Kristen Kwok
Partner
Hong Kong
Our team acted as Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands (BVI) legal counsel to members of the coordination committee of bank lenders in the holistic restructuring of the offshore debt of Sino-Ocean Group Holding Limited (Sino-Ocean). This US$5.5 billion cross-jurisdictional transaction stands among the largest and most complex financial restructurings in the real estate sector to date.
Partners Paul Aherne and Kristen Kwok advised on BVI and Cayman law aspects of the financing arrangements, with support from senior associates Charisa Yeung and Helena Chu, supported by specialist advice from our restructuring and corporate teams. Our teams collaborated closely with the CoCom's legal advisers, A&O Shearman, and other advisers to implement a comprehensive restructuring plan.
Recognised across private equity and capital markets
Across Asia, our multidisciplinary team advises clients throughout the lifecycle of their businesses and investments, bringing together expertise across Investment Funds & Corporate, Finance, Insolvency, Restructuring & Dispute Resolution, Regulatory & Risk Advisory, Private Capital & Trusts and Walkers Professional Services (WPS).
Our three other significant cross-jurisdictional transactions were also shortlisted at this year’s awards, spanning private equity and equity capital markets.
- Securities Deal of the Year: Equity: Pony AI's US$860 million dual primary listing
We advised Pony AI Inc. (Pony AI), a global leader in the large-scale commercialisation of autonomous mobility, on its dual primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. 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 and Kevin Ho, and assisted by senior associate Beverly Lui, advised Pony.ai on all Cayman Islands legal aspects of this transaction and its NASDAQ IPO in 2024.
Private Equity Deal of the Year: Warburg Pincus' leveraged buyout of Acclime
We are acting as Cayman Islands and BVI counsel to Warburg Pincus in connection with their acquisition of Acclime, a leading provider of corporate and business services across APAC with 2,000 professionals operating across 18 markets and serving 17,000 clients across the region. Through their investment, Warburg Pincus seeks to assist Acclime with their next phase of growth, international expansion and innovation.
Finance Partner Paul Aherne is advising on BVI and Cayman Islands law aspects of the financing arrangements with support from legal manager Carina Chan, while Investment Funds & Corporate partner Mark Cummings is advising on the corporate matters from a BVI and Cayman Islands law perspective relating to the acquisition itself. Additionally, Private Capital & Trusts partner Monique Bhullar and Investment Funds & Corporate partner Mark Cummings are advising on structuring of management incentive arrangements.
Private Equity Deal of the Year: Energy Monster's US$327 million take-private transaction
We acted as Cayman Islands counsel to Trustar Capital as a member of the buyer consortium in connection with the US$327 million acquisition and take-private of Nasdaq listed Smart Share Global Limited (Energy Monster), a leading provider of mobile device charging solutions in China.
The team, led by Investment Funds & Corporate partner John Cartwright, supported by senior associate Flora Lo and senior paralegal Lirann Tse, has been working closely with Celia Ng and the wider WPS team.
Helping clients handle complex cross-border matters
The matters recognised at this year’s awards span restructuring, private equity and equity capital markets, from a major financial restructuring to take-private transactions and public listings. The recognition reflects the cross-jurisdictional nature of the firm’s work across Asia and the role of its teams in bringing together legal and professional services expertise across practices and jurisdictions.
Our legal and professional services teams advise across Bermuda, the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Ireland and Jersey law, providing pragmatic and commercially focused advice on complex restructurings, disputes, transactions and investments.
