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Herbert Smith Freehills Kewei has advised London-listed automotive distributor Inchcape plc on the disposal of its China retail business.

科伟史密夫斐尔联营办公室为在伦敦证券交易所上市的汽车经销集团英之杰(Inchcape)出售其中国零售业务提供法律服务。

Herbert Smith Freehills Kewei has advised London-listed automotive distributor Inchcape plc on the disposal of its China retail business.

The firm's lawyers in Shanghai, London and Hong Kong worked on the deal with Kewei Law Firm – the first transaction to close since the two firms announced their China joint operation in August.

Herbert Smith Freehills is one of only six international law firms permitted to integrate China law advice with international legal services through the joint operation with Kewei based in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

Inchcape sold car dealerships in Shaoxing, Nanchang and Jiujiang to Hong Kong-listed China Yongda Automobiles Services in order to refocus on its distribution business in Asia.

"Deals like these prove the benefits of the strong working relationship between Kewei and Herbert Smith Freehills for clients with China business," said Kewei international partner Gavin Guo. "Our China knowledge, international standards and teamwork have been streamlined further by the joint operation structure."

The joint operation, Herbert Smith Freehills Kewei, integrates international and PRC legal advice, initially in cross-border M&A and corporate, banking and finance, disputes, competition, capital markets and financial services regulatory.

"This was a complex cross-border deal between two listed companies and the joint operation worked flawlessly," said London partner Roddy Martin. "We may be two separate firms but the client only saw a single team, working across English and Chinese law with ease."

Gavin led the team advising Inchcape, assisted by Herbert Smith Freehills' Hong Kong partner Matt Emsley and Inchcape client relationship partner Roddy Martin in London.

They were assisted by Herbert Smith Freehills senior associates Angela Zhao and Sheena Loi, associate Patrick Han, and Kewei associate Alvin Zheng.  Kewei counsel Frances Xu advised on competition aspects of this transaction.


史密夫斐尔和科伟联营办公室成立以来,完成首笔中国交易

科伟史密夫斐尔联营办公室为在伦敦证券交易所上市的汽车经销集团英之杰(Inchcape)出售其中国零售业务提供法律服务。

史密夫斐尔上海、伦敦和香港办公室的律师与科伟律师事务所在本次交易中紧密合作,这是两家律师事务所自八月份宣布在中国开展联营以来完成的第一笔重大交易。

史密夫斐尔通过与设立在上海自贸区的科伟律师事务所开展联营,成为仅有的六家获准将中国法律服务与国际法律服务相结合的国际律师事务所之一。

英之杰将其位于绍兴、南昌和九江的汽车经销店出售给在香港证券交易所上市的中国永达汽车服务控股有限公司,以重新专注于其在亚洲的总经销业务。

科伟国际合伙人郭武汉指出:“此类交易印证了科伟与史密夫斐尔之间的紧密合作关系所能给拥有中国业务的客户带来的巨大益处。联营的结构有助于我们进一步整合我们各自对中国市场的了解、国际化的服务水准,以及增进团队间的紧密合作。”

伦敦办公室合伙人Roddy Martin表示:“这是一笔涉及两家上市公司的复杂跨境交易,联营办公室的工作无懈可击。虽然我们是两家独立的律师事务所,但让客户感受到的是一个团队,能够紧密无间的合作为客户提供中国法和英国法律服务。”

科伟史密夫斐尔联营办公室成立初期,将在跨境并购及公司业务、银行和金融、争议解决、竞争法、资本市场和金融服务监管等业务领域整合资源,为客户提供国际和中国法律服务。

郭武汉带领联营办公室团队为英之杰提供法律服务,并得到了史密夫斐尔香港办公室合伙人Matt Emsley和伦敦办公室的英之杰客户关系合伙人Roddy Martin的协助。

史密夫斐尔资深律师赵秋丹、Sheena Loi、律师韩谷乔和科伟律师郑天骅参与了本次交易。科伟资深律师徐明研就本次交易提供了竞争法方面的法律咨询服务。


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For further information on this article please contact

Sally Greig

Head of Communications, Asia

Hong Kong