The firm's China-based attorneys offer a wide array of legal services and work closely with their colleagues in the United States and Europe to leverage the firm's experience and resources on a global scale. Led by six Greater China-based partners who are recognized experts in U.S. and Hong Kong capital markets, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance, our fully integrated team has approximately 40 bilingual professionals. Drawing on WSGR's comprehensive platform of services and expertise, our firm also represents both U.S.- and Asia-based companies and funds in corporate, private equity, and venture capital investments; joint ventures; technology transactions; intellectual property matters; antitrust counseling; arbitration; and litigation. Of note, the attorneys in the firm's Hong Kong office advise clients on matters governed by both U.S. and Hong Kong laws.
When it comes to private equity, WSGR's China attorneys regularly act for financial sponsors across the complete spectrum of buyout and investment transactions, including public company "take-private" deals, private investments in public equity (PIPEs), private company buyouts, growth and later-stage financings, venture capital investments, and various portfolio company transactions. Our clients include many leading PE and growth equity funds in both the U.S. and China, such as Warburg Pincus, Sequoia Capital China, Boyu Capital, CDH Investments, and L Catterton. In addition, we have represented U.S.- and China-based corporate clients, including DJI and Tencent, in their investments and acquisitions, as well as with respect to technology transactions.
The first announced application of a "poison pill" for a Chinese company listed in the U.S.
Buyer consortium and management shareholders in the $1.1 billion privatization of Zhaopin Ltd.
Sequoia, a major shareholder and a member of the buyer consortium, in the $9.3 billion privatization of Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd.
Tencent, the largest shareholder and a major member of the buyer consortium, in the $689 million privatization of iDreamSky Technology Ltd.
Sequoia, a major shareholder and a major member of the buyer consortium, in the $888 million privatization of Bona Film Group Ltd.
WSGR's strength in litigation rests on a sophisticated understanding of our clients' businesses and our ability to execute creative and aggressive responses to the problems commonly encountered by public and private companies, whether it is in their best interests to sue, defend, settle, or engage in alternative dispute resolution. Our expertise includes litigation related to securities, mergers and acquisitions, antitrust issues, intellectual property, and corporate governance.
Hebei Welcome Pharmaceutical Co. and North China Pharmaceutical Group (NCPG) in antitrust litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and on appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Fang Holdings in shareholder class actions in the U.S.
SinoTech Energy in shareholder class actions and SEC investigations in the U.S.
A-Power Energy in shareholder class actions and SEC investigations in the U.S.
We also successfully defended a private equity consortium in the first expedited hearing process brought under the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (HKIAC), obtaining a complete victory for the client, including dismissal of all claims and an award of substantial costs and fees.
We partner with technology, life science, media, and growth enterprises of all types to leverage and protect their intellectual assets most effectively. Our strengths in technology transactions and IP matters, together with our China-based corporate attorneys, position us to serve technology-focused growth enterprises in China.
We help companies build and implement successful new business models, develop and execute strategic IP litigation, structure and negotiate technology and media transactions, and consult on long-term IP strategies. We have an on-the-ground team in Beijing supporting a Mandarin-speaking U.S.-based IP team, and handle patent prosecution and other IP work for a broad range of Chinese companies, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. We have also represented Chinese companies in complex cross-border technology transactions, such as Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd. (Hengrui) in its global licensing deal with Incyte and its licensing arrangements with Oncolys BioPharma.
Widely recognized as one of the top global competition law practices, WSGR's antitrust attorneys assist clients with the most important bet-the-company litigation, merger reviews, conduct investigations, and cartel matters. We advise clients regarding a full array of counseling and compliance issues, including pricing, distribution, vertical restrictions, standard-setting activities, joint ventures, and patent pooling. In addition, the firm has extensive experience representing clients in antitrust matters before U.S. courts and international competition authorities, including China's National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). Among other matters, WSGR successfully represented Hebei Welcome Pharmaceutical Co. and North China Pharmaceutical Group before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which overturned a judgment against both companies in litigation involving allegations of vitamin C price-fixing. The firm also represented Seagate in connection with its acquisition of Samsung's hard-drive division.
When Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) issues arise, WSGR has a team of national security attorneys ready to advise clients regarding the CFIUS process and represent them at every stage of review. When appropriate, we work to engage CFIUS in informal discussions concerning the proposed transaction. When clients seek formal CFIUS review, our attorneys assist in preparing submissions to CFIUS and dealing with its departments and agencies. We also have the experience required to interact with other key stakeholders in the CFIUS process, including members of the U.S. Congress, and, where necessary, to prepare for and deal with the public attention and scrutiny that CFIUS may bring to a proposed transaction. Our national security team includes attorneys who have served as senior officials in the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. military, and the U.S. Department of State—all of which are charged with enforcement and oversight of national security laws and regulations.