Chambers Asia, Asia's Leading Lawyers for Business 2010
Chambers & Partners has compiled its third 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' 2010 review of legal talent in Asia in the areas 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: Tier 2
The Firm: In keeping with this U.S. firm's domestic reputation, the Asia team concentrates purely on private equity work. Following the relocation of partners from London and New York at the start of 2009 and a number of lateral hires, the firm has cemented its standing in the market. The firm's workload recently featured a significant volume of upstream fund formation work, as well as a wide range of downstream transactions, including M&A and private equity buyouts. Highlights from the past year include advising Advantage Partners on its LBO and refinancing of GST Autoleather, and advising CVC Capital Partners (Asia Pacific) on the formation of its USD4.1 billion pan-Asian buyout fund, CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific III.
Sources Say: "The firm really takes a global approach to covering sponsors — it is really good at understanding sponsors' sensitivities and bringing the best lawyers from around the world to serve its clients in Asia."
Key Individuals: David Patrick Eich heads the team.
China/Hong Kong Ranking: Tier 2
This global private equity specialist outfit continues to be a strong force in that area. "Kirkland & Ellis really takes a global approach to covering sponsors," enthused one source, who went on to say: "They are so good at understanding sensitivities for sponsors globally and bringing the best lawyers around the world to serve their clients in Asia." Clients appreciate the team's ability to assist with the entire fund formation process, from negotiations with investors to documentation, closing and post-closing acquisitions work. Led by the distinguished David Patrick Eich, the team is described as "very experienced and incredibly reliable." Eich is the senior partner in the Hong Kong office, and has tremendous experience in representing private equity clients across three continents. Clients say he is "highly intelligent and well rounded, with broad knowledge of many different areas, and very good at getting to the crux of the issue quickly."
Private Equity: Hong Kong-based: Buyouts
China/Hong Kong Ranking: Tier 3
This firm's glittering global private equity clientele continues to benefit from the development of its Hong Kong office, which was opened in 2006. While still best known in Hong Kong for its fund formation expertise, the team is active on transactional work, and advised key client Bain Capital on its global buyout of American Standard Bath & Kitchen, as well as a number of other potential transactions throughout Asia. Other major clients regularly instructing the firm in Asia include Advantage Partners, Oaktree Capital Management and MKW Capital Partners. David Patrick Eich leads the team, and is praised for his "detail-oriented approach — he always serves us very well." Chuan Li also brings an impressive level of experience to the table in transactions. His Mandarin language capabilities make him especially attractive to clients investing in the PRC.
Reprinted with permission from Chambers Asia, Asia's Leading Lawyers for Business 2010 — www.chambersandpartners.com.
