George Zheng
Overview
George Zheng is a partner in the Corporate Team in the Shanghai office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP and serves as the Chief Representative Partner of the Firm’s Shanghai Representative Office. His practice focuses on capital markets transactions. He also advises corporate clients on general corporate matters, corporate governance and securities regulation matters.
George is named a Top Rising Lawyer by ALB China Law Awards 2025, and a “Rising Star Partner” for China capital markets (equity) by IFLR1000 2025.
Experience
Representative Matters
Since joining Kirkland & Ellis, George has been involved in the following:
- Zhejiang Galaxis Technology Group Co., Ltd. (HKSE: 2729) on its HK$610 million global offering and listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on March 24, 2026
- Axera Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (HKSE: 0600) on its HK$2.959 billion global offering and listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on February 10, 2026
- The joint sponsors, Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, CITIC Securities (Hong Kong) Limited and Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., and underwriters on the HK$10.68 billion initial public offering and listing of Muyuan Foods Co., Ltd. (SZ: 002714; HKSE: 2714) on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on February 6, 2026
- Shanghai Longcheer Technology Co., Ltd. (SH: 603341; HKSE: 9611) on its HK$1.62 billion global offering and listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- The joint sponsors, CITIC Securities (Hong Kong) Limited and Haitong International Capital Limited, and the underwriters on the global offering and H share listing of Shanghai Bao Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (HKSE: 2659) on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Sihuan Pharmaceutical Holdings Group Ltd. (Sihuan Pharm, HKSE: 460) and Xuanzhu Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Xuanzhu Biopharm, HKSE: 2575) on the spin-off, the global offering and separate listing of Xuanzhu Biopharm, a subsidiary of Sihuan Pharm, on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- CF PharmTech, Inc. (HKSE: 2652) on its global offering and listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Hong Kong public offering tranche was oversubscribed by approximately 6,700 times, ranking among the top three most oversubscribed IPOs on the HKEx in 2025
- MicroPort CardioFlow Medtech Corporation (2160.HK) on its proposed merger with MicroPort Cardiac Rhythm Management Limited. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2025” by China Business Law Journal
- NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO; HKEx: 9866; SGX: NIO) in its US$1.16 billion equity offering completed on 17 September 2025
- Ascletis Pharma Inc. (Ascletis Pharma) (HKSE: 1672) in connection with its placing of 52,400,000 shares, including 28,820,000 shares through a top-up placement. The Placing was announced on August 19, 2025 and completed on August 25, 2025. The net proceeds from the Placing (after deducting all fees, costs and expenses incurred Ascletis Pharma) amounted to approximately HKD 467.69 million in aggregate
- iMotion Automotive Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (iMotion) (HKSE: 1274) in connection with its H-share placing completed on July 21, 2025. The net proceeds from the H-Share Placing (after deducting all fees, costs and expenses incurred by iMotion) amounted to approximately HK$230 million
- Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. and Citigroup Global Markets Limited, in connection with the H-share placing of Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd on June 12, 2025. The net proceeds from the H-Share Placing amounted to approximately HKD 1.943 billion (USD 250 million)
- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) on its global offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The IPO raised approximately HK$41 billion (US$5.3 billion) after the exercise of the over-allotment option. CATL is a global leader in new energy innovative technologies, primarily engaged in the research, development, production, and sales of EV and ESS batteries. This transaction was named “Best Equity Deal (APAC and Hong Kong)” and "Highly commended Best IPO (Hong Kong)" by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2025, and “Deals of the Year 2025” by China Business Law Journal
- Duality Biotherapeutics (HKEx: 9606) on its global offering and listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The IPO raised approximately HK$1.64 billion prior to the exercise of the over-allotment option. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2025” by China Business Law Journal
- NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO; HKEx: 9866; SGX: NIO) in connection with its HK$4,030.13 million offering of 136,800,000 class A ordinary shares. This transaction was named the “Most Innovative Deal (Hong Kong)” by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2025
- iMotion Automotive Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (iMotion) (HKSE: 1274) in connection with its H-share placing. The net proceeds from the H-Share Placing (after deducting all fees, costs and expenses incurred by iMotion) amounted to approximately HK$228.37 million
- iMotion Automotive Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (iMotion) (HKSE: 1274) in connection with its H-share placing. The net proceeds from the H-Share Placing (after deducting all fees, costs and expenses incurred by iMotion) amounted to approximately HK$73.28 million
- Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., Citigroup Global Markets Limited and J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited, in connection with the H-share placing of Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The net proceeds from the H-Share Placing amounted to approximately HK$541.4 million
- iMotion Automotive Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (iMotion) (HKSE: 1274) on the initial public offering of H shares and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. As the first company specializing in autonomous driving listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, iMotion is an autonomous driving solution provider with a focus on AD domain controllers
- NIO Inc. (NIO) (NYSE: NIO; HKEx: 9866; SGX: NIO) in its offering of US$500 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2029 (2029 Notes) and US$500 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (2030 Notes). This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2023” by China Business Law Journal and “Debt & Equity-linked Deal of the Year” by IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2024
- Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (HKSE: 6990) on its US$174 million global offering and listing on the The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on July 11, 2023. This transaction was named “Best IPO - Hong Kong SAR” by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2023
- Joy Spreader Group Inc. (HKSE: 6988), a leading China-based marketing technology company, on the raising of approximately US$77.5 million by way of top-up placing of existing shares. Goldman Sachs was the sole placing agent
Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis, George’s representative matters have included:
- Kuaishou Technology, a leading content community and social platform globally, on its initial public offering and listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Fulu Holdings, China’s largest third-party virtual service provider, on its initial public offering and listing on the Main Board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Bank of Gansu Co., Ltd. on its initial public offering on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Jilin Jiutai Rural Commercial Bank Corporation Limited on its initial public offering on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Everbright Securities Company Limited on its initial public offering on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- GF Securities Co., Ltd. on its initial public offering on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- CLSA Capital Markets Limited as the sole sponsor on the initial public offering of H shares on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for Suzhou Basecare Medical, an innovative platform of genetic testing solutions for assisted reproduction in China
- ABCI Capital Limited, CCB International Capital Limited and CLSA Capital Markets Limited as the joint sponsors on the initial public offering and listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange of Bank of Guizhou Company Limited
- ABCI Capital Limited and Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited as the joint sponsors in connection with the initial public offering and listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange of Sinic Holdings (Group) Company Limited
- Bilibili on its strategic investment in Huanxi Media (HKEx: 1003), a company principally engaged in media- and entertainment-related businesses
- China Jinmao as the offeror on the privatization of Jinmao Hotel and Jinmao (China) Hotel Investments and Management Limited. The transaction is the first-ever privatization of a Hong Kong listed business trust
Prior Experience
More
Recognition
“Top Rising Lawyer”, Asian Legal Business (2025)
“Rising Star Partner”, Capital Markets: Equity - China, IFLR1000 (2025)
Memberships & Affiliations
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2016, Hong Kong, Solicitor
- 2011, New York
- 2009, People’s Republic of China (non-practicing)
Languages
- English
- Mandarin
Education
- New York UniversityLL.M.2010
- Chinese University of Hong KongJ.D.2009Dean’s List
- Beijing Foreign Studies UniversityB.A., Romanian2007