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Leading international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has hired US securities partner Xavier Amadei, as part of the ongoing expansion of its Asian and global capital markets and corporate capability.

Based in Singapore, Xavier is a highly accomplished US securities lawyer with deep experience in both equity, equity-linked and debt offerings.

He has advised investment banks, issuers and shareholders throughout Asia and beyond on IPOs, rights issues, block trades, medium term note programmes, straight debt issuances, high yield note offerings, green bonds, liability management exercises, and other transactions. He will add US capability in Southeast Asia, India and Australia, and enhance the firm's existing capability in China.

"The boom in IPOs, M&A activity and other markets transactions in Asia means our regional practice has never been busier," said Graeme Preston, Asia Head of Corporate. "Xavier will be a welcome and important addition to our team and will help us to meet record client demand, especially in India and Southeast Asia."

"Our firm advised on US$4.3 billion worth of IPOs in 2021 alone, with each requiring US securities expertise, and we only expect this activity to grow," said China managing partner Matt Emsley.   "Xavier's broad regional experience will be essential for clients and also help us develop our strong pipeline of local US securities talent." 

Having moved to Hong Kong in 2008 and Singapore in 2014, Xavier has worked with clients throughout the Asia-Pacific region, leading transactions in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan. While he will continue to be based in Singapore, he will work with teams and clients across the region, including supporting the firm's Australian capital markets team with US securities capabilities.

"What a fantastic addition to our Asia-Pacific capital markets practice," said Tom O'Neill, head of the firm's US securities practice. "Xavier is a valued member and familiar face at the high end of the regional capital markets ecosystem for many years, having worked on major equity and debt deals for issuers, sellers and their investment banks.  We are delighted to welcome him as a Herbert Smith Freehills partner."

Xavier is the third senior capital markets hire by Herbert Smith Freehills in the past three months, following the hire of counsel Ariel Lin in Hong Kong and Agatha Shen by the firm's joint operation partner Kewei in Shanghai. Together with counsel Jin Kong in Hong Kong, they form one of the largest senior US securities legal teams in the Asia region.

"Xavier offers both US securities expertise and broad Asia experience - a combination that is in great demand from our regional and global clients," said Asia managing partner May Tai. "His hire is also an important part of the ongoing expansion of our Asia operations."

 

ABOUT XAVIER

Originally from France, Xavier received a dual juris doctor and maitrise en droit from Cornell Law School in New York and Université Paris-1 Pantheon Sorbonne, in a joint degree programme. He received master's degrees in applied economics and global business law from Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) and an MBA from École Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC) in Paris. He is fluent in English, French and proficient in Spanish.

With over 15 years of experience, he joins Herbert Smith Freehills from Baker McKenzie in Singapore, where he was a partner. He began his career with White & Case, then joined Linklaters, where he progressed to counsel.

Xavier is a member of the New York Bar, the Paris Bar and is qualified in Hong Kong. He has also worked on secondment to some of the world's largest investment banks including Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch.

This is the second Singapore partner hire announced by Herbert Smith Freehills in as many weeks, following the hire of Rupert Baker from SoftBank Group Corp. as a project finance partner on 10 February 2022.

Key contacts

Graeme Preston photo

Graeme Preston

Managing Partner, Asia, Tokyo

Graeme Preston
Matthew Emsley photo

Matthew Emsley

Managing Partner, China, Hong Kong

Matthew Emsley
Tom O'Neill photo

Tom O'Neill

Partner, Head of US Securities, London

Tom O'Neill
Philippa Stone photo

Philippa Stone

Partner, Sydney

Philippa Stone

Media contact

For further information on this article please contact

Sally Greig

Head of Communications, Asia

Hong Kong