James Gaden
Partner
Hong Kong
The recognition highlights three key areas shaping today’s capital and innovation landscape, including asset management, structured finance & securitisation, and AI, technology & telecoms. It builds on our longstanding track record and underscores the breadth of our expertise across some of the region’s most significant work. These accolades reinforce our focus on delivering clear, pragmatic legal solutions that support clients as they navigate increasingly sophisticated legal and regulatory environments and grow their businesses.
We thank our clients for the trust they place in us, and China Business Law Journal for this recognition.
Our work is also consistently recognised by leading legal directories, including Chambers Asia Pacific and The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, where our teams hold top‑tier rankings across key practice areas.
Walkers is a leading international law firm advising on the laws of the Cayman Islands, BVI, Bermuda, Guernsey, Ireland and Jersey. We bring decades of experience across investment funds, corporate, finance, insolvency, restructuring and disputes, delivering joined up offshore advice across key investment hubs. Our teams provide round-the-clock support for clients operating across global markets, further strengthened by on-the-ground Asia regulatory specialists and our Walkers Professional Services team.
Deals recognised at the China Business Law Awards 2026:
GL Capital's USD240m continuation fund launch
We acted as Cayman Islands legal counsel for GL Capital, a leading investment firm focused exclusively on healthcare, on the launch of its single-asset continuation vehicle for SciClone Pharmaceuticals. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority acted as the lead investor on this transaction. The deal was one of the largest GP-led secondaries transactions in China and allowed GL Capital to retain control of a high-performing asset while providing liquidity to investors.
This transaction was led by Investment Funds & Corporate partners James Gaden and Kevin Ho, supported by senior associate Flora Lo. Our Asia Regulatory & Risk Advisory team, led by partner Natalie Curtis and supported by counsel Jason Hung and associate Bonny Louw, advised on the regulatory aspects of the transaction. The Walkers Professional Services team also supported the transaction in parallel.
Pony AI's dual primary listings on Nasdaq and HKEX
We acted as Cayman Islands legal counsel to Pony AI Inc. (Pony AI), a global leader in the large-scale commercialisation of autonomous mobility, in relation to its dual primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). This IPO marks a major milestone in Pony AI’s growth journey, enabling the company to accelerate its go-to-market strategy, scale its Level 4 autonomous driving technology, and invest further in research and development across its key markets.
Our team, led by partners Mark Cummings, Kevin Ho, and assisted by senior associate Beverly Lui, advised Pony AI on this transaction and its NASDAQ IPO in 2024.
InSilico Medicine's HKEX IPO listing
We acted as Cayman Islands legal counsel to InSilico Medicine Cayman TopCo (InSilico Medicine), a reputable AI-driven biotechnology company with global operations, on its successful IPO on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), backed by 15 cornerstone investors including Eli Lilly, Tencent and Temasek.
Our team, led by partners Andrew Barker and Mark Cummings, and supported by senior associates Beverly Lui and Flora Lo, and associate Samantha Currie, worked closely with InSilico Medicine's lead counsel Davis Polk & Wardwell to ensure seamless execution across multiple jurisdictions.
Shimao's $US11.5bn offshore debt restructuring
We acted as Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands (BVI) legal counsel the coordination committee of bank lenders (the CoCom) in the successful restructuring of over US$11.5 billion in offshore debt for Shimao Group Holdings Limited (Shimao). Completed through a court-sanctioned Hong Kong scheme of arrangement, this milestone transaction marks one of the most complex and prolonged restructurings in the Chinese real estate sector. It paves the path for creditors and stakeholders resolving multi-jurisdictions challenges in the Greater China property market.
Our team, led by partner Shirleen Tan with support from senior associate Helena Chu and legal manager Carina Chan, collaborated closely with A&O Shearman and other advisors to deliver a seamless, multi-layered restructuring process, including several project and asset-based bank debt refinancings.
Reference: https://www.walkersglobal.com/en/About-us/News/2025/08/Restructuring-of-Shimao-Group-Holdings
JD.com USD520m privatisation of Dada Nexus
JD.com completed the USD520 million privatisation of Dada Nexus at USD2 per American Depositary Share (ADS), leading to Dada’s delisting from the Nasdaq and transformation into a JD.com subsidiary. The move concluded the public market journey of Dada, which listed at USD16 per ADS as China’s first US-listed instant commerce company before facing prolonged profitability challenges. The buyout signals deeper business synergies and heightened competition within China’s instant commerce sector. In this deal, we acted as Cayman Islands legal counsel for the dissenting shareholders.
The team was led by partner Rupert Bell.
