Brian Ho, Former Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission Executive Director, Will Join Kirkland & Ellis as Partner

Kirkland & Ellis is pleased to announce that Brian Ho will join its Transactional Group as a partner in the Hong Kong office. Mr. Ho most recently served as the Executive Director – Corporate Finance of The Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (the “SFC”). At Kirkland, Mr. Ho expects to use his vast experience, accumulated over decades of service at the SFC, to serve the Firm’s market-leading M&A/private equity and capital markets practices in Asia. He will start at Kirkland on August 29, 2022, which is after the cooling off period required by the SFC.

“Brian has a well-earned reputation for contributing to the successful development of Hong Kong as a leading global financial center,” said Hong Kong-based transactional partner David Zhang. “We are excited that we will be able to tap into Brian’s deep experience and unparalleled insights as we counsel our private equity and corporate clients on novel and complex transactions, including public takeovers and IPOs in Hong Kong.”

Mr. Ho has an exemplary record of dedication to public service and commitment to the highest regulatory standards. During his time at the SFC, he led the Corporate Finance Division and was responsible for SFC’s significant Hong Kong IPO decisions including pre-IPO consultations, and oversaw takeovers and mergers regulations and listing policy matters. Furthermore, Mr. Ho was Chief Coordinator of the SFC to launch China-Hong Kong Stock Connect. During the time when Mr. Ho was Executive Director of Corporate Finance of the SFC, he was a member of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited’s Listing Nominating Committee and served on the SFC’s Real Estate Investment Trusts Committee, Nominations Committee and Advisory Committee. He was also a Chairman of Public Shareholders Group of the SFC.

One of the largest transactional practices in Asia, Kirkland’s footprint in the region consists of more than 140 lawyers and other legal professionals in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai handling cross-border private equity/M&A, capital markets, fund formation and financing transactions, as well as complex restructuring, litigation and white collar matters. The team has been involved in some of the largest and most complex corporate and commercial deals in the region.

Kirkland is routinely honored as a top law firm for private equity transactions. China Business Law Journal recognized Kirkland with 2021 awards for “Best International Law Firm,” and “Private Equity & Venture Capital Practice,” Asian Legal Business China Law Awards named Kirkland to its 2021 awards for “Private Equity Law Firm of the Year”, Mergermarket China M&A Awards recognized Kirkland with 2021 award for “Private Equity Legal Advisor of the Year,” and IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards named Kirkland to its 2021 awards for “Private Equity Team of the Year.”