IFLR 1000
The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

Mayer Brown JSM is one of few international firms that can truly boast of having a critical mass of experienced lawyers who speak Mandarin, Cantonese and English and also a deep understanding of the Chinese legal market because of its on-the-ground footprint in China.

This year the team advised Li & Fung on its proposed acquisition of Integrated Distribution Services Group by way of privatisation pursuant to a scheme of arrangement. Partners Patrick Wong and Derek Tsang led on the HK$4.38 billion ($563 million) transaction.

"The Firm is fantastic in keeping an open line of communication with clients, guiding them with logical intelligence, and holding their hands every step of the way," says one client. "Mr [Martin] Robertson brought unrelenting yet harmonious skills to the negotiation table. We could not have finalised the joint venture agreement under favourable terms without him. We very often pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe how amazing he was to beat every single argument that came his way. Mr Robertson was always accessible, by telephone or e-mail, armed to the teeth, and ready to go to war. His legal judgment and business acumen are beyond reproach. He is truly brilliant. When it comes to Mr [Patrick] Wong, he knows our case like the back of his hand. Winning cases is important, but he views those wins in grander terms – the firm changes the game for everybody."

Mayer Brown JSM has invested heavily in its capital markets practice this past year, with the hires of partners Jason T Elder and Ben Sandstad. Both partners bring deep corporate finance, debt and securities-related experience that should be a substantial asset to the firm's team.

Recently, Mayer Brown JSM represented state-owned Beijing Enterprises Holdings and Mega Advance Investments as United States and Hong Kong legal counsel in relation to the issuance of $600 million 5% guaranteed senior notes due 2021 and $400 million 6.375% guaranteed senior notes due 2041.

One of Mayer Brown JSM's most important differentiations in the market is the firm's strong relationships with the Hong Kong branches of international banks and local Hong Kong and Chinese clients. The firm's critical mass of bi-lingual and dual qualified partners and associates means that Mayer Brown JSM is well equipped to serve the needs of these clients. These aspects also mean that the firm is well placed to benefit from the new trend of Rmb-denominated loans coming out of Hong Kong.

"They're very knowledgeable, very experienced and very flexible," says one client. "They are good in cases related to China exposure, of Hong Kong companies related to Chinese companies. They have been very innovative."

Recently, the Mayer Brown JSM banking team represented Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong's first ever Rmb-syndicated loan, advising the bank on its role as mandated and coordinated arranger. The value of the multi-currency loan facility for large integrated solutions railway signalling provider China Automation Group was US$50 million, and the offering was highly oversubscribed.

Mayer Brown JSM's financial services regulatory practice advises clients on securities, commodities and insurance regulations, and compliance, licensing and regulation of financial services.

One client commented on Mayer Brown JSM's offerings by saying, "Both of the lawyers we worked with were just excellent. They understand the issues and they take time to understand the government's concern, as the government has to take into account the broader public interest and explore solutions that can be implemented in the industry. Their solutions were pragmatic, and we think that their expertise is first-class."

Mayer Brown JSM has strong, genuine Chinese language capabilities and a deep understanding of the China and Hong Kong markets. This helps the firm establish successful relationships with local Hong Kong and Chinese companies looking to do cross-border M&A work.

Experienced partner Martin Robertson receives high praise from clients. "Mr Robertson brought unrelenting yet harmonious skills to the negotiation table," says one, "we could not have finalised the joint venture agreement under favorable terms without him. We very often pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe how amazing he was to beat every single argument that came his way. Mr Robertson was always accessible, by telephone or e-mail, armed to the teeth, and ready to go to war. His legal judgment and business acumen are beyond reproach. He is truly brilliant."

Mayer Brown JSM's strong China law capabilities allow them to meet the growing demand for advising on the inbound and outbound project work done by major Chinese financial players across the region. This gives them a special niche in a budding practice area. For example, Mayer Brown JSM's team recently advised China Development Bank in connection with $78 million and $45.3 million term loan facilities to Tianjin Julong Jiahua Investment Group and Tianjin Bangzhu Trading for 22,000 hectare palm plantation projects in Indonesia.

Banking practitioner Alastair MacAulay also lends his expertise in asset finance to the strength of the practice. Mayer Brown JSM also has significant project work across Southeast Asia, including work with Korean, Vietnamese and Indonesian entities.

Mayer Brown JSM has a large, dedicated restructuring and insolvency team consisting of four partners and one senior consultant, and advises on both high-profile restructurings and insolvencies.

With strong local links clients and peers agree that Mayer Brown JSM deserves its tier one, with John Marsden coming in for particular praise: "I find John Marsden to be well balanced and have good business sense. Based on the work we've done with them, I would rate Mayer Brown JSM very highly, as we're very pleased with the work they've done for us." The client adds that, "This isn't just based on what I've seen, but what an ex-partner believed as well!"

Richard Tollan also receives special praise from clients for his insolvency litigation skills. "We've won the court cases we've had to make," says one, "and Tollen was instrumental in that. I think it took pick and shovel work and it was very good because the work was complicated and some of it was just down to perseverance. I'd rate them as a five out of five, and would use them again in a heartbeat."

Mayer Brown JSM continues to advise nine liquidators of the Asian based Lehman Brothers Group entities in all aspects of liquidations relating to the company. The firm is involved in advising on asset recoveries relating to pre-liquidation transactions with assets valued over $10 billion, as well as the reconciliation of a number of intercompany trading accounts including OTC derivatives. The company advises on difficult cross-border transactions arising from the Lehman matters.

Mayer Brown JSM also continues to serve as counsel in the restructuring of the First Mobile Group Holdings. The team advises Malaysian and Hong Kong banks in relation to a proposed restructuring by way of a debt sale or scheme of arrangement with a potential investor. The team also represents the banks on issues relating to the preservation of claims against third parties and accounts receivables due and owing to the First Mobile Group.

Mayer Brown had "another strong year and is becoming a major player in Vietnam", comments a rival. "I'd recommend Mayer Brown JSM. I don't believe there is a better banking team after working with them," says one client.

Leading the team is Dao Nguyen, a highly regarded practitioner who is "technically very strong and extremely knowledgeable and very methodical in her approach", according to one peer.

The team acted as Vietnamese legal adviser to Vietinbank in connection with a $182 million equity and a $125 million subordinated debt investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and its Capitalisation Fund in Vietinbank.

Partner Hoang Anh Nguyen, "one of the most underrated practitioners in banking and capital markets", according to one partner, led the team in assisting one of Vietnam's largest private sector companies, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, to become the first Vietnamese company to list overseas, with an offering of $57 million in global depositary receipts (GDR) on the LSE.

Another highlight for the team was advising the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunication Group as the borrower on a $540 million syndicated loan agreement with BNP Paribas and Natixis as arrangers and other credit institutions.

With Dao Nguyen "possessing expertise in various field", the team advised on the restructuring, merger and acquisition of assets, liquidation and dissolution of the two subsidiaries of Yokohama in Vietnam.