Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced today that it will launch a Hong Kong law practice later this year and that Celia Lam and Christopher Wong will join the Firm as partners in Hong Kong once the Firm has completed the necessary regulatory measures in connection with the launch of the Hong Kong practice. Ms. Lam will join Simpson Thacher from the Hong Kong office of Linklaters, where she has served as a partner. Mr. Wong will join from the Hong Kong office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he has served as a partner.
The Hong Kong law practice will enhance the Firm’s existing and very successful China practice built over the last two decades. Adding Hong Kong law qualification will enable the Firm to offer clients broader capabilities, particularly with respect to capital markets and mergers and acquisitions transactions. Ms. Lam and Mr. Wong will work closely with the Head of the Firm’s China Practice, Leiming Chen, as well as with more than 45 other lawyers currently resident in Hong Kong and Beijing.
Pete Ruegger, Chairman of Simpson Thacher’s Executive Committee commented, “Celia and Chris are preeminent corporate lawyers in the Greater China market. We are delighted that they will join us as we expand our China practice to include the offering of Hong Kong law. The addition of their skills and talent will strengthen the already outstanding capability that we offer clients in transactions involving Greater China.”
As one of the leading lawyers in Hong Kong, Celia Lam brings 18 years of experience in representing leading Chinese corporations and sovereign entities and their advisors in corporate finance and general corporate matters. Her experience includes advising clients on a wide variety of corporate transactions, such as securities offerings including Hong Kong and dual listed initial public offerings, foreign direct investments in China and outbound mergers and acquisitions. She is fluent in Cantonese, English and Mandarin.
Christopher Wong, also a prominent practitioner, specializes in corporate finance with a particular emphasis on matters involving Chinese enterprises, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and securities offerings. A partner at Freshfields since 2005, he has been resident in that firm’s Beijing, Hong Kong and London offices. He has represented issuers and underwriters in IPO transactions; companies in their rights offering; and outbound and inbound M&A transactions for Chinese corporates, multinational companies and private equity funds.
Leiming Chen, the Head of Simpson Thacher’s China Practice said, “Launching a Hong Kong law practice demonstrates the Firm’s strong commitment to the region, and the addition of Celia and Chris are integral to this move. Having worked with each of them on numerous transactions in the China market, we have come to respect their great skill and depth of experience. Their high degree of professionalism and dedication to their clients make them a great fit for Simpson Thacher.”
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