Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has lured William Woo to its corporate practice in Hong Kong. He will join the international law firm in two weeks time as a partner in its Hong Kong office.
Woo specialises in capital markets, private equity and M&A work and has extensive experience in corporate transactions across the region. He has been hired from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe where he was a partner, and was previously made a partner at Allen & Overy in 2008.
“[Woo] brings with him a wealth of experience that will prove extremely valuable to our clients and further enhance our market leading reputation in the Greater China region for equity capital markets and M&A. The appointment also underscores our absolute commitment to further developing our corporate practice across the Asia region,” said Freshfields Asia managing partner Robert Ashworth in a statement yesterday.
Freshfields has 18 partners in Hong Kong and 33 in Asia as a whole. There are 14 partners working in the corporate practice within the region, including nine in Hong Kong.
Woo has represented Chinese and international companies, public sector entities, private equity firms, and international investment banks in their corporate transactions across Asia.
He has advised clients in the renewable energy, financial services, real estate, mining, agriculture and food, technology and telecommunications industries.
“We’re seeing activity levels pick up so we’re particularly happy that [Woo] is joining us at this time,” said Freshfields China chairman Teresa Ko.
Woo has represented issuers from a wide range of sectors and underwriters on their Hong Kong securities offerings. He has recently advised a number of companies in the minerals and mining sector on their proposed Hong Kong IPOs and a Chinese bank on a significant rights issue. He has also represented major investment banks, private equity firms as well as Chinese state-owned enterprises and international companies on their investment activities.
