Corporate lawyers

Representing on the sale and purchase of shares in a company incorporated in Hong Kong, which acts as the programme developer for VR games (for example, on PlayStation) to be initiated in Wuxi, China.

We acted for Lupin in relation to its acquisition of the minority shareholding in a pharmaceutical company in Australia.

We advised Pro-Invest on capital raising, shareholders agreements, fund documents, various property investments and its interaction with InterContinental Hotels Group in relation to Pro-invest’s AU$300 million Holiday Inn Express fund in Australia.

We acted for Ladbrokes in relation to its acquisition of the bookmaker.com on-line gaming business in Australia.

We advised a Hong Kong-based high-tech company in its proposed investments in start-up projects in China.

We represented a brand consultancy group in the acquisition of a majority stake in the Hong Kong subsidiary of an independent British brand and customer experience design consultancy agency.

We advised on the acquisition of a Malaysian company with ownership of a well-known major hotel in Malaysia by a BVI registered investment holding company for RM120 million.

We advised a PRC-based, Hong Kong-listed fashion group in its acquisition of a Shenzhen apparel business and proposed joint venture with an Italian fashion group.

We acted for a famous British perfume house in relation to its expansion in Asia-Pacific, including retail lease agreements in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan; commercial matters; and restructuring of the group companies.

We represented a real estate company specializing in residential, hotel/serviced apartments, retail, industrial, and office premium properties in Hong Kong and Shanghai, in relation to the disposal of the entire issued share capital and assignment of shareholder’s loan of Bentley Investments Limited holding a whole block of prestigious building in the southern part of Hong Kong Island known as No. 3 South Bay Close to Baldric Investments Limited, a subsidiary of National Electronics Holdings Limited. This matter is regarded as a major transaction under the Listing Rules of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the consideration is around HK$668 million.

Our Corporate team advised on the sale of co-investments in a substantial US private equity fund to a Spanish fund of funds.

Faced with a bond issue on the Channel Island stock exchange, we advised a Ukrainian company on how to proceed and retain their financial position.

Advised an Italian company in its acquisition of the U.S. subsidiary of a U.K. company in the pharmaceutical industry.

We advised a PRC-based, Hong Kong-listed fashion group in its acquisition of a Shenzhen apparel business and proposed joint venture with an Italian fashion group.

We represented a US based graphite material science company in the sale of its majority stake in a French joint venture to the minority partner.

The Newlat Group is one of the top ten players in the Italian food sector, with a turnover exceeding US$355 million. Its business is focused on milk and wheat-based products, with an existing base of 11 production plants. We advised Newlat on the acquisition of Kraft Heinz’s Italian infant food and nutraceuticals production plant. The Parma plant owned by US food giant Kraft Heinz, produces the well-known Plasmon biscuits as well as pasta, liquid milk, dry milk and cereals, among other products. The deal included an arrangement for Newlat to manufacture infant milks and nutrition products including Kraft Heinz owned products.

Our London, Milan, Hong Kong and Singapore teams assisted Renault Group on the acquisition of Lotus F1 and its €1.5 billion investment in motorsport and technology. Renault extricated itself from engine supply agreements with F1 teams Red Bull and Toro Rosso, before embarking on the Lotus deal. The process took over nine months and involved staving off Lotus's multiple creditors, who were intent on putting the group into administration thereby saving Lotus's 512 skilled workforce from redundancy. Our corporate and insolvency teams achieved the unprecedented feat of adjourning four consecutive winding up petitions in court over the course of six months. This process added intense pressure to the deal, which was already complicated by the multi-party negotiations involving Mr Bernie Ecclestone, CVC, FIA, principal sponsors of Lotus, incoming and outgoing drivers of Lotus F1 as well as the outgoing minority shareholder of Lotus F1.

Advised on a acquisition of an international high frequency trading and ultra-high frequency trading business. The deal involved various assets located in the US, Europe, Japan, Korea, and Singapore.

We represented a Swiss-based family office in a corporate control contest involving a California-based US$500 million private company in the coatings business. The company has an independent Board of Directors and is owned by three significant minority owners and widely dispersed current and former employees. Our work involved M&A, corporate governance, finance, complex contracts, tax and offensive corporate litigation. We drew on our New Haven, Greenwich and Los Angeles lawyers and implemented a partial contingent billing arrangement.

Via della Spiga 26 is a beautiful building in the 'golden triangle' of Milan, housing Dolce & Gabbana's flagship store as well as the offices of Tiffany & Co. We helped Thor Equities and Invesco to acquire the site, negotiating with a family who had held the property for generations and were initially locked in dispute between themselves. Our clients and the vendors were grateful for our help in brokering what had seemed an impossible deal.

Increasingly, we are called upon to represent corporate clients in international arbitration. For example we acted at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) on behalf of a subsidiary of an Azerbaijani company that was in dispute with a conglomerate of Israeli companies over a joint venture agreement. The case related to a license to drill oil just off the coast of Israel.

Our Corporate team advised on the sale of co-investments in a substantial US private equity fund to a Spanish fund of funds.

Advised an Italian company in its acquisition of the U.S. subsidiary of a U.K. company in the pharmaceutical industry.

Advised in the acquisition of and merger into a biotech/healthcare company based in North Carolina.

Assisted a major Brazilian real estate investor to immigrate to the US, start a new business, acquire US real estate and reorganize his Brazilian and offshore investments. This involved obtaining a new passport and visas, international tax and corporate structuring, real estate advice and business planning.

Advised, as lead investor counsel, in a reorganization, US$1 million bridge loan, and US$7 million strategic investment by a leading pharmaceutical company in a biotech/medical company based in California.

We advised a US juvenile products brands in its proposed joint venture with a Hong Kong-listed group.

We represented a US based graphite material science company in the sale of its majority stake in a French joint venture to the minority partner.

Our US corporate, corporate tax and wealth planning groups worked to close this deal, which included a purchase price allocation for personal goodwill and post-closing installment payments under promissory notes, secured by underlying shares subject to a voting agreement. The deal pay-out also included employment arrangements, insurance-related payments and a potential dividend payment.

The Newlat Group is one of the top ten players in the Italian food sector, with a turnover exceeding US$355 million. Its business is focused on milk and wheat-based products, with an existing base of 11 production plants. We advised Newlat on the acquisition of Kraft Heinz’s Italian infant food and nutraceuticals production plant. The Parma plant owned by US food giant Kraft Heinz, produces the well-known Plasmon biscuits as well as pasta, liquid milk, dry milk and cereals, among other products. The deal included an arrangement for Newlat to manufacture infant milks and nutrition products including Kraft Heinz owned products.

Advised on a acquisition of an international high frequency trading and ultra-high frequency trading business. The deal involved various assets located in the US, Europe, Japan, Korea, and Singapore.

Counsel to Astelit, a Ukrainian telecommunications company, controlled by Turkish GSM operator Turkcell, on a US$540 million financing - the then largest private financing in Ukraine - to expand its mobile network.

We acted on behalf of the holding company and shareholders behind one of the largest conglomerates of heavy industrial companies in Russia. The company was in dispute with a bank over the basis of a loan the bank had given it. The complex legal proceedings included an LCIA arbitration in London, anti-suit injunctions and injunctions in the Netherlands.

Increasingly, we are called upon to represent corporate clients in international arbitration. For example we acted at the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) on behalf of a subsidiary of an Azerbaijani company that was in dispute with a conglomerate of Israeli companies over a joint venture agreement. The case related to a license to drill oil just off the coast of Israel.

A Chilean client engaged us to advise on their investment in the AIM-listed Brazilian gold producer Serabi Gold.

Assisted a major Brazilian real estate investor to immigrate to the US, start a new business, acquire US real estate and reorganize his Brazilian and offshore investments. This involved obtaining a new passport and visas, international tax and corporate structuring, real estate advice and business planning.