Trio of Magic Circle Lawyers Joins Morrison & Foerster as Partners in Asia

Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that three Magic Circle lawyers have joined the firm as partners in Asia. In Hong Kong, Chuan Sun and Vivian Yiu have just started at Morrison & Foerster, coming to the firm from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Allen & Overy, respectively. In Singapore, Yemi Tépé has joined Morrison & Foerster from Clifford Chance, with immediate effect.

“Hiring Chuan, Vivian, and Yemi illustrates our continued investment in Asia following the recent arrivals of partners Jason Nelms in Hong Kong and Joshua Isenberg in Tokyo. Their decision to join Morrison & Foerster from Magic Circle firms also highlights the attractiveness of our platform, which highly talented lawyers can leverage to build their practices,” said Eric Piesner, firmwide managing partner with responsibility for Asia and managing partner of Morrison & Foerster’s Singapore office. “In addition to being outstanding practitioners, our new group of partners brings the deep regional experience that closely aligns with the needs of our clients.”

Ven Tan, managing partner of Morrison & Foerster’s Hong Kong office, added: “We continue to establish MoFo as a leading law firm in Hong Kong with an exceptional reputation in China. Both Chuan and Vivian are important additions to our China team and they enhance our ability to execute both inbound and outbound China transactions. They are outstanding lawyers with highly complementary skills and strengths to support the firm’s corporate practice and its clients.”

Chuan Sun has joined Morrison & Foerster as a partner in its Technology Transactions Group. Mr. Sun focuses his practice on cross-border M&A transactions, sophisticated technology, media, and telecom (TMT) transactions and complex IP/commercial matters across Greater China. Mr. Sun regularly advises multinational corporations, state-owned enterprises, private companies, and private equity and venture capital firms in complex cross-border M&A transactions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and business separation transactions. He also has significant experience in strategic corporate-commercial and technology transactions, including outsourcing, manufacturing, distribution, supply, and franchising arrangements, and IP licensing arrangements across multiple industries. Mr. Sun has a deep understanding of the relevant Chinese regulatory requirements and is a native Mandarin speaker. He earned both his J.D. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University, his M.A. from The Ohio State University, and his undergraduate degree from Peking University.

“MoFo has a leading technology transactions practice both in Hong Kong and across the globe,” Mr. Sun said. “The firm’s commitment to the TMT sector gives me an ideal opportunity to access key international markets and grow my practice.”

As previously announced, Vivian Yiu has joined Morrison & Foerster as a partner in its Corporate Department and officially started at the firm this week. Ms. Yiu has significant experience in Hong Kong capital markets offerings and China-focused M&A matters, and has advised on a broad range of corporate transactions for more than 15 years. Her Hong Kong equity capital markets experience includes initial public offerings, listings and private placements, rights issues and placings. Another focus of her practice is advising Greater China corporate clients on public and private M&A matters in Hong Kong and Asia generally. She is fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese. Ms. Yiu earned her P.C.L.L from the University of Hong Kong and her B.A. from the University of Oxford, Wadham College.

“Morrison & Foerster is extremely well regarded in Greater China, with some of the most highly respected corporate lawyers in the region,” Ms. Yiu said. “I look forward to using my experience of working with both Chinese and international companies to further build the firm’s corporate practice in Hong Kong and across Asia.”

Yemi Tépé has joined Morrison & Foerster as a partner in its Financial Transactions Group. Ms. Tépé is qualified in England and Wales and advises leading banks and financial institutions, major corporates, and private equity sponsors. Her practice focuses on Asia cross-border acquisition and leveraged finance, public to private takeovers, debt structuring and restructuring, syndicated lending, and subscription line financing. Her extensive deal list includes multi-billion dollar transactions on both the lender and borrower side and she has significant experience working on cross-border transactions across the South East Asia region, Europe, and Japan. Ms. Tépé is ranked as “Up and Coming” – Banking and Finance by Chambers Global and Chambers Asia-Pacific 2016. She received her LPC from the College of Law, London and her L.L.B. from the University of Essex.

“MoFo’s clear strength in Asia and commitment to Singapore drew me to the firm,” Ms. Tépé said. “Having worked in London, Tokyo, and Singapore, I can see many opportunities ahead to deliver great service to our clients in the Pan-Asia region, while expanding the firm’s English law capabilities globally.”

Source:  www.mofo.com