Chambers Asia, Asia's Leading Lawyers for Business
Chambers & Partners has compiled its second annual list of Asia's Leading Lawyers for Business, a guide focused exclusively on the Asian legal market. Intended as a companion volume to Chambers Global, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, the Asia guide is an independent and objective review of legal talent in Asia based on comments gathered from thousands of interviews with clients and lawyers throughout the world.
In Chambers' 2009 review of legal talent in Asia in the area of "Investment Funds: Private Equity" and "Private Equity: Buyouts," our Firm and our lawyers are listed among the best in the Asia.
Chambers' comments:
Investment Funds: Private Equity
Asia-Wide Ranking: 3
Although Kirkland & Ellis is a relative newcomer to the Asian market, it has advised on complex private equity transactions involving Asia for many years. Building on its global experience in the field of private equity fund formation, the firm has expanded into Asia by hiring and training numerous Chinese private equity lawyers to better serve its clients in the region. After a few months of operations, it can already claim an impressive track record, which includes the formation of the US $1.975 billion CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific II fund, and the US $1 billion LaSalle Asia Opportunity Fund II. The team regularly advises on other types of investment fund-related matters, including M&A and joint venture transactions. It notably advised on the US $500 million LBO of ChipPAC from Hyundai by Bain Capital and the US $2 billion joint venture involving ESun Holdings, Silver Point Capital, Oaktree Capital and others to develop Studio City, a casino and leisure resort project in Macau. David Patrick Eich is the main contact for funds work in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Ranking: 3
While this firm's Hong Kong team has been focused predominantly on the transactional side of private equity, it is gradually building up its capacity in private equity fund formations, drawing on its exemplary global experience in both the USA and the UK. Peers consider the group "a notable entrant into the Hong Kong funds market," and clients praise the lawyers' "valuable local perspective and quality global funds advice." The "harmonious working relationships" that exist between the firm's different offices and across time zones ensure the advice clients receive is "always incredibly efficient." David Patrick Eich is leading the firm's expansion of its private equity practice into Asia. He handles both deals and fund formations and is highly praised for "his detail-oriented approach and strong knowledge of market terms." Recent notable work for the team includes advising CVC Capital Partners on the formation of its US $4.1 billion Asia Pacific III Fund and assisting MKW Capital Partners with the formation of its MKW Macau Growth Fund.
Private Equity: Buyouts
Hong Kong Ranking: 3
Since its inception in 2006, Kirkland's Hong Kong office has focused its attentions primarily on private equity transactions. The firm's move into Asia was in response to many of its premier clients bolstering their presence in the region. Regular clients of the group include Advantage Partners, Audax Group and Oaktree Capital Management, and the lawyers acted for Bain Capital in the Asian components of its US $1.7 billion global LBO of American Standard Bath & Kitchen. It also acted for Bear Stearns Merchant Banking in its China joint venture with GOME Group. Interviewees enthusiastically singled out this firm's team of "responsive lawyers and high degree of personalised service." David Patrick Eich heads up the private equity practice in Asia and impresses clients with "his can-do attitude and business-savvy approach." Also pointed out for his work in the sector, Chuan Li "has excellent attention to detail and a hard-working attitude," commend sources.
