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Skyscraper city scape with bridge and green space
Skyscraper city scape with bridge and green space

China (Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong)

We have been in China for over 30 years and, in 1993, were one of the first international law firms to obtain official approval from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Ministry of Justice to register an office in Beijing. We have one of the most experienced China practices in the region, and have the ability to advise on Australian, Hong Kong, UK and U.S. law.

Services in relation to PRC law are provided through Allen & Overy Lang Yue (FTZ) Joint Operation Office  ,a joint operation in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone between Allen & Overy LLP and Shanghai Lang Yue Law Firm, as approved by the Shanghai Bureau of Justice.

We offer a substantial full-service practice from our three strategically located offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, advising clients on a broad range of national, cross-border and multidisciplinary deals and disputes. Our China practice provides a one-stop service to clients across a broad range of practice areas (including Corporate/M&A and Private Equity, Equity Capital Markets/IPOs, Banking and Finance, Antitrust/Competition, Intellectual Property, Dispute Resolution and Regulatory) covering a variety of sectors including Energy and Natural Resources, Financial Institutions, Industrial and Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Transport, Life Sciences, Real Estate, Retail and Consumer Goods, and Technology, Media and Telecom.

Our China team has a robust understanding and extensive experience of the many practical and legal issues that our clients, both Chinese and international, face in China, and the majority of our lawyers are fluent in both English and Mandarin.

We also advise Chinese clients on their investment and business operations overseas. We have a strong reputation for cross-border work and multijurisdictional transactions, leveraging our network of international offices seamlessly and cost-effectively.

Our experience

The Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China

The Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China

  • The joint lead managers in connection with the offering of USD6 billion sovereign bonds by the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China. This marks China’s biggest U.S. dollar-denominated bond issuance on record and is the largest Reg. S offering by an Asian sovereign to-date.
  • The joint lead managers in connection with the offering of EUR4bn sovereign bonds by the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China. This is China’s first Euro-denominated bond issuance in 15 years.
  • The joint lead managers and joint bookrunners in connection with the offering of USD3bn sovereign bonds by the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China.
  • The joint lead managers and joint bookrunners in connection with the offering of USD2bn sovereign bonds by the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China. This is the first foreign currency bond offering by the Ministry of Finance since 2004

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China

In connection with its USD1bn green bond issuance. This is the first issuance under the government’s HKD100bn green bond programme.

Bank of China

Bank of China

The joint lead managers in connection with the issuance of Belt and Road Initiative-themed USD3.8bn equivalent multi-tranche and multi-currency bonds by Bank of China Limited under its USD40bn medium term note programme.

China Three Gorges International

China Three Gorges International

On the USD1.7bn project financing to develop a 720MW hydropower project located on the Jhelum River. The Karot hydro project is one of the largest foreign investments and pieces of infrastructure in Pakistan. This ground-breaking project included many “firsts” and is one of the key “Pak-China” projects
Global Investment Bank

Global Investment Bank

On a number of FCPA, corruption, and regulatory investigations by U.S., European and Hong Kong regulators and enforcement agencies concerning the hiring of “sons and daughters” or “princelings” – individuals who have connections with influential political and economic people.
Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley

On a bespoke real estate bond financing for a consortium of buyers to fund the acquisition of The Center, one of Hong Kong’s prime commercial buildings. This was an unprecedented transaction in the Hong Kong real estate financing market and combined expertise from our banking, capital markets, derivatives and structured finance, real estate finance and regulatory practices.
China Resources Enterprise and China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company

China Resources Enterprise and China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company

On their long-term PRC-exclusive and worldwide non-exclusive strategic partnership and collaboration with the Heineken Group to the value of almost USD4bn. This deal was FinanceAsia’s M&A Deal of the Year 2019, and was nominated for M&A Deal of Year 2019 at the ALB Hong Kong Law Awards. 
Duiba Group

Duiba Group

As Hong Kong and U.S. legal counsel in connection with its initial public offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Reckitt Benckiser Group

Reckitt Benckiser Group

A UK-based multinational consumer goods company on the establishment of a joint venture for the distribution of its Hygiene Home products in the PRC, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.
Ping An Group and Ping An Overseas Holdings, together with another investor

Ping An Group and Ping An Overseas Holdings, together with another investor

On the acquisition of a controlling interest in iTutorGroup.
Hong Kong International Construction Investment Management Group

Hong Kong International Construction Investment Management Group

On the disposal of a special purpose vehicle which holds a parcel of land in the Kai Tak Area, valued at USD885m, to HKSE-listed property developer Wheelock & Company.
China CITIC Bank

China CITIC Bank

On the USD2.5bn senior loan facility to a subsidiary of Tianqi Lithium for the acquisition of a stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A (SQM)., a company listed on the Santiago Stock Exchange. This landmark transaction is a major investment by one of China’s largest lithium energy players in SQM, the world’s biggest lithium producer. The deal won “Finance Deal of the Year” from Asia Legal awards 2019.
BMW

BMW

On its contract extension for the JV BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd and its intention to increase its stake in BBA from 50% to 75%. This was the first move by a foreign automotive brand to take a controlling stake in an automotive manufacturing joint venture in China.
Diageo

Diageo

On its partial tender offer, through its wholly owned subsidiary Grand Metropolitan International Holdings Limited, to increase its aggregate equity stake in Sichuan Shuijingfang Company Limited from approximately 39.71% to up to 60%. The deal won “M&A Deal of the Year” from IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2019.

Our offices

Beijing
  • Beijing

    Allen & Overy LLP Beijing Representative Office (UK)

    46th Floor China World Tower A, No. 1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue Beijing

    Beijing

    100004

  • +86 10 6535 4188
  • Send email
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Hong Kong
Shanghai

News & insights

Boat on a river

Publications: 08 JANUARY 2020

Hong Kong insurance market: growth and change

The Hong Kong insurance industry is going through an exciting period of growth and regulatory transition. The current regulatory framework has changed somewhat since the Insurance Authority (IA) took over responsibility for regulation and enforcement of insurers in June 2017.

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News: 07 JANUARY 2020

Allen & Overy expands China capabilities through Joint Operation with Shanghai Lang Yue Law Firm

Allen & Overy announced today that it has received approval from the Shanghai Bureau of Justice for its Joint Operation with Shanghai Lang Yue Law Firm (“Lang Yue”) in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

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Beijing

News: 04 DECEMBER 2019

The People’s Republic of China issues its largest-ever US dollar sovereign bond

Allen & Overy has advised the joint lead managers in connection with the offering of USD6 billion sovereign bonds by the Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China.

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Publications: 13 NOVEMBER 2019

Regulation of technology import: China

Despite being both lawful and commonplace to choose foreign governing law and foreign forum in a technology import contract entered into between a foreign transferor and a Chinese transferee, it is impracticable for the foreign party to the contract to avoid the Chinese court when it seeks to enforce against the Chinese counterparty. As the Chinese court is virtually inevitable where enforcement is sought against the Chinese transferee, so is the application of mandatory Chinese law.

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Media contact

Madhu Mirpuri
Madhu Mirpuri

Marketing and Communications Manager

APAC

Hong Kong

Contact details
Hong Kong

  • Allen & Overy

    9th Floor, Three Exchange Square, Central

    Hong Kong

  • View office

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