Global law firm Eversheds Sutherland has turned to competitor DLA Piper to make its first Asian partner hire this year, adding banking and finance attorney Tom Van Hoof as a partner in Hong Kong.
Van Hoof advises financial institutions, investors and corporate borrowers on debt finance and commercial transactions, including leveraged and acquisition finance, project finance, asset finance, pre-IPO and margin finance, real estate finance and general banking transactions.
He advises clients across a number of sectors, including financial services, energy, maritime, logistics, infrastructure, manufacturing and hotels & leisure.
In his role as of counsel at DLA Piper, Van Hoof represented Deutsche Bank, which was the mandated lead arranger and sole coordinator in respect of the $120 million acquisition and working capital term facilities for a major PRC-based real estate conglomerate listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
He also advised a consortium comprising Qumei Home Furnishing Group and Huatai Zijin Investment on the acquisition and bridge facilities relating to the acquisition of Ekornes, the largest furniture manufacturer in the Nordic region, for a total consideration of approximately $630.75 million.
Prior to joining DLA Piper in 2017, Van Hoof worked with Freshfields and Allen & Overy.
Eversheds Sutherland has 16 partners in Hong Kong, including Van Hoof.
In July, the firm signed an exclusive client referral deal with King & Wood Mallesons China, whereby both firms agreed to refer work to one another exclusively in key markets, with Eversheds gaining access to mainland China and KWM China ceasing operations in Europe and East Asia.
