International law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is to open an office in Hong Kong, PRC, further expanding its international footprint in Asia.

Squire Sanders announced a significant step forward in implementing its strategy to continue developing its presence in the Asia Pacific region.

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) on the RMB189 million (approximately USD30 million) investment by its affiliate in convertible bonds in Hong Kong listed Li Ning Company Limited, a leading sports brand enterprise in China. GIC is an existing investor in Li Ning and this investment, which was made alongside a larger investment by TPG, takes GIC’s aggregate investment (together with its affiliates) to approximately 8% of the fully diluted share capital of Li Ning, assuming the bonds are fully converted.

Shearman & Sterling advised Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Banc of America Merrill Lynch, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, UBS AG Singapore Branch and Barclays Bank PLC, as underwriters, in connection with the offering of US$1 billion in aggregate principle amount of 5.4% Guaranteed Senior Notes due 2022 of Reliance Holding USA, Inc. (Reliance), a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). The Notes are guaranteed by RIL.

DLA Piper announced today that it had advised the consortium of Korea Investment Management Co., Ltd., Samsung Securities Co., Ltd. and Daewoo Securities Co., Ltd. (the “Consortium”) in the acquisition of US$308 million worth of US oil assets in the Ankor offshore field (the “Ankor oil assets”) from Ankor E&P Holdings Corporation (“AEPH”) — a wholly owned US subsidiary of Korea National Oil Corporation (“KNOC”). The Ankor oil assets are located in the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico, consisting of five producing offshore oil fields and various undeveloped leasehold interests.

Paul Hastings, a leading global law firm, announced today that it is advising the purchaser, Ascendas Hospitality Holdings Pte Ltd (“Ascendas”), Asia’s leading provider of business space solutions, in the entering of a sale and purchase agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of listed hotel developer Rosedale Hotel Holdings Limited for the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of More Star Limited, a company indirectly holding Rosedale Hotel Kowloon. The purchase is for a consideration of approximately HK$1.3 billion. The parties also agreed on terms for another subsidiary of Rosedale Hotel Holdings Limited to lease back the hotel for a period of six years from the date of completion.

The Hong Kong office of the Firm represented the underwriters, led by Citibank Global Markets Limited and DBS Bank Limited, in the offering of US$300 million principal amount of Zero Coupon Convertible Bonds (the “Bonds”) by Pegatron Corporation (“Pegatron”).

Morrison & Foerster is pleased to announce that Melody He-Chen, a leading corporate lawyer with broad experience in capital markets, securities regulation and corporate finance, has joined the firm’s Hong Kong office as a partner in the Corporate Group. Ms. He-Chen has an extensive background representing investment banks and Chinese, American, and international companies from a wide variety of industries in an array of transactional capacities, including public offerings, private placements, debt offerings, private equity, mergers & acquisitions, cross-border joint ventures and financings. She also advises on corporate governance and compliance matters. Her addition, coupled with the recent promotion of Gregory Wang to partner in Hong Kong, adds depth to the firm’s robust capital markets expertise.

International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has advised Yum! Brands Inc., a U.S.-based fast food company and owner of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell chains, on its US$570 million acquisition of Little Sheep Group Ltd., a Hong Kong-listed, Mongolian hot-pot restaurant operator. The privatization scheme was approved by shareholders in January and the scheme became effective on 1 February having been sanctioned by the Grand Court in Cayman Islands.

Herbert Smith’s China energy team has advised Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration & Production Corporation (“SIPC”) on the subscription through its subsidiary for additional shares in Australia Pacific LNG Pty Ltd for a net consideration of approximately US$1.1 billion, which on completion will raise Sinopec’s ownership interest from 15% to 25%. ConocoPhillips’ and Origin Energy’s respective ownership interests will be reduced to 37.5%.