Howard Lam, a partner in Latham & Watkins’ Hong Kong office, advises corporates, banks, and investors on complex financing transactions across Asia, with a strong focus on Greater China.

Mr. Lam represents banks, bondholders, investors, and insolvency practitioners in distressed situations, including enforcement, restructurings, creditors schemes of arrangement, liability management, receiverships, and formal liquidation procedures.

He also advises banks, sponsors, and borrowers in leveraged buyouts, acquisition financings, China onshore/offshore financing, margin financings, private equity financing, bridge financing, and debt capital market transactions.

He has recently led a number of high-profile restructuring and leveraged financing transactions and is recognized as a leading practitioner in this area by Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal 500.

Mr. Lam's experience includes advising:

Restructuring

  • Hong Kong Airlines on the holistic restructuring of its US$6.2 billion debts and liabilities, including its guarantee of the US$683 million perpetual securities issued by Blue Skyview. This restructuring involves the first ever parallel Hong Kong scheme of arrangement and UK restructuring plan
  • Huachen Energy, one of the largest privately-owned power generating companies in the People’s Republic of China, on the innovative restructuring of its New York law-governed US$500 million in senior notes, and the first-ever Chapter 15 recognition of a PRC reorganization plan in the US
  • The ad hoc committee of bondholders in respect of the restructuring of China Fortune Land Development’s overdue debts (including interest) totaling US$6.45 billion
  • The ad hoc committee of bondholders in respect of the successful restructuring of the US$500 million guaranteed senior notes of Dr. Peng Telecom & Media Group Co., Ltd, the largest private telecom operator and internet service provider in China
  • The ad hoc committee of bondholders in respect of MIE Holdings Corporation, a leading independent upstream oil and gas company, in its debt restructuring completed in the first quarter of 2022
  • The steering committee of noteholders in connection with the restructuring of senior notes issued by Hidili Industry International Development Limited, a coal mining company
  • The joint and several liquidators of Wongs Investment Development Holdings Group Limited, formerly the controlling shareholder of HK Main Board-listed company, China Kingstone Mining Holdings Limited, in the disposal of approximately 48.16% of the total issued share capital of China Kingstone Mining by way of placing and sale to two buyers

Banking

  • A syndicate of banks led by Bank of America, N.A. on a US$8.3 billion club loan to a leading Chinese technology company
  • A consortium led by Chinese private equity firm Hopu Investments on a US$1.1 billion financing for acquisition for a minority stake in FWD, a leading insurance business arm of the private investment group, Pacific Century Group
  • The mandated lead arrangers on US$3.5 billion financing in connection with Tencent Holdings’ acquisition of Supercell Oy, a Finland-based mobile games developer
  • The underwriters BAML, Citi, and HSBC on the leveraged buyout financing by Blackstone consortium in connection with a going-private transaction of a Nasdaq-listed company
  • Bright Food (Australia) Co., Limited, a Chinese multinational food and beverages manufacturing company, on its A$85 million term facility agreement in connection with its acquisition of additional shares in an Australian subsidiary
  • The original sponsor consortium in relation to the proposed financing of the take private of Shanda Games
  • Secured term loan facility for Vedanta Resources to refinance the acquisition facilities for the acquisition of Cairn India
  • Baring Private Equity and Nord Anglia Education on various credit facilities including a pre-IPO finance, bridge loan, and a new facility
  • China Firstextile (Holdings) Limited on its US$100 million syndicated facility agreement arranged by Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited
  • HSBC as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner on the US$74 million and HK$201.5 million term loan facility to Hilong Holding Limited, part of the Hilong Group of Companies, a group of holding enterprises specializing in businesses related to the oil and natural gas industries
  • Fortune REIT, the Hong Kong-listed real estate investment trust, on refinancing of existing credit facilities by way of a HK$1.1 billion term loan facility and a HK$700 million revolving credit facility

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)
  • Hong Kong (Solicitor)

Education

  • Master of Laws, The University of Hong Kong
  • PCLL, The University of Hong Kong
  • Graduate Diploma in Law, Nottingham Trent University
  • B.Comm., University of New South Wales, Australia

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Chinese (Cantonese)
  • Chinese (Mandarin)
February 10, 2023Recognition

Latham Named Bankruptcy Practice Group of the Year

Latham was named as a Law360 Bankruptcy Group of the Year highlighting work on landmark matters including Mallinckrodt, Huachen Energy, and Owens-Illinois that set industry precedent and shaped the market.