Latham & Watkins has welcomed back Benjamin Su as a capital markets partner in Hong Kong from Kirkland & Ellis.
Su focuses on corporate and securities law matters, and represents both issuers and underwriters in a variety of capital markets transactions.
Last year, Su advised the $884 million New York IPO of Sea Limited, the Tencent-backed Singaporean Internet company, and the underwriters of Chinese courier ZTO Express’s $1.4 billion IPO, also in New York. In 2015, he represented the joint global coordinators and joint global bookrunners on China Huarong Asset Management's $2.3 billion Hong Kong IPO, and China Railway Signal & Communication on its $1.42 billion listing in Hong Kong.
“His sophisticated understanding of international securities law matters, in addition to his strong record guiding deals governed by U.S. law or listing in the U.S. and Hong Kong, will bring tremendous value to our clients,” said Josef Athanas, Hong Kong office managing partner of Latham, in a statement.
“His vast experience in the Technology, Media, and Telecom sectors will be especially valuable, as an increasing number of TMT issuers in China are going public in the U.S. and Hong Kong,” added Cathy Yeung, the global co-chair of Latham’s capital markets practice and chair of the firm’s Greater China practice.
The move is a rare partner departure from Kirkland's Hong Kong office, which has recently hired a corporate and securities partner from Davis Polk & Wardwell, an enforcement partner from Ropes & Gray in August, and a corporate partner from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in May. In August, Kirkland lost a finance and projects partner to DLA Piper, and almost 12 months ago, senior corporate partner Dominic Tsun left the firm.
