IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2025: shortlist revealed

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IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2025: shortlist revealed

IFLR APAC Awards 2025 Shortlist Announced

The finalists for the 26th annual Asia-Pacific Awards 2025 are revealed - winners will be presented in Hong Kong on April 16

IFLR is delighted to reveal the full list of finalists for the IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2025, celebrating the region's most innovative cross-border work and those behind it.

Decided by an internal panel of judges, the awards focus exclusively on celebrating the most exciting legal innovation in cross-border transactions that reached financial close in 2024.

Winners across all the categories will be announced at a gala awards ceremony in Hong Kong on April 16, including the recipients of the Digital Finance Award, Financial Services Regulatory Award, Market Reform Award, In-House Contribution Award and Women Dealmakers Hall of Fame Award.

Watch this space for further details on the venue and for details on how to attend! As well as the event, IFLR will announce the winners online, with podcasts and content to explore the work covered in the awards.

To find out more about the event and commercial opportunities related to the awards, please contact Anicette Indiana.

The firms and teams listed on each of the shortlisted deals below are based on preliminary research. If you advised on one of the deals below and would like to be listed, please contact Nancy Ping.

Congratulations to all of those shortlisted!

DEALS OF THE YEAR

  • Debt and equity-linked

    Capital City of Ulaanbaatar municipal bond
    Mayer Brown
    Melville Erdenedalai
    Cathay Life Insurance regulatory capital issuance
    Allen & Gledhill
    Baker McKenzie
    Clifford Chance
    Lee & Li
    Linklaters
    CLP Power kangaroo bond
    Harney Westwood & Riegels
    King & Wood Mallesons
    Continuum Green Energy private bond
    A&O Shearman
    Linklaters
    Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
    TT&A
    HKSAR digitally native green notes
    Ashurst
    A&O Shearman
    Linklaters
    JD Group convertible bond
    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
    Han Kun Law Offices
    Latham & Watkins
    Maples Group
    Nixon Peabody
    Shihui Partners
    Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
    White & Case
    Ping An Group convertible bonds
    DLA Piper
    Haiwen & Partners
    JunHe
    Linklaters
    San Miguel Global Power senior perpetual securities
    A&O Shearman
    Latham & Watkins
    Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos
    SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
  • Domestic

    AET Singapore Holdings sustainability-linked revolving credit-i facility
    Rajah & Tann
    Shook Lin & Bok
    Avatr Technology and Seres Group / Shenzhen Yinwang
    Grandall Law Firm
    Haiwen & Partners
    Dai-ichi Life Holdings / Benefit One
    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
    Miura & Partners
    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
    Nishimura & Asahi
    Itochu Corporation / Big Motor
    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
    Nishimura & Asahi
    ispace shelf registration share issue
    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
    Nidec Corporation / Takisawa Machine Tool
    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
    Baker McKenzie
    Davis Polk & Wardwell
    GH Consults LLC
    TMI Associates
    SK E&S – SK Innovation merger
    Kim & Chang
    Lee & Ko
    PT Adaro Andalan Indonesia spin-off
    Assegaf Hamzah & Partners
  • Equity

    Asics Corporation global public offering
    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
    Davis Polk & Wardwell
    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
    Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
    Black Sesame IPO
    Clifford Chance
    JunHe
    K&L Gates
    Maples Group
    Sullivan & Cromwell
    Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
    Zhong Lun Law Firm
    HD Hyundai Marine Solution IPO
    Bae Kim & Lee
    Kim & Chang
    Linklaters
    Paul Hastings
    Stikeman Elliot
    Midea Group listing
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Jia Yuan Law Offices
    King & Wood Mallesons
    Rajah & Tann
    Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
    Rigaku Holdings Corporation IPO
    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
    Davis Polk & Wardwell
    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
    Synagistics de-SPAC and listing
    Assegaf Hamzah & Partners
    Christopher & Lee Ong
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Jingtian & Gongcheng
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Maples Group
    Morrison Foerster
    Rajah & Tann
    Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles
    Sidley Austin
    Tokyo Metro Global IPO
    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
    Davis Polk & Wardwell
    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
    Webtoon Entertainment IPO
    Bae Kim & Lee
    Davis Polk & Wardwell
    Kim & Chang
    Kirkland & Ellis
  • High yield

    Biocon Biologics Global senior secured notes
    A&O Shearman
    Albar & Partners
    Arthur Cox
    Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
    Latham & Watkins
    Linklaters
    TT&A
    eHi Car Services senior notes due 2027
    Clifford Chance
    O’Melveny & Myers
    Golomt Bank senior notes due 2027
    A&O Shearman
    Financial Law Consulting
    Mayer Brown
    Melville Erdenedalai LLP
    Indika senior notes due 2029
    A&O Shearman
    Allen & Gledhill
    Assegaf Hamzah & Partners
    Sidley Austin
    IRB Infrastructure Developers
    A&O Shearman
    JSA
    Linklaters
    Mayer Brown
    TT&A
    Karoon Energy secured notes
    A&O Shearman
    Baker McKenzie
    Campos Mello Advogados
    Chapman and Cutler
    Mattos Filho
    Pinheiro Neto
    Sullivan & Cromwell
    White & Case
    PT Sorik Marapi Geothermal Power project bond
    Assegaf Hamzah & Partners
    Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung
    Latham & Watkins
    Linklaters
    Mayer Brown
    SAEL senior secured notes
    Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
    Khaitan & Co
    Linklaters
    Mayer Brown
    Moses Singer
  • Loan

    Ant Group and Ant International refinancing
    A&O Shearman
    Fangda Partners
    Linklaters
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Ogier
    Dalian Newland Commercial Management acquisition financing
    A&O Shearman
    Fangda Partners
    Haiwen & Partners
    Junhe
    Linklaters
    EQT Partners Asia acquisition financing
    A&O Shearman
    Ashurst
    DLA Piper
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
    Goodpack refinancing
    Fangda Partners
    Hunton Andrews Kurth
    Kim & Chang
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Maples Group
    Nishimura & Asahi
    Pinheiro Neto
    Stibbe
    WongPartnership
    KKR and Singtel term and revolving facilities
    A&O Shearman
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Rajah & Tann
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
    Korean Air US EXIM-guaranteed KRW financing
    DLA Piper
    Hogan Lovells
    Kim & Chang
    Morris James
    Vedder Price
    Yoon & Yang
    Novotech Group unitranche refinancing
    A&O Shearman
    White & Case
    WT Microelectronics and Morrihan International acquisition financing
    Lee & Li
    Stewart McKelvey
    Tsar & Tsai
    Wildeboer Dellelce
    Hillhouse Investment / Incorp Global acquisition financing
    Allen & Gledhill
    Allens
    Clifford Chance
    Milbank
    Mourant Ozannes
    Walkers
  • M&A

    Alcon – OcuMension
    Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
    Morrison Foerster
    April Group / Vinda International
    Clifford Chance
    Linklaters
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Slaughter and May
    B Grimm Power Public Company / Nakwol Blueheart and Hanbit Wind Power
    Jipyong
    Kudun and Partners
    Guangken Rubber / Hua Lien International
    Dacheng Law Offices
    Dentons Hong Kong
    TC & Co
    L'Occitane Groupe / L'Occitane International
    Arendt & Medernach
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Fried Frank
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Linklaters
    Loyens & Loeff
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
    White & Case
    Lunit / Volpara Health Technologies
    Baker McKenzie
    Harmos Horton & Lusk
    MinterEllison
    MinterEllisonRuddWatts
    Pyridam / Probiotec
    Armand Yapsunto Muharamsyah & Partners
    Arnold Bloch Leibler
    Ashurst
    SSEK
    Star India – Viacom18 merger
    AZB & Partners
    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
    Covington & Burling
    JSA
    Khaitan & Co
    Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
    Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
  • Private equity

    Archimed / Jeisys Medical
    Corrs Chambers Westgarth
    Kim & Chang
    Latham & Watkins Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise
    Yulchon
    Bain Capital / Masan Group
    Allens
    Clifford Chance
    Milbank
    YKVN
    CVC Capital Partners / Siloam International Hospitals
    Allen & Gledhill
    HBT
    Milbank
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
    TSMP
    Gallatin Point Capital / Honey Insurance
    Arnold Bloch Leibler
    MinterEllison
    KKR / Singtel
    Latham & Watkins
    PAG, CITIC Capital, Ares Management, Adia and Mubadala / Newland
    A&O Shearman
    Fangda Partners
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Haiwen & Partners
    Linklaters
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
    Platinum Equity / Inventia Healthcare
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Latham & Watkins
    Quillon Partners
    Rothschild & Co
    Stifel Nicolaus India
    Trilegal
    Snow Peak privatisation
    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
    Nishimura & Asahi
    Ropes & Gray
    TMI Associates
  • Project finance

    AdaniConneX hyperscale data centers
    A&O Shearman
    Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
    Milbank
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Rajah & Tann
    Saraf And Partners
    Turner & Townsend
    BESS Nusantara Capital City PV plant
    Ashurst
    Ashurst ADTLaw
    Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow
    HHP Hadiputranto Hadinoto & Partners
    Nah'R Murdono Law Office
    Oentoeng Suria & Partners
    Rajah & Tann
    UMBRA
    Dhamra LNG Terminal refinancing
    Clifford Chance
    Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
    Latham & Watkins
    Genesis NZ Lauriston solar farm
    Chapman Tripp
    Russell McVeagh
    White & Case
    MGM Resorts International and ORIX Corporation integrated resort
    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
    Nishimura & Asahi
    Ninoy Aquino International Airport PPP
    Lee & Ko
    Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos
    SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
    SAFCO Pakistan SAF Plant
    Clifford Chance
    Harney Westwood & Riegels
    White & Case
    Yondr Group data center
    Clifford Chance
    Milbank
    Rahmat Lim & Partners
    Zul Rafique & Partners
  • Restructuring

    China Aoyuan Group
    A&O Shearman
    Linklaters
    Weil Gotshal & Manges
    Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
    Clifford Chance
    White & Case
    Baker McKenzie
    Kaisa Group Holdings
    Fangda Partners
    Harney Westwood & Riegels
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Maples Group
    Sidley Austin
    MSJ Asset Management Company liquidation
    Nishimura & Asahi
    No Va Land Group
    BlackOak LLC
    Hogan Lovells
    Sidley Austin
    Sullivan & Cromwell
    YKVN
    Sino - Ocean group offshore debt restructuring
    A&O Shearman
    Appleby
    Linklaters
    Commerce & Finance Law Offices
    Sidley Austin
    Walkers
    Zhong Lun Law Firm
    Garuda Indonesia debt restructuring
    ASNP Law Office
    Baker McKenzie
    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
    Clifford Chance
    HFW
    K&L Gates Straits Law
    Zhongliang offshore debt restructuring
    Sidley Austin
    Latham & Watkins
  • Securitisation and structured finance

    Astrea 8 asset-backed securities
    Allen & Gledhill
    Latham & Watkins
    Ant Digital Technologies tokenised financing
    King & Wood Mallesons
    Linklaters
    Bauhinia ILBS 2
    Clifford Chance
    Linklaters
    Clifford Capital – Bayfront Infrastructure Capital V Infrastructure ABS
    Allen & Gledhill
    Clifford Chance
    Latham & Watkins
    Cogent IPv4 address securitisation
    Latham & Watkins
    Milbank
    GPTX structured note platform
    A&O Shearman
    Fangda Partners
    Haiwen & Partners
    JunHe
    Linklaters
    Maybank Singapore covered bond
    Allen & Gledhill
    Linklaters
    Midea employee preferential repackaged notes
    King & Wood Mallesons
    Maples Group
    Shinhan Bank USD Formosa mortgage covered bonds
    Kim & Chang
    Linklaters
    Lee & Li
    Shin & Kim

TEAMS OF THE YEAR

  • Debt and equity-linked

    A&O Shearman
    Baker McKenzie
    Clifford Chance
    Fangda Partners
    Latham & Watkins
    Linklaters
    Mayer Brown
    Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
  • Equity

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
    Clifford Chance
    Davis Polk & Wardwell
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
    Paul Hastings
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
  • High yield

    A&O Shearman
    Clifford Chance
    Latham & Watkins
    Linklaters
    Mayer Brown
    Sidley Austin
    Sullivan & Cromwell
    White & Case
  • Loan

    A&O Shearman
    White & Case
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Clifford Chance
    Linklaters
    Milbank
  • M&A

    Baker McKenzie
    Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Linklaters
    Nishimura & Asahi
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
    Slaughter and May
  • Private equity

    Clifford Chance
    Fangda Partners
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Latham & Watkins
    Milbank
    Nishimura & Asahi
    Ropes & Gray
    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
  • Project finance

    Ashurst
    A&O Shearman
    Baker McKenzie
    Clifford Chance
    Latham & Watkins
    Milbank
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    White & Case
  • Restructuring

    A&O Shearman
    Baker McKenzie
    Clifford Chance
    Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Linklaters
    Sidley Austin
    Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
    Hogan Lovells
  • Structured finance and securitization

    Allen & Gledhill
    Clifford Chance
    A&O Shearman
    King & Wood Mallesons
    Latham & Watkins
    Linklaters
    Milbank

IN-HOUSE TEAMS OF THE YEAR

  • In-house debt Team: international bank

    Citi
    Deutsche Bank
    Goldman Sachs
    JP Morgan
    HSBC
    Morgan Stanley
    Standard Chartered Bank
  • In-house equity Team: international bank

    Deutsche Bank
    Goldman Sachs
    HSBC
    International Finance Corporation
    Mizuho Securities
    Morgan Stanley
    UBS
  • Regional bank in-house team

    ANZ
    Bank of China
    China Construction Bank International
    CICC
    CITIC CLSA
    CNCB
    Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley
    Mizuho Securities
  • In-house team

    J&T Express
    Archimed
    CVC Capital
    Disney
    KKR
    San Miguel Global Power
    Volpara
    Webtoon Entertainment
    Yondr

SPECIALISED AWARDS

  • Digital finance award - APAC headquartered

    Allen & Gledhill
    Bae Kim & Lee
    Fangda Partners
    Han Kun Law Offices
    JunHe
    Kim & Chang
    King & Wood Mallesons Hong Kong
    MinterEllisonRuddWatts
  • Financial Services Regulatory award - APAC headquartered

    King & Wood Mallesons Hong Kong
    Yoon & Yang
    Nishimura & Asahi
    Khaitan & Co
    Fangda Parnters
    Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co
    MinterEllisonRuddWatts
  • Net-zero Transition award

    A&O Shearman
    Allen & Gledhill
    King & Wood Mallesons Hong Kong
    Nishimura & Asahi
    UMBRA
    Walalangi & Partners in association with Nishimura & Asahi
  • Pro bono

    Bell Gully
    Bae Kim & Lee
    DNT Lawyers
    Mills Oakley
    MinterEllisonRuddWatts
    Hogan Lovells
    Han Kun Law Office
    Russell McVeagh
  • Tech Innovation Award

    Content Generator - MinterEllison
    Drafting with Ment – Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Ment
    Metalaw - JunHe
    The Check-in Staffing Tool - Khaitan & Co
    Verimus ESG - Verimus
  • Women Dealmakers Hall of Fame

    Agnes Tsang - A&O Shearman
    Benita Yu - Slaughter and May
    Dan Ouyang - Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
    Evelyn Wee - Rajah & Tann Singapore
    Gloria Cheung - Linklaters
    Joey Chau - Kirkland & Ellis
    Paloma Wang - Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
  • Rising Star – regional firm

    Anirudh Arjun - Nishith Desai Associates
    Chae Yeon AN - Kim & Chang
    Samuel Loh Song-En - BlackOak
    Sungjin Kim - Kim & Chang
    Wangbei Li - Jingtian & Gongcheng
    Yoga Budhi Prananto - HHP Law Firm
    Yu Zhang - Han Kun Law Offices
  • Rising Star – international firm

    Christine Yu - Slaughter and May
    Esha Goel - Latham & Watkins
    Julie Song – A&O Shearman
    Kevin Zhang - Davis Polk & Wardwell
    Martina To - Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
    Monica Xu - Cooley

LAW FIRMS OF THE YEAR

  • Regional firm

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
    Allen & Gledhill
    Assegaf Hamzah & Partners
    Fangda Partners
    King & Wood Mallesons
    Kim & Chang
    Nagashima Ohno Tsunematsu
    Nishimura & Asahi
    TT&A
  • Rising Star Law Firm

    Goyel & Goyal - India
    KARNA Partnership in Association with Withersworldwide - Indonesia
    Kingland Partners – China
    Nazmi Zaini Chambers - Malaysia
    Sethalay Law Office – Cambodia
  • Offshore firm

    Appleby
    Harney Westwood & Riegels
    Maples Group
    Mourant
    Ogier
    Walkers
  • China practice

    A&O Shearman
    Linklaters
    Clifford Chance
    Kirkland & Ellis
    Davis Polk & Wardwell
    Mayer Brown
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
  • India practice

    A&O Shearman
    Clifford Chance
    Latham & Watkins
    Linklaters
    Mayer Brown
    Sidley Austin
  • International Law Firm

    Linklaters
    A&O Shearman
    Clifford Chance
    Latham & Watkins
    Kirkland & Ellis
    White & Case
    Milbank
    Sidley Austin
  • US law firm

    Latham & Watkins
    Kirkland & Ellis
    White & Case
    Milbank
    Sidley Austin
    Davis Polk & Wardwell
    Mayer Brown
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
    Baker McKenzie

NATIONAL LAW FIRMS OF THE YEAR

JURISDICTIONAL LAW FIRMS OF THE YEAR
  • Australia

    Ashurst
    Arnold Bloch Leibler
    Corrs Chambers Westgarth
    King & Wood Mallesons
    MinterEllison
    White & Case
  • China - Debt firm of the year

    King & Wood Mallesons
    JunHe
    Fangda Partners
    Haiwen & Partners
    Dacheng Law Offices
  • China - M&A firm of the year

    Haiwen & Partners
    Han Kun Law Offices
    Dacheng Law Offices
    Fangda Partners
    Zhong Lun Law Firm
  • Hong Kong SAR

    Charltons
    Deacons
    Johnson Stokes & Master
  • India - Equity firm of the year

    AZB & Partners
    Cyril Amarchand Malgaldas
    Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
  • India - Restructuring firm of the year

    AZB & Partners
    Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
    JSA
    Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
  • Japan

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
    Nagashima Ohno Tsunematsu
    Nishimura & Asahi
    TMI Associates
  • New Zealand

    Chapman Tripp
    Russell McVeagh
    Bell Gully
    MinterEllisonRuddWatts
    Webb Henderson
  • Singapore

    Allen & Gledhill
    BlackOak LLC
    DLA Piper
    Rajah & Tann
    TSMP
    WongPartnership
  • Taiwan

    Lee and Li
    Tsar and Tsai
  • Vietnam

    Allen & Gledhill
    LNT & Partners
    Rajah & Tann
    VILAF
    Vision & Associates
    YKVN
  • Cambodia

    Andersen in Cambodia
    Bun & Associates
    DFDL
    Rajah & Tann Sok & Heng
  • China - Equity firm of the year

    Jingtian & Gongcheng
    JunHe
    Zhong Lun Law Firm
    Haiwen & Partners
    King & Wood Mallesons
  • China - Restructuring firm of the year

    Commerce & Finance Law Offices
    Fangda Partners
    Dacheng Law Offices
    Global Law office
    Zhong Lun Law Firm
  • India - Debt firm of the year

    Cyril Amarchand Malgaldas
    JSA
    Khaitan & Co
    Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
    Trilegal
    TT&A
  • India - M&A firm of the year

    AZB & Partners
    Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
    JSA
    Khaitan & Co
    Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
  • Indonesia

    Assegaf Hamzah & Partners
    HHP Law Firm
    Makes & Partners
    SSEK
    UMBRA
  • Malaysia

    Albar & Partners
    Christopher & Lee Ong
    Rahmat Lim & Partners
    Shook Lin & Bok LLP
    Zul Rafique & Partners
  • Philippines

    Gatmaytan Yap Patacsil Gutierrez & Protacio
    Gulapa & Lim
    Picazo Buyco Tan Fider & Santos
    Quisumbing Torres
    SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
  • South Korea

    Bae Kim & Lee
    Kim & Chang
    Lee & Ko
    Shin & Kim
    Yoon & Yang
  • Thailand

    Allen & Gledhill
    LNT & Partners
    Rajah & Tann
    VILAF
    Vision & Associates
    YKVN
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