Clifford Chance
Firm/Background Information
Clifford Chance is one of the world’s leading law firms, helping clients achieve their goals by combining the highest global standards with local expertise. The firm has unrivalled scale and depth of legal resources across the Americas, Asia and Europe and focuses on the core areas of commercial activity: capital markets; corporate and M&A; finance and banking; real estate; tax; pensions and employment; litigation and dispute resolution. Clifford Chance lawyers advise internationally and domestically; under common law and civil law systems; in local and cross-border transactions; on day-to-day operations and the most challenging deals.
In Asia, Clifford Chance has offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo – and following the recent merger with two of Australia’s leading boutique law firms, Clifford Chance is delighted to add Australia to its global network of law offices.
Main Practice Areas in Hong Kong
Banking & finance
Capital Markets
Corporate/ M&A
Litigation & dispute resolution
Real estate
Winter and Summer Vacation Schemes
A winter or summer scheme is the perfect way to learn about working at Clifford Chance and meet our people.
During your scheme, you will sit in at least two different practice areas, working with our lawyers on real client projects. We will also assign you a mentor, an experienced lawyer, who will help you settle in and answer any questions you may have.
Graduate Recruitment
Our training programme is designed to give trainee solicitors the opportunities to acquire excellent business and professional skills through education, development and continuous experience.
The two-year training contract is structured around four six-month placements, known as ‘seats’, in different practice areas. Each seat brings you into contact with new clients and colleagues, as well as different areas of law. You will work with a number of experienced lawyers on a variety of transactions and matters to develop your expertise, exposure and experience. You will also have the opportunity to spend a seat in one of our overseas offices such as London or Shanghai.
In order to become a trainee solicitor in Hong Kong, you must complete the one-year compulsory pre-qualifying course PCLL (Post Graduate Certificate in Laws). In addition, as a prerequisite to the PCLL studies, you are required to complete conversion exams, if you are undertaking or have undertaken your undergraduate studies outside of Hong Kong.
We are looking for intelligent, articulate applicants, capable of contributing and communicating their own idea and opinions. We need enthusiastic people who understand that working at the forefront of legal services often requires hard work, applied intellect, and a collaborative approach to working in a team. Applicants should possess outstanding academic abilities and Chinese language skills are also an asset.
For further information on our vacation schemes and training contracts, or to apply online, please visit our graduate recruitment website www.cliffordchance.com/gradshk
Examples of our recent Asia-related experience
China Oilfield Services Ltd: Advised China Oilfield Ltd on its US$2.5 billion recommended tender offer for Oslo-listed company Awilco Offshore ASA. This was the first major cross-border transaction by a listed A and H- share PRC company
Sale of Wing Lung Bank: Advised one of the founding shareholders on Wing Lung Bank, Wu Jieh Yee Company Limited, on the joint auction sale of the Wu family’s controlled stake in Wing Lung Bank, purchased by China Merchants Bank. Wing Lung Bank was valued at approximately US$4 billion, or 3.1 times book value.
City of Dreams project, Macau: Advised Citi, UBS, Deutsche Bank, ANZ, Bank of America and Barclays Capital on the US$1.75 billion debt financing for Melco PBL Entertainment to develop the City of Dreams casino in Macau. This add to the strong track record of Macau casino project financings on which we have advised, with other projects including Wynn, MGM Grand Macau, Macau Studio City and The Venetian.
Restructuring and insolvency work: Our regional team advises on the largest and most complex restructuring and insolvency cases in Asia. Recently, this has included work for the international lenders to Ferrochina, the financiers of Oasis Hong Kong Airlines, and advising both bank and non-bank financial institutions on their exposure, both regionally and globally, to the Lehman Brothers group.
Advisory and contentious regulatory work: The firm is the preferred external advisor to 11 of the 15 investment banks in Hong Kong, handling the majority of their advisory and contentious regulatory work.
Website: www.cliffordchance.com
HK Graduate Recruitment website: www.cliffordchance.com/gradshk
Address: 28th Floor, Jardine House, One Connaught Place, Hong Kong SAR
Telephone: +852 2825 8888
Fax: +852 2825 8800
