Baker & McKenzie Private Equity Group Solidifies Asia Pacific Dominance of Private Equity
Awards
8 March 2012
Hong Kong, 8 March 2012 – Baker & McKenzie has solidified its position as a dominant law firm in Asia Pacific for advising private equity fund formation and transactions, following the Firm clinching two significant new accolades.
At the 2011 Global Private Equity Real Estate (PERE) Awards, Baker & McKenzie was awarded Asia Deal of the Year for Invesco Real Estate's takeover of AIG Global Real Estate's Asia business. American International Group’s sale of the Asia component of its real estate fund management platform to Invesco Real Estate involved the sale of USD5.4 billion in assets under management, resulting in the assets of Invesco's Asia real estate division multiplying by ten times to almost USD6 billion.
The Invesco Real Estate / AIG deal also took third place at the PERE Global Deal of the Year Awards.
The cross-border Baker & McKenzie team involved funds, real estate and employment lawyers from Chicago and Hong Kong – Addison Braendel, Ed West, Jason Ng, Edmond Chan, Jennifer Van Dale, Emma Pugh, Sai Kai Ng, Shiu Man Wan, Candice Chia and Derek Kwan.
Baker & McKenzie also took out second place as Asia Law Firm of the Year (Fund Formation) and Asia Law Firm of the Year (Transactions) at the Global PERE Awards.
Following closely after the Firm being ranked in the top tier for Private Equity in Asia Pacific in Chambers & Partners, Dorothea Koo and Ai Ai Wong, Baker & McKenzie's Asia Pacific co-heads of Private Equity congratulated the cross-border and cross-practice group team. "It's important for us to provide a joined up service across the region and the globe to continue to deliver excellence from our legal teams and exceed our clients' expectations," Dorothea said.
The award follows Baker & McKenzie clinching Private Equity Team of the Year at the UK Legal Business Awards earlier this year, and Private Equity (mid-market) Deal of the Year at the 2011 Canadian Dealmakers Awards earlier this month.
Mark McNamara, the global head of Private Equity at Baker & McKenzie, said, "These series of accolades demonstrate our global leadership in executing complex transactions and providing excellence in global service to our clients. We thank them for their continued support."
The Firm has recently released a new Insights Report on "Finding the Right Line: Negotiating a Challenging Market" in Private Equity. The 2012 report addresses issues of concern for private equity, including the effects of market volatility, increasing regulation and commercial challenges to raising funds, and includes commentary from lawyers, fund managers, banks and corporates on the current state of private equity.