Hong Kong SAR

Maples Group is an international law firm, headquartered in the Cayman Islands with over 3,000 lawyers and industry professionals across 16 offices including Asia-Pacific offices in Hong Kong and Singapore. The Asia team collaborates with its lawyers based in the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dubai, Dublin, Jersey, London and Luxembourg offices with 18 partners based in the Hong Kong and Singapore offices.

Highlights 

The firm has expertise in corporate and finance and is particularly active in capital markets from pre-IPO financing to IPO, dual listings, special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) IPOs and follow-on offerings involving the Cayman Islands and BVI companies in particular involving securities exchanges in the US, Hong Kong and PRC. 

Over the past year, the firm has continued to be active, acting for Cayman Islands and BVI issuers on Nasdaq, NYSE, HKSE, and SGX. Notable transactions include XtalPi Holdings Limited's HK$989.3 million ($127 million) HK IPO, which is the first specialist technology company listed in Hong Kong under Chapter 18C, a new regime introduced by the HKEX in March 2023, and Chenqi Technology's HK$1.3 billion HK IPO, one of the biggest IPOs in Hong Kong in 2024. 

The firm also has the largest fund and investment management team based in Hong Kong and Singapore and is particularly active in the Japanese funds industry. It offers a comprehensive range of legal, fiduciary, fund, regulatory and compliance services, as well as entity formation and management services across Asia. Notable transactions include Japan Industrial Partners' US$13 billion take-private of Toshiba. 

Key clients 

Key clients of the firm include Alibaba Group Holding, HK Acquisition Corp, Winking Studio, SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Cirrus Aircraft, Viridian Asset Management, Hahn & Company, IQ EQ Fund Management, Global Funds Trust Company, and Panview Capital. 

Testimonials 

“Efficient and consistent.” (Banking and finance client) 

“The services are good, and their responses were prompt and advice was helpful.” (Investment funds client) 

“The Maples team is responsive, knowledgeable and commercial. They come up with innovative solutions and are excellent at advising clients in a thoughtful and practical manner. As much of my work is Korea-focused, the Maples team is the leading Cayman law firm for Korean clients looking to raise offshore funds with international investors. They have a senior lawyer who is a fully fluent Korean speaker, which allows them to service Korean clients in a more effective manner than any of their competitors in the market.” (Investment funds client) 

“They are very responsive and impressive as an offshore firm.” (Investment funds client) 

“Responsive and commercial advice.” (Insolvency client) 

“Very responsive, highly intelligent.” (Insolvency client) 

Aisling Dwyer 

“Deep experience in the market, provides commercial advice on short notice and is extremely approachable.” 

“A masterclass in calculating future contingencies, A master tactician. A phenomenal intellectual heft. A very serious player trusted by the world's largest private equity firms. On first name terms with some Wall Street giants.” 

Aidan O'Regan 

“His responses were good, and his advice was clear.” 

Derrick Kan 

“Proactive client management and efficient.” 

Sharon Yap 

“Sharon is one of the leading Cayman lawyers in the Asia-Pacific market. She is well-versed in Cayman law and always on top of new regulatory and market developments.” 

Josie Ainsley 

“She is very responsive even at partner level.”