Clifford Chance hires ‘one of Asia’s top M&A lawyers’ from Linklaters in Hong Kong

Alex Bidlake joins as a partner after more than 15 years at Magic Circle rival

Alex Bidlake swaps Linklaters for Clifford Chance in Hong Kong Image courtesy of Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance (CC) has hired M&A partner Alex Bidlake from rival Magic Circle firm Linklaters to grow the firm’s Asia Pacific corporate practice.

Bidlake joins CC in Hong Kong and brings with her more than 18 years of experience across public and private market transactions in Asia, notably in the energy and infrastructure sectors having advised on BlackRock’s solar investments in South Korea and the mega-merger between Cheung Kong and Hutchison Whampoa and the spin-off and listing of their merged property business. She is also a member of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission’s (SFC) takeovers and mergers panel and takeovers appeal committee.

Andrew Crook, head of CC’s Asia Pacific corporate and private equity practice, said: “[Bidlake’s] track record advising on some of Hong Kong’s most significant and complex public and private M&A deals will hugely benefit our clients. In addition, with her experience in APAC-wide energy transition matters she will be a valuable addition to our global energy and infrastructure practice, which has experienced significant growth over the past year, and where we continue to see a robust pipeline of investment.”

Bidlake arrives after more than 15 years at Linklaters in Hong Kong, having previously been an associate at Jones Day. She started her career at Simmons & Simmons in London before moving to Hong Kong.

Connie Heng, CC’s regional managing partner for Asia Pacific, said: “Alex is recognised as one of Asia’s top M&A lawyers. We are very pleased to add a partner of her outstanding calibre to our team. Our clients will benefit from her deep experience, and we are looking forward to working alongside her.”

CC’s Asia Pacific M&A practice has advised on a number of high profile deals recently, including on the $6.7bn sale of Goshawk’s commercial aircraft leasing platform and advising Volkswagen on its collaboration and minority investment in Chinese electric vehicle-maker XPENG.


Bidlake said: “The firm’s plans to further develop and enhance its Asia Pacific public and private M&A practice align well with my experience and ambition. I look forward to working with a talented group of lawyers and building on the team’s success.”  

Bidlake’s move comes days after Linklaters hired Hong Kong M&A specialist and former Slaughter and May partner Roger Cheng from the city’s financial regulator the SFC.

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