- www.: whitecase.com
- Asia Section Head: Barrye Wall
- Number of partners in Asia: 42
- Number of fee-earners in Asia: 200
- Number of staff in Asia: 370
- Number of staff worldwide: 4,000
Firm Overview:
White & Case enjoys a reputation as one of the world’s leading law firms. As a pioneering international firm, their cross-border expertise and depth of local, US and UK-trained lawyers help clients achieve their business objectives across the world’s developed and emerging markets. The firm has offices in almost all of the G20 economies, and leading practices where regulations preclude it from having a presence. This benefits clients in Asia as they seek guidance on opportunities both within and outside of the region. Bringing deals to completion in Asia can be challenging – each market is dynamic as well as distinct in terms of culture, history and risk profile. The firm’s local knowledge, insights, contacts and know-how have seen it assisting clients on their deals into, within and out of Asia for more than 30 years. Beyond office locations in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, it has dedicated country practices focused on Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand. Many of the firm’s lawyers in offices outside of Asia have Chinese, Japanese and other Asian language skills, enabling White & Case to readily facilitate out-bound transactions for its Asia-based clients.
Main Areas of Practice:
Asset Finance:
All areas of asset finance, with particular expertise in aviation, shipping and general equipment leasing.
Banking & Finance:
Leveraged and acquisition finance, bilateral and syndicated lending as well as all aspects of credit transactions, derivatives and structured finance. The firm is also strong in restructuring and insolvency.
Capital Markets:
Rule 144A/Regulation S offerings and private placements of high-yield, debt, convertible and exchangeable bonds; IPOs and other public offerings; MTNs/EMTNs, pre-IPO and PIPE transactions; equity and debt repurchases; and other capital restructurings.
Competition/Antitrust:
Merger reviews and filings, governmental investigations and investigations as well as antitrust counselling.
Corporate/M&A & Private Equity:
All areas of complex cross-border transactions including mergers, acquisitions, leveraged and management buy-outs, joint ventures, take privates, minority investments and corporate restructurings.
Dispute Resolution & Arbitration:
Cross-border disputes and arbitration experience with specialist expertise across the oil and gas, construction, petrochemical, telecommunications, infrastructure, steel, real estate, financial services and electronics sectors.
Energy, Infrastructure & Projects:
Expertise in advising lenders, sponsors, offtakers and contractors on project documents and project financing for projects in the oil and gas (especially LNG), petrochemical, mining and metals, power, renewable and clean technology, and telecommunications sectors
Intellectual Property:
Commercialisation of IP rights through joint ventures, assignments, licensing, strategic alliances and other structures as well representing clients in all aspects of IP enforcement and infringement proceedings.
International Trade:
Trade disputes, antidumping, countervailing and other trade investigations, customs,export control, and regulatory and compliance matters, as well as strategic advice on the negotiation, implementation and practice of trade and investment agreements in ASEAN, India, East Asia, the Pacific, and WTO.
Investment Funds:
Buyout, traditional private equity, special situations, growth capital and hedge fund work acting for managers and sponsors on fund formation, regulatory, licensing and restructuring matters with particular expertise in the alternative assets sector, as well as acting for certain investors in the real estate and private equity fund sectors.
Real Estate:
Real estate finance, real estate investment funds and real estate joint ventures with specialist expertise in Japan and China in hard asset and debt acquisitions and financings, debt buy-backs and workouts of distressed properties.
Tax:
International tax planning, transfer pricing and tax controversy expertise including defence and resolution of tax controversies in audits, domestic appeals, and government-to-government consultations.