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Eventual lateral to Hong Kong with M&A experience?

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 2:58 pm
by Anonymous User
Hi there. Does anyone have thoughts on breaking into HK market with middle market M&A, as opposed to capital markets experience? For what it's worth, this would be someone with no Mandarin or Cantonese abilities. Despite a personal reason for being there, I know the language issue may pose problems on its own. Thanks in advance.

Re: Eventual lateral to Hong Kong with M&A experience?

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 8:04 pm
by Anonymous User
check major Hong Kong players' website and see which practice areas have the most non-chinese speakers. I would say M&A is definitely one of those areas.

The major Hong Kong players are the traditional magic circles firms: Clifford Chance, Allen Overy, Freshfields, Linklaters, Slaughter and May; and the global elite firms from the US: Skadden, KE, LW, DPW, STB, and also Cleary, Sidley and Ropes. IPO and debt CM is definitely popular there in Hong Kong, but they also prefer mandarin speakers. M&A/PE might be a better area to break into.