Since the start of January 2019, law firm King & Wood Mallesons has strengthened its Frankfurt, London, Madrid and Milan offices, promoting two lawyers to partner in London and Madrid, the addition of Daniele Raynaud as a partner in Milan and Hilke Schmidt to counsel in Frankfurt.
Lequn Su (Joe) has been named a partner in the firm's banking and finance practice. Based in London, Joe has extensive experience acting as English law and Hong Kong law counsel for both lenders and major corporate borrowers on structured, acquisition, real estate and project financings including all financing structures specific to China and the Asian market, as well as asset-based lending. Joe also represents banks and corporates on debt and corporate restructuring matters.
Ildefonso Alier has been named a partner in the firm's investment funds team. Based in Madrid, Ildefonso has 15 years' of experience in incorporating fund managers, fund raising process, secondary transactions, fund restructuring and due diligence processes.
With 35 years of experience Daniele Raynaud acted as managing partner first, then head of office of Ashurst in Italy from its foundation in 2000. In 2009, he formed his own boutique in Italy, advising private equity houses, corporates and M&A advisors on private equity, corporate, M&A, capital markets and structured finance, restructuring and real estate matters. Based in Milan, Raynaud, who joins alongside Senior Associate Barbara Degli Esposti, will serve as Head of Corporate for King & Wood Mallesons Italy.
Transaction expert Hilke Schmitt joins King & Wood Mallesons Frankfurt office as counsel. Hilke has over ten years' experience in M&A, private equity and restructuring, having previously worked in other international law firms.
Wang Rongkang, Managing Partner of KWM EUME, said: "We have plans for further growth across our Europe and Middle East offices, with a particular focus on corporate, private equity and real estate. The strength and depth of our EUME practice is very important for the firm's international strategy, and I am pleased to make up partners internally as well as deepen our bench with strategic lateral hires."
King & Wood Mallesons EUME practice comprises offices in Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, London, Madrid and Milan. We advise clients on Banking & Finance, Corporate, Private Equity, M&A and Commercial, Dispute Resolution & Litigation, Employment, Securities, Real Estate, Projects, Energy & Resources, Competition, Regulatory and Tax issues.
Further, KWM's reputation in Europe and the Middle East is going from strength-to-strength. Recently, the Lawyer named Wang Rongkang as a Hot 100 2019 Leader - for demonstrating leadership skills and aspiring to be the "Asian giant" in the City. In 2018, London office Managing Partner Darren Roiser was acknowledged as a Hot 100 litigator.
Recent selected examples of our cross-border experience involving EUME offices include:
-
KWM London and China currently advising on Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) and Chinese Depositary Receipts (CDRs) to be issued under the Shanghai-London Stock Connect scheme.
-
KWM Madrid advising EDP Group, Portugal's dominant power provider and largest listed company, on China Three Gorges launched takeover of EDP-Energias de Portugal and EDP Renováveis groups.
-
KWM Frankfurt advised on the closing of Bohai Automotive's participation in TRIMET Automotive following successful foreign investment control proceedings in Germany.
-
KWM Dubai advising on construction related matters for Chinese companies investing in Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Port Free Trade Zone.
-
KWM London and China teams advised Luye Pharma on its transaction signed with AstraZeneca relating to the sale and licence of the rights to Seroquel and Seroquel XR (Products) in the UK, China and 49 other international markets.
-
KWM Frankfurt and China teams advised on the refinancing of EUR 3.7 billion for China Midea Group for the acquisition of German robotics company KUKA AG.
-
KWM London and China teams advised Weichai Power one of China's leading automobile and equipment manufacturing companies on its equity investment and framework agreements with AIM listed Ceres Power, a world leading developer of fuel cell technology including its unique patented SteelCell® technology.
-
KWM Madrid team advised E&I fund on the sale of a majority stake of a European renewable portfolio to a Chinese energy group.
-
KWM London and China teams advised UK-based Vaccitech in its collaboration with China-based CanSino Biologics, to develop a new vaccine approach to prevent shingles (herpes zoster).
-
KWM Madrid advised IREA Corporate Finance, a financial and strategic advisory firm specialising in the real estate and hotel sectors, on the sale of a majority stake to Colliers International Group Inc, a leading global real estate services provider.
-
KWM London corporate team advising Cheung & Sons Holdings Limited on establishing "Perse" branded schools in Mainland China and Hong Kong SAR.
-
KWM's Frankfurt, Dubai and London teams advised on Republic of Kazakhstan's Issuances under Global Medium Term Note Programme.
