Financial Institutions in Asia

In Asia, Debevoise Regularly Leads on Some of the Most Significant Insurance Transactions in the Region


The team in Asia has a long track record in working with a range of domestic financial institution clients, as well as international clients active in the region. This experience has given the team a deep knowledge of both the industry and the deal market that few can match.

The practice works closely with banks, insurance and reinsurance firms, asset managers, private and listed funds, intermediaries and other financial institutions. The team includes lawyers admitted to practice in New York, England & Wales, and Hong Kong, and includes a significant number of Mandarin speakers.

In Asia, Debevoise regularly advises clients on significant mergers and other critical transactions, as well as related regulatory, compliance and arbitration issues.

The team in Asia is led by Edwin Northover, Hong Kong-based corporate partner and Head of Financial Institutions in Asia.

The team also works closely with colleagues in the U.S., Europe and Russia on multijurisdictional transactions that run 24/7. Our Banking Group has over 20 lawyers and counsels clients with respect to their international operations. The team has extensive experience counselling banks, thrifts, insurance and brokerage firms and other financial institutions on a wide range of matters, including complex mergers, acquisitions, and other transactions; international regulatory and compliance issues, including issues arising out of financial reform efforts; litigation and enforcement matters; and new product developments. The firm advises clients on transactional, compliance and regulatory issues stemming from their business activities.

Debevoise is also a recognized leader in the field of compliance with international anti-money laundering (“AML”) requirements, including those imposed by the USA Patriot Act, the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act and the U.K.’s Proceeds of Crime Act, U.S. economic and trade sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), and E.U. economic and trade sanctions promulgated by the European Commission and implemented by the Member States.