DLA Piper continues to enhance Asia banking & finance expertise with strategic partner hire in Hong Kong

DLA Piper today announces the appointment of Crystal Chen as a partner in its Finance, Projects and Restructuring (FP&R) practice, based in Hong Kong.

Crystal joins the firm from Linklaters in Hong Kong, where she was a partner in its energy and infrastructure practice. Crystal is a leading banking and finance lawyer. She is experienced in the development and financing as well as acquisition and disposal of projects in the power, petrochemical and mining sectors. She has extensive experience in a wide range of other types of financing work, including leveraged finance buy-outs, acquisition finance and other structured event-driven financings.

Qualified in New York, Hong Kong and the PRC, Crystal is bilingual and primarily focuses her practice on China inbound and outbound transactions. Crystal has served a broad range of clients, including policy banks, commercial banks, multilateral development agencies, governments, export credit agencies, private equity funds, project sponsors and other project participants.

Commenting on the hire, Matthias Schemuth, Head of DLA Piper’s FP&R practice in Asia, said: “I am excited to welcome Crystal to our FP&R practice in Hong Kong. She has an impressive track record and her extensive breadth of knowledge and experience in Greater China projects complements our wider FPR capabilities in Asia. Crystal’s arrival significantly enhances our offering to our clients who require a dedicated and highly capable Chinese speaking partner to advise on their Greater China finance related work. I am delighted to have her on board”.

DLA Piper’s International Group Head of FP&R, David Trott, added: “As a long term strategic priority of the firm, we are committed to investing in our FP&R capabilities in Asia, as evidenced by stellar partner hires in Singapore, Bangkok and Tokyo in recent years. Crystal is the second partner to join our FPR practice in Hong Kong in the past six months, after senior energy lawyer Russell Wilkinson joined in November 2021. Crystal’s appointment further strengthens our FPR offering in the region and positions us a leading player in the market”.