Hong Kong regulatory compliance
Contact
Julia Charlton
Clinton Morrow
Calvin Ho
Services
Listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
About Charltons
Charltons was founded in October 1998 as a focused corporate finance Hong Kong solicitors firm.
Charltons’ extensive experience in corporate finance make it uniquely placed to provide first class legal services on Hong Kong and PRC-related corporate finance matters, to both international and local clients from Hong Kong and mainland China. We offer clients access to experienced lawyers with the objective of giving practical, creative and commercial solutions that match your business objectives and priorities.
Charltons has representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Yangon. Charltons has excellent links and networks with law firms worldwide.
Charltons was awarded the ‘Boutique Firm of the Year’ by Asian Legal Business for the years 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Charltons was also recognised as Hong Kong’s top independent law firm in the Euromoney Legal Media Asia Women in Business Law Awards 2012. Julia Charlton was named a ‘Leading Lawyer’ by Asia Law & Practice for the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
In 2011, Charltons was awarded the “Equity Market Deal of the Year” by Asian Legal Business for the work on the listing of AIA Group Ltd in Hong Kong. ‘Asian Restructuring Deal of the Year’ 2000 was awarded to Charltons by International Financial Law Review for their work with Guangdong Investment Limited. Charltons was a finalist for China Law & Practice’s ‘Deal of the Year (M&A)’ 2007 for their work on Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd.’s bid for Monterrico Metals plc.
Charltons holds the conviction that our work should be judged in terms of quality gleaned from our local knowledge and international perspective. Presently we are comprised of 11 lawyers. Languages spoken by our lawyers include English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and French.
Many of our lawyers are qualified to advise on both Hong Kong and English law.
Our Experience
Charltons’ team has extensive experience in corporate finance, in particular funds and investment issues. The team is composed of individuals with a detailed knowledge of practice in relation to funds, private equity and PRC investment.
Recent licensing experience:
- Advising on the approval for change of substantial shareholder and approval of new nominated responsible officer of a fund management and securities advisory firm which we assisted in setting up in 2009, following its acquisition by a Thai private banking group
- Advising on the approval for change of substantial shareholders following the global merger of our client, a independently-owned private capital investment management firm, with a locally-based private investment group
- Advising on the approval to carry out asset management and securities advisory services in connection with a US-based group focusing on global energy and investments funds, which we were also advising in connection with its Chapter 21 listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Advising on the approval to carry out futures contracts advisory as a division of than existing independent research licensed entity which we assisted in setting up with a securities advisory practice several years ago
- Advising on the merger of Hong Kong offices of a Taiwanese financial services and securities firm (which we assisted in setting up) with the Hong Kong subsidiary of another listed Taiwanese financial group
- Advising a US headquartered financial-services firm in connection with its establishment of a futures contracts dealing practice in Hong Kong. We have also previously advised the same firm in connection with its establishment of its leveraged foreign exchange business in Hong Kong
Recent Fund experience:
- Advised a US based global energy and infrastructure fund in respect of the disposal of its assets to a Hong Kong Chapter 21 listed fund constituting a very substantial acquisition for the listed fund whereby the participants of the US fund take a controlling interest in the listed company
- Established a BVI regulated processional hedge fund
- Advised a FSA-regulated “fund of funds” investment management company in respect of SFC-licensing application
- Established a Cayman based fund investing in international futures contracts and foreign currency exchanges
- Advised a SFC-licensed investment manager in respect of the establishment of a Cayman based CIMA-regulated fund investing in China-related securities
- Established a Cayman based fund investing in international futures contracts and foreign currency exchanges
- Established a BVI “professional” regulated mutual fund listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and investing in Asian convertible bonds, debt, and various arbitrage and absolute return strategies
Additional resources
In addition to the areas detailed above, Charltons also provides advice in other areas including corporate and commercial, capital markets, employment law, securities, China and offshore investment funds, mergers and acquisitions, derivatives, restructuring, private equity and venture capital, and investments.
Our Approach
Charltons’ sharp focus on Hong Kong and PRC corporate finance means that its lawyers have considerable experience and local knowledge in the firm’s area of practice. We offer clients access to experienced lawyers with the objective of giving practical and commercial solutions to our clients’ business objectives. Your work will be handled by one of our experienced partners, who will be assisted by other members of Charltons’ team. Charltons has a successful and close working relationship between all members of the team.