Legal giants act on hot US$964m IPO

Seven firms have lent their expertise to list a fast-growing Chinese hotpot chain on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKEX).

Haidilao debuted on the HKEX raising US$964m last month. Sidley Austin was the lead counsel for the company, with a team led by partners Constance Choy, Mengyu Lu, and Kefei Li. They were supported by senior China advisor Linda Ruan, counsel Claudia Yu, associates Samantha Peng and Angela Zhang, China advisor Bill Feng, and legal assistants Chuanwen Wang and Eason Qu.

Jingtian & Gongcheng was Haidilao’s Chinese counsel, while Lee and Li was Taiwan counsel and Drew & Napier advised the company on Singaporean law. Offshore firm Conyers Dill & Pearman was also involved in the deal.

The joint sponsors and underwriters – which include CMB International, Goldman Sachs and China International Capital Corp. – were advised by Clifford Chance and Grandall Law Firm. Clifford Chance, as lead counsel to the group, fielded a team led by Tim Wang, its co-managing partner in China.

Wang was supported by partners Virginia Lee and Jean Thio. The team also included counsel Tianning Xiang, senior associates Claire Cao and Gehuan Liu, associate Vicky Zheng, and trainees Luyi Jiao, Lin Shang, and Peng Jiwen.