Simon Lawrenson

Overview

I'm a Partner at Mourant Ozannes (Hong Kong) LLP and Global Practice Leader of our Finance and Corporate team. I have significant experience in banking and finance transactions, with an emphasis on acquisition finance.

My practice focuses on advising leading international lenders, sponsors and borrowers on a wide range of cross-border transactions, including event-driven acquisition and leveraged finance, asset finance (with a particular focus on shipping and aircraft finance), real estate financing, pre-IPO financing, trade financing, integrated debt and equity financing, debt restructuring, OTC derivatives and structured products, security enforcement, and project and energy finance.

I also advise on mainstream corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, general corporate advisory and voluntary liquidations.

Prior to joining Mourant in 2012, I worked for Linklaters in London and Hong Kong, and Maples and Calder in the British Virgin Islands.

Professional qualifications

• Solicitor, England and Wales (currently non-practising)
• Solicitor, the British Virgin Islands

Work highlights

• Providing BVI and Cayman Islands law advice in connection with China Vanke's participation in a consortium to take Global Logistic Properties Ltd private – a transaction valued at approximately US$11.6bn. This deal was Singapore's largest M&A deal on record and Asia's largest private equity buyout.
• Providing Cayman Islands law advice to China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited and The Export-Import Bank of China on facilities with a total commitment of around US$2.63bn for a consortium of buyers with respect to the acquisition and take private of Lexmark International Inc from the New York Stock Exchange.
• Advising Export-Import Bank of China, China Development Bank, Silk Road Fund and International Finance Corporation in connection with a US$1.392bn facility for the financing of the Karot hydropower plant in Pakistan – the first infrastructure project to be announced under China's One Belt One Road infrastructure development fund.
• Providing BVI and Cayman Islands law advice to CTBC Bank Co Ltd on certain senior loan facilities in connection with the US$800 million acquisition of Tricor Holdings Limited, a leading provider of integrated corporate services, by Trivium Investment Limited, a subsidiary of global private equity firm, Permira.

What the directories say

In Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific 2024, Simon is ranked in Offshore: Corporate and Finance including Investment Funds. A source comments: "Simon is my favourite offshore counsel in Asia."

Simon is Highly Regarded in IFLR1000 2024.

Simon is recognised in Who's Who Legal: Transport 2024

In Legal 500 Caribbean 2024, Simon is ranked as a Leading Individual and praised for being "commercial, reliable and responsive."

In Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2024, Simon is ranked as a Leading Individual, and described as "responsive" and "commercial."

Simon is listed as Notable Practitioner in IFLR1000 2023.

In Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023, Simon is ranked as a Leading Individual. 

For the eighth consecutive year, Simon is individually ranked in Offshore: Corporate and Finance including Investment Funds in the Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific Guide 2023. A source quoted in the guide claims: 'Simon is my go-to lawyer for offshore finance work.'

Simon is listed as Notable Practitioner in IFLR1000 in 2022.

'Simon Lawrenson is strong in the financing practice and is front and centre on all matters leading and responding from the outset.' Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2021. 

Simon is praised in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2020 for "delivering high-quality documents and services." The publication also states: "He is an extremely good and technical lawyer. He is one of the strongest in offshore that I've ever come across." 

Simon is recognised in the Finance chapter of Who’s Who Legal: Aviation, 2017 - 2020.

Simon Lawrenson is praised by sources for the "responsive, commercial and intelligent advice" he provides. He is further described as a "smart operator." Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2019.

'Simon Lawrenson is an established practitioner in the market, practising across high-value corporate and acquisition finance mandates. He is best known for his work assisting private equity houses and financial institutions with LBOs and take-private transactions. One source insists: "Simon is one of the most technically able lawyers in the offshore community."' Chambers Global, 2019.

Simon is ranked in Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific 2017.

Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, 2016 describes Simon as a "great technician."

'Simon Lawrenson is regarded as a talented lawyer on corporate and leveraged finance deals, heading the regional banking and finance team. One interviewee notes his "friendly and practical manner" and "very easy style with clients."' Chambers Asia-Pacific 2016.