Rowland Cheng advises Chinese and global clients on complex inbound and outbound transactions with a nexus in China.

Mr. Cheng helps clients negotiate and successfully execute cross-border transactions, including:

  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Dispositions
  • Joint ventures
  • Investments

Mr. Cheng brings clients a sophisticated global perspective and the ability to translate international practice to a Chinese context. He draws on his experience as a partner in Latham’s California offices, and more than two decades practicing in Asia. He established Latham’s presence in Mainland China in 2005 and was resident in Shanghai to witness the evolution of market practice in PRC — including the shift toward increasingly active Chinese corporates and the burgeoning life sciences market. He skillfully leverages Latham’s global platform, to assemble teams to handle any regulatory, IP, or corporate issues that may arise in a transaction.

Mr. Cheng’s representative transactions include advising:

Life Sciences

  • Amgen in its US$2.7 billion investment in and strategic collaboration with Beijing-based BeiGene focused on developing and commercializing oncology treatments in China
  • Boston Scientific Corporation in connection with its joint venture investment into and restructuring of Suzhou Frankenman, a Chinese developer of therapeutic devices
  • Corvus Pharmaceuticals in the formation of Angel Pharmaceuticals, a new China-based biopharmaceutical company launched with PRC investors including Tigermed and Hisun Pharmaceuticals to bring innovative Corvus clinical-stage candidates to China
  • Genesis MedTech, an Asia-based healthcare platform which seeks to bring innovative medical technology to the PRC market, in its acquisition of Hua MedTech, a provider of integrated healthcare solutions to stroke patients based in China
  • Juno Therapeutics, in the establishment with Wuxi AppTec and financing of the JW Biotechnology joint venture focused on developing and commercializing cell therapy technologies in China
  • Shockwave Medical, Inc., a pioneer in the development of intravascular lithotripsy to treat severely calcified cardiovascular disease, in its joint venture with Genesis MedTech to bring coronary and peripheral IVL to patients in China

Additional Transactions

  • Ascential, the FTSE 250 specialist information, data, and analytics company, on the acquisitions of Yimian Data, a Chinese digital commerce data solutions provider; Hangzhou Duozhun Data Technology, a company specializing in media trading execution in China; and 4K miles, a digital commerce advertising business serving Chinese brands trading on an online marketplace
  • Calysta in the formation of a joint venture with Bluestar Adisseo to commercialize proprietary aquaculture feedstock products in the PRC and Asia-Pacific
  • Mattel, Inc. in its joint venture and strategic collaboration with Babytree for China-based child development and learning centers
  • PV Capital in the sale to Yunfeng Capital of Enova Holdings, the China rights holder for Formula E series of electric car races

Bar Qualification

  • California

Education

  • JD, Harvard Law School, 1995
  • BA, Boston University, 1990

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • Chinese (Other)