Recent work
Clara specialises in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, listings and corporate finance, and has advised on many domestic and cross-border transactions, public takeovers, private equity deals, securities transactions and spin-offs. Over the years, Clara has advised on:
- The US$3.7 billion IPO and listing of Zijin Gold International on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (the third largest IPO worldwide in 2025)
- Standard Chartered Bank’s digital bank joint venture, Mox Bank (one of the first virtual banks in Hong Kong)
- Prudential plc’s US$2.2 billion secondary public offering (the first ever transaction of its kind in Hong Kong)
- Prada’s acquisition of Versace
- Prudential plc’s demergers of M&G and Jackson
- Alibaba Group’s acquisition of the South China Morning Post
- Standard Chartered plc’s 2-for-7 rights issue
Clara is a leading expert in FIG M&A – she has advised on most of the takeovers of Hong Kong banks in recent years, including:
- Advising Chong Hing Bank on its US$1.5 billion takeover by Yue Xiu Enterprises
- Advising OCBC on its US$4.95 billion privatisation of Wing Hang Bank. This transaction won the ‘M&A Deal of the Year: North Asia’ at The American Lawyer’s Asia Legal Awards 2015 and the ‘M&A Deal of the Year’ at the IFLR Asia Awards 2015
- Advising a bidder on the auction sale of Nanyang Commercial Bank (sold for US$8.8 billion)
Clara has been recognised as a 'Highly Regarded Lawyer' and a 'Women Leader' across three areas - M&A, Capital Markets: Equity and Capital Markets: Debt - in IFLR1000 Asia Pacific for several years.
Other highlights of Clara’s experience include:
Public Takeovers
Clara has advised in various capacities on the public takeovers of many Hong Kong listed companies, including Alibaba.com, Hong Kong Aircraft and Engineering Company (HAECO), Li & Fung, Chong Hing Bank, Wing Hang Bank, Little Sheep, HKICIM, China Shun Ke Long, Tysan Holdings, Joy City Property, Skyworth, China Shengmu Organic Milk and NWS.
Other M&A and Private Equity
- Prudential’s acquisition of the remaining stake in its joint venture business in Nigeria
- China Power’s acquisitions of clean energy assets, Wuhu Electric Power and Shanghai Electric Power
- EQT Baring’s investment into China Water Affairs
- Goldman Sachs PIA’s investment into Geely Auto and e-Hire
- Softbank Vision Fund’s investment into Ping An Good Doctor and Ping An Healthcare Technology
Equity Capital Markets
She has advised on many landmark transactions, including:
- Zijin Gold International (the third largest IPO worldwide in 2025, spun off from Zijin Mining)
- PICC (the fourth latest IPO worldwide in 2012 which set a global record for the number of underwriters)
- Swire Properties (spun off from Swire Pacific)
- Beijing Enterprises Urban Resources Group (spun off from Beijing Enterprises Water Group)
- Many other Chinese companies including Golden Throat, Yidu Tech, Dongfeng Motors, China National Building Materials (CNBM) and Fosun.
She also advised Prudential plc on its US$2.2 billion secondary public offering, being the first ever transaction of its kind in Hong Kong.
Financial Regulation
- Advising on Mox Bank’s application to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for a virtual bank licence (one of the first three licences granted in Hong Kong)
- Advising MUFG on its acquisition of a 21% stake in Morgan Stanley during the financial crisis
- Advising an international investment bank on the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s investigation into HIBOR fixing
Clara is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales, Hong Kong and Ireland. She speaks fluent Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese). She read Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University.