M&A, Joint Venture, and Corporate Transactions

Hunter advises multinational corporations and PE/VC funds on cross-border M&As, joint ventures, carve-out, and spin-off transactions in manufacturing, high-tech, life science, cosmetics, entertainment, food and beverage, and other sectors. His representative deals include:

• Advised IBM on its acquisition of the iPaaS business from Software AG

• Advised Carlyle on its proposed acquisition of the patient monitoring and respiratory intervention business from Medtronic 

• Advised AppLovin on its acquisition of a gaming studio in China

• Advised Johnson Controls International (JCI) on the formation of an auto interiors joint venture with Yanfeng Automotive Interiors in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone

• Advised Standard Motor Products on its acquisition of Nissens Automotive from Axcel

• Advised Dairy Queen on the trade sale of its South China master franchisee from Warburg Pincus and a Chinese developer to EQT Partners Asia

• Advised the owners of Granite River Labs on the sale of their controlling shares to SFW Capital

• Advised Crown Bioscience on the sale of its CVMD business to Innoland Bio

• Advised Key Safety Systems on the restructuring of its joint ventures in China for the purpose of offshore listing (later sold to Joyson Electronics)

• Advised Cartesian Capital on the restructuring and sale of its shares in a China-based joint venture manufacturing heavy-duty diesel engines

• Advised a U.S. medical device company on the formation of a joint venture in China to manufacture medical device consumables

• Advised an Ohio based industrial equipment manufacturer on the sale of non-controlling equity to its Chinese joint venture partner

• Advised a California life science company on the liquidation of its Chinese subsidiary

Compliance, Internal Investigation, and Government Enforcement 

Hunter frequently teams up with regulatory or compliance specialists in advising multinational companies on internal compliance investigations and regulatory compliance matters in China. His representative cases include:

• Represented a Nasdaq listed company in an internal investigation into alleged receipt by its China manager of kickbacks from third-party vendors

• Advised a Silicon Valley company on an investigation into the fraudulent obtaining of a High-tech Company designation in China using fake patents and fabricated R&D expenses, and related tax risks

• Advised a global auto part manufacturer on an investigation involving cashing-out of housing and transportation allowances

• Advised a German company on an investigation into embezzlement, misappropriation of company funds, and other misconduct committed by its China CEO

• Advised a U.S. Big Pharma on compliance risks under China's anti-commercial bribery laws

• Advised a U.S. Big Pharma on government investigation into alleged false or misleading advertising

• Advised a well-known multinational on responding to whistleblower cases initiated by former employees 

• Advised a U.S. franchisor on an internal FCPA investigation involving a director (a former government official) of its Chinese master franchisee 

• Advised a Fortune 500 company on potential successor liability under the FCPA antibribery provision relating to its acquisition of a Chinese company controlled by the child of a high-ranking government official

• Advised a Fortune 500 company on an internal investigation involving the channel stuffing practice of its Chinese subsidiaries

• Advised several Fortune 500 companies on investigations by the Chinese  environmental protection authorities into violations of environmental laws by China subsidiaries

Cross-border Dispute Resolution

Hunter frequently teams up with local trial lawyers in lawsuits and arbitration proceedings in China, U.S., and other jurisdictions. His representative cases include:

• Advised GA Telesis, an aircraft part manufacturer, on PRC law in a lawsuit brought by a Chinese party before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

• Represented the Chinese controlling shareholder of a Sino-US joint venture in its settlement negotiation with the U.S. shareholder relating to an alleged breach of the joint venture agreement and related-party transactions

• Represented U.S. trading company CAET in a dispute with a trading company in Hangzhou over breach of contract

• Represented a U.S. holder of convertible bonds in resolving a dispute arising out of unauthorized conversion of the bond into preferred shares by the bond issuer, a Cayman company

• Represented Libre Wireless in a lawsuit involving breach of contract claims in Shenzhen

• Represented a U.S. franchisor in settlement negotiation regarding an alleged breach by the China franchisee of the master franchise agreement

• Represented a Swiss importer in a CIETAC arbitration in connection with a dispute resulting from a sale-of-goods contract

• Represented a Hong Kong trading company in its petition to Beijing No.2 Intermediate Court to vacate an unfavorable CIETAC arbitration award on the grounds of procedural defects