Financial Times Ranks Latham & Watkins Among Most Innovative Law Firms in Asia-Pacific

Latham & Watkins was recognized among the leading innovative law firms in the inaugural Financial Times Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers report, which is published in conjunction with research partner RSG Consulting. Latham was commended in the Corporate, Finance and International Strategy categories in the report which ranks “law firms that have brought original thinking and practices to business issues.” 

Latham & Watkins’ corporate and finance teams from across the firm’s Asia practice earned recognition in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers report for work that was a market-first and ground-breaking in Asia. 

In Finance & Capital Markets:

• Highly Commended for advising Goldman Sachs as underwriters to the issuance of the “first payment-in-kind (PIK) toggle notes by an Asian company”
• Highly Commended for representing New Century on its landmark real estate investment trust IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, “the first Chinese hotel REIT”
• Commended for serving as counsel to the lenders on the precedent-setting Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Hydroelectric Power Plant Project, a $1bn development project between Laos and Thailand which has significant implications across the region 

In Corporate & Commercial:

• Highly Commended for advising Hong Kong Television Network on its sale of Hong Kong Broadband Network and telecom business to CVC for $630m, which required “complex regulatory approvals and unique restructuring work” 

In International Strategy:

• Standout for the firm’s innovative, multi-faceted New Silk Road programme which “fosters the development of capital markets and has developed the firm's high-yield business in Asia” 

“We are proud to work with some of the most innovative companies and financial institutions in this dynamic and exciting region. Collaboration and innovation are always paramount but doubly so in the fast-evolving business and regulatory environment in Asia. We are honored to win recognition for our work on some of the most complex and milestone matters that have far-reaching implications for business in Asia-Pacific and globally,” said Bryant Edwards, Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Asia Practice.