Debevoise & Plimpton today announced that William Y. Chua has joined the firm as a partner in the corporate practice in Hong Kong.
Mr. Chua is a broad-gauged transactional lawyer with deep experience in private equity and strategic M&A, finance and capital markets. He significantly strengthens the firm’s transactional capabilities in Asia, complements the firm’s leading private equity funds practice in the region and reinforces its growing strategic M&A practice in financial services and other sectors. Mr. Chua’s arrival represents the latest in a series of strategic moves that Debevoise has made in Asia in recent years.
Mr. Chua is joining the firm from Sullivan & Cromwell, where he was a partner for 13 years and previously led the firm’s Beijing office. A Hong Kong native, Mr. Chua began his career in New York before returning to Hong Kong, and has practiced in Asia for over 15 years. He is dual-qualified in New York and Hong Kong.
Mr. Chua has advised on M&A deals throughout Asia. His experience spans private equity and strategic deals and includes takeovers, leveraged buyouts, “going private” transactions, divestitures and spinoffs. He also has a significant finance and capital markets practice, including debt and borrower-focused acquisition and leveraged finance, and IPOs.
The major legal directories recognize Mr. Chua as one of the leading lawyers in the region, with Chambers Asia Pacific ranking him for both M&A and capital markets work. The guide states he is “one of the most diligent US lawyers in town,” and “has substantial experience of handling PRC-related deals.”
Debevoise was one of the first firms to advise the private equity sector as the industry emerged in Asia. It continues to be home to one of the region’s leading funds practices. The addition of Mr. Chua allows Debevoise’s practice in Asia to offer private equity clients a highly qualified team of senior lawyers able to provide a one-stop-shop service.
Last year, the firm converted its Hong Kong office to become a local practice. Earlier this year, Debevoise recruited Mark Johnson, one of Asia’s most highly regarded litigators, as a partner in the Hong Kong office.
Michael W. Blair, Presiding Partner at Debevoise, commented: “We are steadily building on our market-leading capabilities in the region. William brings us deep transactional experience in Asia combined with the cultural background and language abilities that our clients need.”
Andrew M. Ostrognai, Hong Kong Managing Partner at Debevoise, commented: “William’s arrival in Hong Kong is the latest step in ensuring we continue to offer our clients the highest-quality advice in the full spectrum of their activities. Our global private equity practice prides itself on being a one-stop shop for the sector’s most successful funds. Adding William to the team means we can now back up that promise in Asia as well. I’m excited to work with William in continuing to build our practice in the region.”
William Y. Chua commented: “Debevoise’s reputation as one of the highest-quality global firms makes this move an exciting prospect for me. The firm’s collaborative culture and its ability to bring to bear its expertise from around the world on each transaction are particularly attractive. I’m looking forward to joining the team in Hong Kong.”
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients’ most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgment and a distinctively collaborative approach.