John has advised on a wide range of corporate, commercial and financial services transactions since coming to Hong Kong in 1983. These have included mergers and acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, debt and equity fund raisings, reorganisations and restructurings. Many have been cross-border and have involved advice on the Listing Rules and Takeovers and Share Repurchase Codes in Hong Kong.

John founded the firm in 2010. He previously spent 27 years at Stephenson Harwood in Hong Kong, including 7 years as Managing Partner of the Hong Kong and China offices.

John has been consistently ranked as a leading lawyer for corporate and M&A since 2004. See his directory rankings here and testimonials here.

John was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge University, graduating in 1979. In his spare time, John draws, paint and sculpts.

Lawrence has extensive experience in capital markets and corporate finance. He advises on every stage of development of his corporate clients’ businesses, including the initial set-up, private equity investments, group reorganization, listings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, rights issue and share placement, board migrations, spin-offs, corporate governance, general offers, whitewash waiver applications, share buy-backs, privatizations and resumption applications. He also advises leading private equity firms and financial advisers in corporate finance transactions.

Lawrence’s expertise is to design the deal structure to fulfil the objectives of different parties in a transaction. With his extensive knowledge of securities law, listing rules and takeovers code in Hong Kong and his experience in multi-jurisdiction transactions, Lawrence provides innovative solutions with sound legal and commercial considerations to resolve the complicated issues faced by clients in structuring a deal.

To see a sample of Lawrence's professional activities over the years, please click here.

Lawrence graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1997 and was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 2000.

Lawrence speaks fluent Cantonese, Mandarin and English.

• HK$390 million private equity fund-raising of a natural gas company based in Sichuan
• HK$44 million private equity fund-raising of a Hong Kong based internet media company
• HK$200 million acquisition by a Hong Kong listed company of a payment system business in China
• Group reorganization of a precision electronics company based in Guangdong, in preparation of its proposed listing on Hong Kong Stock Exchange
• HK$1.5 billion private equity fund-raising of a Shanghai based engineering company
• Disposal of a 1.2 million tonnes cement production line in Guizhou to a Hong Kong listed company
• HK$100 million acquisition by a Hong Kong listed company of a gold mining business in Henan and Xinjiang
• HK$380 million acquisition by a Hong Kong listed company of a gold mining and smelting business in Shandong
• Advising an OTCBB listed company on its group reorganization, completion of a HK$275 million private equity investment, and its successful listing on the Main Board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Kathryn is a general corporate and commercial lawyer with experience in acquisitions and disposals of assets and shares, fund raising, joint ventures and cross-border restructuring. She also advises listed clients on debt offerings and ongoing regulatory and compliance matters.

Kathryn trained and initially practiced at Stephenson Harwood in London before relocating to Stephenson Harwood’s Hong Kong office in 2008 where she spent 8 years in the Corporate Department. Kathryn joined J.S. Gale & Co in September 2016.

Kathryn studied law at the London Guildhall University, graduating in 1995 and was admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales in 2001 and in Hong Kong in 2011.

Vivian advises on a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions in Hong Kong, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings and reorganisations and other general corporate and commercial matters. Vivian is also fluent in Mandarin and is experienced in dealing with PRC related matters.

Vivian graduated Bachelor of Laws from the University of Hong Kong in 1998 and obtained her LLM at University College London, University of London in 1999, specialising in corporate and commercial law.

Vivian was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 2003 and in England and Wales in 2008. Prior to joining this firm, Vivian was a corporate solicitor for Hong Kong office of Clyde & Co.

In her spare time, Vivian enjoys reading and travelling.

• Advised private client on the disposal of a business relating to childrens' education for HK$27,000,000
• Advising on the refinancing and disposal of part of a group in financial difficulties, and liquidation of the remaining group.
• Advising on the acquisition of a 12% shareholding in a listed company for HK$2,600,000,000

• Assisted a listed utility with its 50/50 joint venture acquisition of a 60% stake in a power generation company for HK$24,000,000,000
• Assisted a listed manufacturer on loan financing and restructuring its joint venture development project for HK$1,000,000,000

• Helped a listed client with its rights issue and issue redeemable and convertible preference shares to raise HK$159,000,000
• Advised a family office on the exit from an investment project by way of a reverse takeover in Singapore

• Sale of a manufacturing business to private equity

• Advising controlling family shareholders on reorganisations of assets and succession issues
• Stamp duty relief applications for transfers of shares and property
• Reviewing management structures for family offices

• Advising on connected transactions between 2 listed companies
• Helping a listed company hold a hybrid AGM due to Covid-19 and amending its Articles for this purpose
• Advising on maintenance of electronic corporate records

• Refinancing and disposal of part of a group in financial difficulties, and liquidation of the remaining group
• Assisting with refinancing, loan recovery and insolvency aspects of loans to a PRC property developer for HK$500,000,000

• Advising on acquisitions which involve takeover offers, whitewash transactions and special deals
• Obtaining waivers for reorganisations of concert party groups of shareholders

• Professional services engagements
• Manufacturing agreements
• Partnership agreements
• Indemnities

This is a non-exhaustive list of typical projects handled by the firm for its clients

John's Rankings summarised

• 2015 - 2020 Tier 1 - Leading Individual
• Corporate/M&A: Independent Hong Kong Firms - China (Chambers Asia-Pacific)
• 2008 - 2014 Leading Individual
• Corporate/M&A: Hong Kong & China Deals (Chambers Asia-Pacific)
• 2004 - 2007 Leading Individual
• Corporate/M&A(Chambers Global)

Some of John's testimonials

• "Technically strong and has a keen awareness of the commercial issues. He knows the Hong Kong market extremely well and leverages that treasure trove of knowledge and experience to achieve good results" Chambers Asia-Pacific – 2020
• "Clear legal advice and a commercial approach" Chambers Asia-Pacific - 2017
• "We go to him for more complex transactions" Chambers Asia-Pacific - 2016
• "Very good at coming up with tailor-made solutions. He doesn't provide the standard factory output advice, he is much more creative than that." Chambers Asia – Pacific - 2013

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