Allen & Overy has continued with its recent drive to expand its China coverage, announcing the appointment of seven new consultants. The move follows an increased push by the international law firm into the Greater China region, underscored by the appointment of Peter Thorp as managing partner in Beijing.
From Hong Kong, Wayne Bannon becomes a consultant in the A&O banking group, after previously holding a position in its Japan offices. Throughout his legal career Bannon has honed his skills as an asset and structured finance specialist, acting for lessors, export credit agencies (ECA), commercial lenders and airlines on a variety of structures across different asset classes.
Recently, he acted for China Southern Airlines on the first Japanese operating lease (JOL) for a Chinese carrier. Bannon has also been involved in several ship financing deals, including advising lenders and financiers on limited resource and tax lease of vessels.
Joining Bannon as a consultant in the Hong Kong-based banking group, Yvonne Ho brings emphasis on structured and asset finance to the role. Over the years, she has acted for finance providers and borrowers in telecommunications financings, financing of property development projects, financing involving REITs, acquisition finance and secured and unsecured loan facilities.
On the asset finance side, Ho has also acted for financiers and airlines over a range of transactions and structures, including ECA supported financings, tax leases, pre-delivery financing operating leases, portfolio sales, sale and leasebacks and new and used aircraft purchases.
Across the border in Shanghai, the banking group will also welcome Matthias Voss as a consultant. First relocated to Shanghai in November 2003, Voss has advised on international and PRC projects and structured financings, which include LNG production projects in South East Asia and Nigeria, power projects in China, the UK, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey and Cameron. He has also gained experience in corporate and general financial transactions, M&A and foreign direct investment in China.
Back in Hong Kong, Fai Hung Cheung will has been appointed as a consultant in the litigation group and will draw on experience in SFC and HKEX regulatory matters and commercial litigation involving derivatives, commercial fraud, asset freezing, contentious insolvency work, scheme of arrangement, examination of directors and trust litigation among other specialities. He also brings specialisation in complex commercial litigation, involving disputes on swaps and options, hedge funds and commercial fraud to the role.
In A&O's corporate group, Jacqueline Lim brings corporate finance and M&A experience to her new role. Her experience also extends to regulatory matters and she has acted on IPOs including offerings of red chip enterprises and H shares, rights issues and other notable transactions. Lim was also the lead associate on the restructuring and merger of the Bank of China Group, the subsequent listing of BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited, the spin-off and listing of Hopewell Holdings' PRC infrastructure business and the listing of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearings Limited.
Also making consultant in the Hong Kong-based corporate group, Judith Wong has advised multinationals, banks, securities firms and tertiary educational institutions on employment matters including contracts and handbooks, change of employment terms, termination cases and employment issues arising from business transfers. Her expertise extends to advising on employment aspects in M&A and corporate finance transactions, as well as labour disputes in the Labour Tribunal and discrimination issues such as sex and disability discrimination claims and dealing with the office of equal opportunities commission.
In the Hong Kong international capital markets group Walter Son will continue to advise on capital markets transactions including straight debt, convertible and exchangeable bonds, GDRs and equity linked investment as a consultant. Son also brings broad experience in advising connection with derivatives and structured finance-related matters to the role.
