Global law firm Reed Smith was named a finalist for the Asia Legal Awards 2017. The awards, hosted by The Asian Lawyer in association with China Law & Practice, The American Lawyer and Legal Week, showcase the top firms, lawyers and deals of 2017 across the Asia-Pacific region.
The firm was named through its participation in the $500-million major debt restructuring for long-term client Winsway Enterprises (now known as E-Commodities Holdings) which was shortlisted in the category of Finance Deal of the Year: Restructuring and Insolvency.
The recognition follows a win for Reed Smith in the Equity Deal of the Year category in 2015 for advising on a high-profile IPO for Dalian Wanda.
The Winsway restructuring was led by corporate partner Michael Fosh in a cross-border and cross-practice effort involving the firm’s Beijing, Hong Kong and New York offices. The team advised Winsway on the $50 million rights issue to fund the restructuring, as well as Hong Kong listing and regulatory compliance issues and chapter 15 recognition proceedings in New York.
The team members were: in Beijing, corporate associates Venus Kwan, Joanne Wong and Michael Lian, and legal consultant Jane Wang; in Hong Kong, corporate partners Denise Jong and Delpha Ho, and litigation partner Desmond Liaw; and in New York, finance partner Michael Venditto and corporate and securities partner Gerry DiFiore.
Stephenson Harwood advised Winsway on the Hong Kong scheme of arrangement and Walkers advised on the BVI scheme of arrangement, which proceeded in tandem with the Hong Kong scheme. Akin Gump advised the bondholder steering committee.
For more information and to view Reed Smith's shortlisting, please visit chinalawandpractice.com.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm, with more than 1,700 lawyers in 26 offices throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States.
For further information, please visit www.reedsmith.com or contact Jeyda Star (Senior PR and communications manager) on jstar@reedsmith.com or +44 (0)20 3116 2571.