed Legal & Compliance Meeting, Singapore (November 2016)

Panelist, “Cybersecurity for Alternative Investments: Managing Operational and Regulatory Risks,” Eze Castle Integration Regulatory Seminar, Hong Kong (November 2016)

Panelist, “Trends in Compliance and Investigations,” Thomson Reuters APAC Legal Workshop, Hong Kong (May 2016)

Panelist, “Stake in India: Emerging Issues for Sophisticated Investors,” IDEX Legal Counsel Congress Roundtable, Mumbai, India (April 2016)

Panelist, “How to Control Risks When Working with Consultants and Facilitators,” ACI's 5th India Summit on Anti-Corruption, New Delhi, India (February 2016)

Panelist, “Cyber Crime and Virtual Currencies,” ABA Criminal Justice Section White Collar Crime Institute, Shanghai (November 2015)

Panelist, “Asia E-Discovery Best Practices,” Epiq Systems Strategic Advisory Meeting, Hong Kong (June 2015)

Panelist, “Legal and Practical Considerations in Conducting a Corruption or Fraud Investigation: The First 48 Hours,” Global Legal Confex, Delhi (April 2015)

Panelist, “Anti-Corruption Issues When Selling into China,” ABA Section of International Law Teleconference (June 2014)

Panelist, “Anti-Corruption Compliance in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Industry,” Knowledge Congress Webinar (May 2014)

Presenter, Ropes & Gray/McKinsey & Company Shanghai Medical Device Roundtable (April 2014)

Recognition

Leading Lawyer in Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (International Firms) – China, Chambers Greater China (2022–2023), Chambers Asia-Pacific (2017–2021)

Leading Lawyer in Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (International Firms) – China, Chambers Global (2018–2023)

Leading Individual in Anti-Corruption and Compliance, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific (2017–2023)

“Highly Regarded,” Financial Services Regulatory, IFLR1000 (2020–2023)

Recommended in Business Crime Defense & Investigations, Mainland China & Hong Kong SAR, Who's Who Legal (2022)

“White Collar Crime Lawyer of the Year,” Euromoney APAC Women in Business Law Awards (2022) 

“IFLR Woman Leader,” IFLR1000 (2022) 

Honoree, Global Investigations Review, 100 Women in Investigations (2021)

“Litigation Star,” White Collar Crime, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific (2020–2022)

“Top 100 Women in Litigation”, White Collar Crime, China and Hong Kong, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific (2020–2021)

“Dispute Resolution Star”, White Collar Crime, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific (2019)

Finalist, “Rising Star of the Year,” Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards (2015)

“Rising Star,” White-Collar Criminal Defense, Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2012–2015)

“Rising Star,” White-Collar Criminal Defense, Top Women Lawyers in Massachusetts (2013–2015)

Memberships & Affiliations

Executive Committee, Hong Kong Chapter, Women’s White Collar Defense Association (2017–present)

Mentor, Women in Law Hong Kong Mentoring Programme (2016–present)

Board of Directors, Playworks Massachusetts (2012–2014)

Member, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Leadership Council (2010–2014)

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • Hong KongRegistered Foreign Lawyer
  • 2004Massachusetts

Courts

  • United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Education

  • Yale Law SchoolJ.D.2004
  • Cambridge UniversityM.Phil., Historical Studies2001
  • Yale UniversityB.A., Historymagna cum laude1998