Hong Kong, June 27, 2006 – LAWFUEL – Law News Network – Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP announced today that Edwin Luk, a leading China-focused securities and capital markets lawyer, has joined the firm’s Hong Kong office as a partner. Luk is the first lateral hire by the firm’s Hong Kong office, which opened last November when all of Coudert Brothers’ Hong Kong lawyers joined Orrick.
“Expanding Orrick’s existing capabilities in the securities and capital markets practice is a strategic priority for us globally as well as in China,” said Cam Cowan, managing partner of Orrick’s China practice. Edwin joins Orrick’s deep bench of securities and capital markets practitioners in New York, London, San Francisco and Hong Kong. “Edwin has an impressive track record in corporate finance and extensive experience representing Chinese companies seeking a Hong Kong or other overseas listing.” said Cowan.
With the Chinese economy continuing its rapid expansion, many Chinese companies are seeking access to private equity funding and international capital markets. In many cases, these companies seek to attract foreign capital and foreign investors through the listing process, and do so by listing shares simultaneously in Hong Kong, the United States, London or elsewhere. Such complex transactions involve a myriad of corporate, securities, tax, accounting and other regulatory issues, and extensive due diligence.
“The number of Chinese companies seeking a Hong Kong, U.S. or other overseas listing is growing exponentially, and our China team has a pioneering reputation as one of the very few firms able to provide these sophisticated services on a multi-jurisdictional basis,” said Christopher Stephens, partner-in-charge of the China team. “These transactions require a depth of capability onshore in China to fully understand and restructure the issuing business, and then to advise the players on the benefits, requirements and risks associated with listing in these markets. We completed four IPOs and a secondary placing in 2005, and Edwin will greatly enhance our ability to grow this important practice even further,” said Stephens.
Luk joins a strong team of securities and capital markets lawyers in Orrick’s Hong Kong office. The Hong Kong capital markets team, which joined Orrick from Coudert Brothers last year, is led by Edward Fung, a leading practitioner in Hong Kong with more than 20 years experience.
“The combination of Orrick’s strengths and reputation in capital markets with Coudert Brothers’ legacy and experience in China is a tremendous advantage for clients,” said Luk. “Orrick’s strong U.S. relationships among top-tier investment banks and its extensive international network provide a terrific opportunity for the China capital markets practice, and I am very excited to contribute to its success.”
Prior to joining Orrick, Luk was senior counsel at O’Melveny & Myers. He has represented public companies with a primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, investment banks and private equity funds on a wide range of mergers and acquisitions transactions and compliance matters including investments in or takeovers of Hong Kong listed companies, corporate and debt restructurings and private equity investments.
Luk also has significant experience acting for underwriters and issuers on initial public offerings on both the Main Board and the Growth Enterprise Market of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange which includes advising on spin-offs, introductions, and listings of “H” Shares and investment funds.
About Orrick’s China Focus
Orrick’s lawyers enjoy an outstanding reputation worldwide for their work relating to the People’s Republic of China. With lawyers resident in Hong Kong, Orrick’s China Practice Group is well-versed in foreign direct investments, project finance, investment funds, China securities work, liquidations, mergers and acquisitions, land use and development, intellectual property, licensing and infringement, technology transactions, and arbitration and dispute resolution. Orrick also has an office in Taipei to support the firm’s rapidly growing base of clients headquartered in Taiwan.
Orrick’s China practice was recently strengthened with the arrival of lawyers from Coudert Brothers – the first international firm in Hong Kong and China.
About Orrick
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is an international law firm with more than 850 lawyers in North America, Europe and Asia. The firm focuses on litigation, complex and novel finance and innovative corporate transactions. Orrick clients include Fortune 100 companies, major industrial and financial corporations, commercial and investment banks, high-growth companies, governmental entities, start-ups and individuals. The firm’s 16 offices are located in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Orange County, Pacific Northwest, Hong Kong, London, Milan, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Taipei and Tokyo.
