Clyde & Co strengthens global Corporate & Advisory practice with hire of Charles Wu in Hong Kong

The move underlines Clyde & Co’s continuous growth in corporate M&A globally, enhancing the depth and scope of these cross-sector practices in response to the complex, rapidly evolving regulatory and geopolitical landscape.

Hong Kong, 1 November 2023: Global law firm Clyde & Co today announces the hire of Charles Wu as Counsel in Hong Kong to further strengthen the firm’s corporate & advisory offering in Asia.

The move underlines Clyde & Co’s continuous growth in corporate M&A globally, enhancing the depth and scope of these cross-sector practices in response to the complex, rapidly evolving regulatory and geopolitical landscape.  

PRC, Asia and U.S. M&A, PE and VC advice

Charles is a corporate M&A, private equity and venture capital, and U.S. regulatory lawyer with extensive experience representing international private equity firms and multinationals in their business activities in the PRC, including controlling and non-controlling investments, due diligence, documentation preparation, divestitures, negotiations, and complex regulatory issues. Charles has a deep understanding of PRC business culture and practical implementation of PRC rules and regulations. 

Charles also has extensive experience representing PRC clients in a range of activities outside of the PRC, including outbound controlling and non-controlling investments in Southeast Asia and the U.S., and U.S. compliance matters around investment controls, export controls, sanctions, and relevant political developments.

He joins Clyde & Co from PRC law firm Han Kun Law Offices, where he spent nearly a decade in Beijing and Hong Kong advising on corporate M&A and private equity and venture capital transactions, along with related compliance matters both in and out of the PRC. Earlier in his career, he was a corporate associate at Wall Street firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft and served as a congressional intern for Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen in Washington D.C.   

Charles has a diverse background, having been born in Beijing, raised in Mississippi and New Jersey, and having practiced in Asia for over a decade. He is admitted to practice law as a solicitor in Hong Kong and as an attorney in New York State and speaks fluent Mandarin and native English.  

Thomas Choo, Managing Partner Singapore, Regional Corporate M&A Lead at Clyde & Co, says: “Being Hong Kong and New York qualified, Charles is ideally placed to advise both international and local clients on navigating a complex geopolitical environment. His clients in the PRC, Hong Kong, Asia, and Western jurisdictions draw on his ability to understand different standards, mentalities, and legal application from both a PRC and Western perspective.”

Fei Kwok, Managing Director, Hong Kong, Head of Banking and Finance Greater China, adds: “This hire will further support the growth of our Corporate & Advisory practice in Greater China and beyond. Charles will be able to leverage his background, being the connection point between different geographical regions.”

Charles has been awarded a “Rising Star” status by China Business Law Journal. He writes for China Law & Practice and has lectured on the differences between venture capital legal practice in the PRC and the U.S. to Stanford Law School.

Charles Wu comments: “I am grateful for the opportunity to join the growing and dynamic corporate practice at Clyde & Co. The firm has a distinctive international platform where clients will have access to an established PRC law practice alongside extensive capabilities worldwide. I look forward to working with talented and committed colleagues to leverage the firm’s strengths for the benefit of clients in Greater China, Asia, and beyond.” 

For further information please contact:

Andrea de Palatis, Senior Manager Communications and Marketing (APAC)
0061 415 365 990 
andrea.depalatis@clydeco.com

About Clyde & Co 

Clyde & Co is a leading global law firm, helping organisations navigate risk and maximise opportunity in the sectors that underpin global trade and commercial activity, namely: insurance, aviation, marine, construction, energy, trade and natural resources. Globally integrated, the firm has 490 partners, 2400 lawyers, 3200 legal professionals and 5500 people overall in nearly 70 offices and associated offices worldwide. For more information please visit www.clydeco.com.