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Ying Yi is a corporate lawyer specialising in private mergers and acquisitions, with a particular focus on private equity transactions.

Ying Yi’s practice focuses on advising private equity houses, financial sponsors, their portfolio companies and management teams on a wide range of matters, including leveraged buyouts, acquisitions and disposals, shareholder and management incentive arrangements, joint ventures, minority investments, restructurings and shareholder arrangements. 

Ying Yi has deep transactional experience and brings an international perspective to her role, having worked more than 10 years in London in leading UK and US law firms and as in-house transactional counsel for Blackstone. Her in-house experience has deepened her understanding of her clients’ commercial drivers and the importance of delivering practical and commercial legal advice.

Experience prior to joining Herbert Smith Freehills includes guiding Blackstone’s Private Equity, Tactical Opportunities and Growth businesses in their European acquisitions, divestments, corporate and founder partnerships and strategic and growth investments.

Background

Ying Yi holds a Bachelor of Arts (Jurisprudence) from the University of Oxford. She is admitted to practice in Australia (Victoria) and in England and Wales.

Prior to joining Herbert Smith Freehills, she was in-house legal counsel providing transactional advice to Blackstone’s Private Equity, Tactical Opportunities and Growth Equity businesses in London. She also spent several years as a corporate lawyer in London at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Clifford Chance LLP. 

Experience & expertise

Selected matters

  • Infratil on its US$160 million acquisition of an 80% stake in Console Connect, a global software-defined interconnection platform, and its strategic partnership with Hong Kong Telecom to accelerate Console Connect’s growth 
  • BGH Capital on its acquisition of Fusion5
  • I Squared Capital on its acquisition of Rentco Transport Equipment Rentals, Australian truck and trailer leasing business
  • General Atlantic as minority shareholder on Australian legal due diligence aspects of the intended combination of Qontigo and ISS