Firm Profile
Paul, Weiss has maintained one of the strongest China practices among international law firms since the beginning of the period of economic openness and reform. In 1981, Paul, Weiss became one of the first foreign firms to establish an office in Beijing.
The firm first opened an office in Hong Kong in 1984, and in 1998 the Hong Kong office was qualified and registered as a Hong Kong law firm, enabling us to advise on Hong Kong law matters. In the years subsequent, the firm has assembled a multinational team of Western-trained, Chinese-speaking attorneys with expertise in Chinese law and international business transactions, and close involvement in numerous precedent-setting foreign investment transactions in China.
For three decades, Paul, Weiss has been a leader in almost every kind of transaction and in every sector in China, including in the areas of capital markets, project finance and private equity. We have been very active in foreign direct investment and M&A, including the establishment of, or transactions concerning, foreign-invested companies limited by shares (with or without listed shares), investment holding companies and offshore investment structures for China assets. The firm also draws upon its expertise to play an active role in novel financing transactions, as Chinese enterprises and projects are increasingly seeking access to international capital markets.
Paul, Weiss represents numerous leading multinational companies from the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, as well as Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries in their China-related matters, including:
- private equity transactions representing buyout and investment firms,including general partners, limited partners, co-investors and other equity stakeholders, as well as private companies, portfolio companies, lenders and financial sponsor groups; mergers and acquisitions involving Chinese, foreign and foreign-invested enterprises;
- establishment of foreign invested enterprises, including equity and cooperative joint ventures, wholly foreign-owned enterprises and holding companies;
- representation of investment funds and asset management companies in public and private securities offerings and direct investment activities in China;
- representation of Chinese enterprises investing in the United States and elsewhere outside of China;
- project finance, including representation of developers, lenders, investors and financial advisers in power, telecommunications, oil and gas, and other infrastructure projects;
- representation of underwriters, issuers and controlling shareholders in offerings of equity and debt securities and other capital markets activities, including "N", "H" and "B" share listings, and Rule 144A offerings;
- real estate development and construction contracts;
- lending to Chinese domestic and foreign-invested enterprises;
- technology transfer and other licensing arrangements;
- protection of intellectual property, including trademark, patent, copyright and unfair competition matters;
- sales, agency and distribution contracts;
- establishment of representative offices;
- representation of foreign banks and other financial institutions in their activities in China;
- representation of banks arranging commercial paper programs of Chinese issuers in the U.S.;
- tax planning for foreign companies and foreign-invested enterprises;
- dispute resolution in the United States and China (both CIETAC and PRC local arbitration), including arbitration and informal settlement, as well as cooperation with Chinese counsel in sophisticated PRC litigation; and
- petroleum and mineral exploration and development, "midstream" pipeline construction, operation and financing projects and "downstream" manufacturing and marketing activities.
Paul, Weiss has been involved in transactions in a variety of industries throughout China, including communications (telecommunications, Internet, broadcast and other media), entertainment, power, aviation, property development, petroleum, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, automotive, computer, consumer goods and machinery.
We also have extensive experience and contacts in areas of active foreign investment interest such as Shanghai, Tianjin, Beijing, Nanjing, Guangdong, Suzhou, Xiamen, Shandong and Chongqing. Where necessary, the firm works closely with qualified PRC counsel throughout China.
The Paul, Weiss China practice is staffed principally by lawyers in the firm's Beijing, Hong Kong and New York offices, with support from the firm's Washington and Tokyo offices.
Over the years, Paul, Weiss has been a market leader in industry surveys and has earned the following recognition:
- a "Tier 1" international firm for private equity in China and Hong Kong by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2011/2012
- a "Tier 1" international firm for TMT in China and Hong Kong by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2011/2012
- a "Tier 1" recommended firm for private equity in China and Hong Kong by the IFLR 1000 Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms, 2012
- winner of "International Private Equity Team of the Year" by China Law and Practice at the CLP Awards 2011 winner for the tenth time of the "IT/Telecoms Law Firm of the Year" by Asian Legal Business at the 2011 ALB Hong Kong Law Awards
- a "Band 1" leading firm for Corporate M&A: Private Equity in Asia, and for Private Equity: Buyouts in China by Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2011
- a "Band 1" leading firm for TMT in information technology and telecommunications and broadcasting in China by Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2011
- a "Leading Firm" for private equity in China and Hong Kong by the PLC Cross-border Private Equity Handbook, 2011
- winner of "Private Equity Deal of the Year" at the China Law and Practice Awards 2011 for our involvement in the General Atlantic Soufun Holdings Investment transaction
- winner of "M&A Deal of the Year" at the Asian Legal Business Hong Kong Law Awards 2011 and "Real Estate and Construction Deal of the Year" at the China Law and Practice Awards 2011 for our involvement in the Shanghai Disneyland transaction
- winner of "Taiwan Deal of the Year" at the Asian Legal Business Hong Kong Law Awards 2011 for our involvement in the Carlyle Taiwan Cable TV Business Sale
- winner of "Private Equity Deal of the Year" at the Asian Venture Capital Journal (AVCJ) 2011 China Private Equity and Venture Capital Awards for our involvement in KKR’s investment in China International Capital Corporation (CICC)
- winner of "Deal of the Week" in AVCJ’s June 7, 2011 issue for our involvement with Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia’s investment in Yongye International
- a "Leading Private Equity and Venture Capital Firm Across Asia" in 2010 and 2009 by Asian Legal Business
- winner of Asian-Counsel's "TMT Firm of the Year" in 2010 and 2009
- winner of the November 2010 M&A "Deal of the Year" by Asian-MENA Counsel for our involvement in the creation of Shanghai Disneyland
- winner of the March 2010 M&A "Deal of the Year" by Asian-MENA Counsel for our involvement in the Interstate Hotels and Resorts acquisition
- winner of Global Law Experts' (GLE) "2010 Chinese – Telecoms Law Firm of the Year"
- one of the top three in the "Best Law Firm (Transactions) In Asia" category at Private Equity International magazine’s Private Equity International Awards, 2009
- voted a "Headline Transaction Leader – International Firm" by Asian Legal Business' Leading M&A Firms survey, 2009
