Ashurst in Asia

The combination of Ashurst and Australian firm Blake Dawson in March 2012, when we combined our Asian practices before the full integration on 1 November 2013, paved the way for our Asia practice to grow from strength to strength.

As clients looked for legal partners who could support them locally and globally, we responded by offering English and US law capability on top of local advice in our Asia offices, increasing cross-border representation and providing access to a broad range and depth of expertise.

Ashurst is well established in Asia, with offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Port Moresby. We also have an associated office with Oentoeng Suria & Partners in Jakarta and a non-exclusive best friend referral relationship with Indian Law Partners who have offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. Within Asia alone, we can call on over 170 experienced legal professionals; all offer advice and expertise that is pragmatic and commercially aware, gained through rich experience and a thorough understanding of regional cultures and business methods.

A more recent development was the launch of a Joint Operation Office (JOO) in China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, with leading PRC law firm Guantao which came into effect on 18 January 2018. The JOO offers one-stop shop service to both firms' clients combining international expertise with full PRC law capacity, including the issuance of PRC law opinions. It is one of the only seven approved by the PRC authorities to date, and the only one with truly national coverage. 

Some key highlights of our work show the strength of the combination of our international network together with local expertise and include advising:

• China Development Bank as the lender on the US$4.5bn financing of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail Project in Indonesia. (Project Finance Deal of the Year by ALB China Law Awards 2018, Project Finance Deal of the Year and Indonesian Deal of the Year by ALB Indonesia Law Awards 2018). Lead partner: Chin Chuan Chen. 
• MIND ID (formerly Inalum) on its landmark US$3.85bn acquisition of a 51% interest in the Grasberg mine (the world's largest gold mine and second largest copper mine) from global mining companies Freeport-McMoRan and Rio Tinto, representing the largest Indonesian M&A transaction in the last 10 years, the largest ever acquisition by an Indonesian state owned enterprise and Indonesia's largest ever divestment by a foreign resources company. Lead partners: Simon Brown and Ratih (Ipop) Nawangsari.
• PT Pertamina (Persero) on all aspects of its US$2bn acquisition of interests in six offshore oil and gas blocks in Malaysia from Murphy Oil (“M&A Deal of the Year 2015”, Asian Legal Business Malaysia Law Awards and “Energy Deal of the Year 2015”, The Asian Lawyer – Emerging Market Awards). Lead partner: Daniel Reinbott.
• JBIC, K-EXIM, NEXI and the commercial lenders on the award-winning US$2.8bn financing of the Donggi Senoro LNG project in Indonesia. (“Project and Energy Deal of the Year 2015”, “Indonesia Deal of the Year 2015”, Asian Legal Business Indonesia Law Awards). Lead partner: Daniel Reinbott.
• The lenders on the refinancing of SportsHub Pte Ltd, the developer and operator of the Singapore Sports Hub (“Refinancing Deal of the Year 2015”, IJ Global Asia Pacific Awards.) Ashurst also advised the lenders on the initial project financing in 2010. The 2010 deal was awarded “Project Finance Deal of the Year 2011” by IFLR Asia and “Global” and “Asia PPP Deal of the Year 2011” by Project Finance Magazine).
• ING on the provision of the world's first sustainability performance linked fund financing. The three-year revolving loan facility of up to US$65 million to Quadria Capital Fund II is the first of its kind in the global fund finance industry. The facility's borrowing interest rate is pegged to the sustainability performance of the fund, which is measured against a set of ESG performance targets which follows the United Nations' Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI). Lead partner: Jean Woo.
• CHMT Peaceful Development Asia Property Limited on the issuance of US$4.14bn bonds in connection with the acquisition of the building known as "The Center". This is one of the largest bonds issued in Asia this year. The Center is also Hong Kong's most expensive office building in history. Awarded Debt Market Deal of the Year by ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2018 and Deal of the Year by China Business Law Awards 2018. Lead partner: Jini Lee.
• China General Nuclear on its historic £24.5bn investment in the Hinkley Point C nuclear project, which was announced by the Chinese and British governments in 2016 and was regarded as a landmark transaction for China’s foreign investment. Awarded Corporate M&A Deal of the Year by Asian-Mena Counsel Deals of the Year Awards 2017 and Deal of the Year by China Business Law Journal 2015.  Led by London office.
• Tyme Group, a global digital banking group, on establishing a joint venture with JG Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, to create one of the first digital banks and potentially the first foreign invested joint venture in the digital banking business in the country. Lead partner: Joshua Cole.
• A consortium of 14 banks led by BOC and CCB on US$200m 3.0% Guaranteed Bonds due 2020 issued by Huafa 2019 I Company Limited and guaranteed by Zhuhai Huafa Group Co., Ltd. These were the first bonds to be listed and cleared in Macau via the MOX. Lead partner: Jini Lee.
• Ministry of Development, The Government of His Majesty The Sultan and Tang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in relation to the construction of the Temburong Bridge. The USD $1.7 billion 30km bridge is significant to the social and economic development of Brunei as it enables Brunei residents to commute between the main section of Brunei and Temburong without having to pass through Malaysia. The project achieved completion in March 2020, providing residents with the freedom to travel within the country while Malaysia closed its borders in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19. Lead partner: Rob Palmer, assisted by Patrese McVeigh.

For more information see our Asia page.