Norton Rose Fulbright has expanded its capital markets expertise with the recent hiring of Ethan Chen, a partner from Kirkland & Ellis, who will be based in Hong Kong. Chen has considerable experience in initial public offerings (IPOs), U.S. registered equity and debt offerings, Rule 144A/ Regulation S offerings, and listings in Hong Kong. He is qualified in both the U.S. and Hong Kong, and he provides guidance on pre- and post-IPO associated issues, including compliance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules.
Psyche Tai, head of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Hong Kong office, expressed her delight in welcoming Ethan Chen to their team, noting that his joining will considerably reinforce their capital markets and corporate practice, allowing the firm to bring unmatched sector knowledge to their clients.
Chen will be the second U.S.-certified capital markets partner for Norton Rose Fulbright in Hong Kong, broadening the existing team of capital markets partners to seven, including Harold Tin also qualified in the U.S. Chen spent the past eight years at Kirkland, joining as an associate in 2015 and becoming a partner in 2021. Before this, he was an associate at Sidley Austin.
While at Kirkland, Chen advised several companies, such as Noah Holdings, a Chinese wealth management firm that listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange last year.
This move also follows Norton Rose’s capital markets partner, Terence Lau‘s recent shift to Eric Chow & Co., the Hong Kong associated practice of Beijing-based Jingtian & Gongcheng, working as a senior consultant.
The addition of Ethan Chen takes the number of full-time attorneys based at the Norton Rose Fulbright’s Hong Kong office to 55. Chen’s appointment closely follows Norton Rose Fulbright’s 2021 hiring of two corporate and banking partners Peggy Wang and Victor Sim, with Wang subsequently departing the firm.