ENG

  • Patrick Cui

    Non-equity Partner / Hong Kong

  • Tel +852-22987142

    Email patrickcui@zhonglun.com

  • Practices

    Private Equity & Investment Funds, Cross-border Investment/M&A, Hong Kong & Overseas Capital Markets

CV

Patrick Cui

Patrick Cui holds practicing certificates in both the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong SAR. He has profound expertise and substantial practice experience in cross-border M&A and reorganization, private equity and debt investment, investment fund formation, Hong Kong labor and employment, and commercial compliance.

In transactional projects, Mr. Cui excels in deploying diversified investment tools to accurately capture and fulfill clients' commercial needs. His clientele covers booming business sectors including high-end manufacturing, AI, digital assets, TMT, finance, consumption, healthcare, biotech, culture and entertainment, and education. He has played an integral role in multiple rounds of transactions for leading benchmark projects such as ByteDance, SpaceX, xAI, DJI, Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME), Meituan, Genki Forest, Xiaohongshu, SenseTime, Virtus, and HashKey.

In compliance mandates, leveraging his in-depth understanding of labor and employment, equity incentives, corporate governance, SFC regulatory, data privacy, intellectual property, tax planning, and winding-up and bankruptcy, Mr. Cui provides integrated solutions for clients, including large multinational enterprises, benchmark Chinese enterprises going global, global financial institutions, and family offices.

Representative Matters

M&A/Joint Venture

  • Represented Longfor Properties in handling CPPIB's exit from joint ventures in Hong Kong, Chongqing, Chengdu, Suzhou, Shanghai, and other locations, and the series of transactions to introduce Dajia Insurance Group, with a total transaction value of approximately CNY 1.3 billion

  • Assisted Amphenol Corporation (NYSE: APH), a U.S. electronic product manufacturer, in its USD 2.1 billion cash acquisition of CommScope Holding Company, Inc.'s (NASDAQ: COMM) mobile network business

  • Assisted a buyer consortium in acquiring Sokolov Jewelry (Russia) with a transaction consideration exceeding USD 1 billion

  • Assisted Schouw & Co. (Denmark) in acquiring Ymer Tech's (Switzerland) wind power business

  • Represented an investor in exiting joint ventures with Warburg Pincus in Jinshan, Suzhou, Jiaxing, Lingang, and other locations

  • Represented SCPG in acquiring all of Walmart's commercial real estate in China

  • Represented Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (601717.SH, 564.HK) in acquiring Bosch Group's (Germany) motor business

  • Represented Huaqin Technology Co., Ltd. (603296.SH) in acquiring 80% equity in Innovation Enterprises Holding Limited

  • Represented Lepu Medical (300003.SZ) in making a strategic investment in Waterstone Group

  • Represented Pumpkin Film in selling 100% equity in Ruyi Films to China Ruyi (formerly Hengteng Network, 136.HK)

  • Represented CCBT in acquiring control of Lionbridge Group from Bain Capital and subsequent re-organization arrangements

  • Represented Qibu Co., Ltd. (603557.SH) in making a strategic investment in Taiwan Dongling Co., Ltd. (owner of the Piyo Piyo brand)

  • Represented Boda Data in acquiring several data centers in China

  • Represented BenQ Corporation in selling Shanghai BenQ Plaza to DNE Group

  • Represented Boyu Capital in acquiring Quasar Group (medical device manufacturing)

  • Represented a consortium in acquiring Shanghai Garden View Apartments

  • Represented Sinotrans in acquiring Keppel Logistics (Hong Kong) Limited from Keppel Corporation

  • Represented Sinotrans Hong Kong Limited in acquiring Silver Express International Limited from China Merchants Warehouse & Terminal Co., Ltd.

  • Represented Jadestone in selling 100% equity in Eled-tech Solid State Lighting (HK) Limited to NVC Lighting

  • Represented Dongcheng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (002675.SZ) in making a strategic investment in APRINOIA Therapeutics Inc.

  • Represented CapitaLand China Trust (CLCT) in acquiring four logistics land parcels in Wuhan, Kunshan, Shanghai, and Chengdu

  • Represented Morgan Stanley in acquiring four logistics land parcels in Jiaxing, Nantong, Suzhou, and Taicang

  • Represented Excellence Group in bidding for JLL's (Jones Lang LaSalle) property management business in China

  • Represented China Jinmao Group in bidding for Valspar’s architectural paint business in China

  • Represented CCBF and China Overseas Group in establishing a joint venture to acquire a partial equity interest in the Hong Kong Kai Tak residential property development project

  • Represented Huamao Group in making a strategic investment in Sino-Ocean Capital

  • Represented WuXi Biologics (2269.HK) in making a USD 10 million cornerstone investment in VISEN Pharmaceuticals (2561.HK)

  • Represented an investor in making a cornerstone investment in Yunnan Construction Investment Concrete Co., Ltd. (1847.HK)

  • Represented EPI Holdings (689.HK) in completing a HKD 15.7 million lightning placement (placing of new shares under general mandate)

  • Represented Sanfeng Environment Group Co., Ltd. (601827.SH) and China State Construction International Holdings Limited (3311.HK) in establishing a Hong Kong joint venture to participate in the tender for the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department Integrated Waste Management Facility

  • Represented Aden Energy in reaching a strategic cooperation with Hongshan Capital and establishing a joint venture (new energy)

  • Represented China Tourism Group Duty Free Corporation Limited (CDF) in reaching a strategic cooperation with Lagardère Group (France) and establishing a joint venture (Hong Kong Airport duty-free shop)

  • Represented Shine Asset in reaching a strategic cooperation with Apollo Global Management and establishing a joint venture (commercial real estate investment and management)

  • Represented Hopson Development Holdings Limited in reaching a strategic cooperation with Galeries Lafayette (Paris) and establishing a joint venture (luxury shopping mall)

  • Represented Golong in reaching a strategic cooperation with Unilever and establishing a joint venture (high-end beauty)


Investment Fund

  • Represented clients such as Blackstone, China International Capital Corporation (CICC), Citic Capital, Everbright Group, ABC International, CCB International, CMB International, CIB International, Yuexiu Asset Management, China Cinda, China CITIC Financial Asset Management, TF International, FutureX Capital, TianTu Capital, Shine Assets, Auster Capital, Fashion Capital, and Kapok Capital in launching and establishing over 100 USD-denominated funds, covering various fund types, including closed-end and open-end funds, partnership and corporate funds, blind pool funds and project funds, standalone funds and umbrella funds

  • Represented clients such as Bank of China Investment Management Co., Ltd., Bomesc Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Investment Holdings Co., Ltd., China Three Gorges Corporation, Noah Holdings Limited, China Merchants Group, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited, Shengqu Games, and Excellence Group in participating in the investment of various USD-denominated funds

  • Private Equity Investment

  • Represented clients such as CMB International, FutureX Capital, CCBT, Mitsui, GF Xinde, KT Investment, and HT Investment in participating in over 100 private equity investments in numerous unicorn enterprises and handling subsequent exit-related matters (including dispute resolution), involving portfolio companies including DiDi, DJI, Meituan, Webank, Mobike, Cainiao Network, Kingsoft Cloud, ByteDance, Yixia Technology Co., Ltd., Kuaishou Technology, Douyu, JD Logistics, Ping An OneConnect Bank (PAOB), China Media Capital (CMC), SouChe Group, Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited (Ping An Good Doctor), Burning Rock Biotech Limited, Bitmain Technologies Limited, NetEase Kaola, SenseTime, Missfresh Limited, Lionbridge, Virtus, HashKey, Hestia Cooking Robot, X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX, Neuralink, and Genki Forest

  • Represented clients such as Pumpkin Film, Terminus Group, Cushy Furniture, KKV, and Superior Link Holdings Limited in conducting equity financing


Labor and Employment

Dispute Resolution

  • Represented a wealth management company in handling a senior executive resignation dispute involving non-compete agreements, infringement of trade secrets, breach of post-resignation commitments, and formulation of relevant litigation strategies

  • Represented a high-net-worth individual in handling an investment-related dispute involving Hong Kong's Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (commonly known as investment immigration)

  • Represented a family office in addressing a senior executive resignation dispute involving payment in lieu of notice (PILON), paid annual leave, reimbursable expenses, severance payment, long service payment, garden leave, etc.

  • Represented a Hong Kong-based chip technology startup company in handling senior executive resignation compensation matters in its winding-up process

  • Represented numerous senior executives of financial institutions in handling resignation disputes

Employee Equity Incentives

  • Provided legal advice on the implementation of Cummins Inc.'s (NYSE: CMI) Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) in Hong Kong

  • Provided legal advice on the implementation of Barrick Gold Corporation's (NYSE: B) Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) in Hong Kong

  • Formulated a foreign employee equity incentive plan for Telink Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (688591.SH)

  • Formulated a foreign employee equity incentive plan for a global apparel enterprise 

  • Formulated a foreign employee equity incentive plan for a global furniture enterprise

Other Well-known Employment Law Clients Include

  • Horizon Robotics

  • Moore Threads

  • Chapman Freeborn

  • Yiu Lian Dockyards Limited

  • Citic Industrial Co., Ltd. 

  • ICBC Credit Card Centre (International) 

  • Tencent Music Entertainment Hong Kong Limited

  • Murex

  • Beeto

  • Halma plc

  • Galaxycore (Hong Kong) Limited

  • Goertek Microelectronics (Hong Kong) Co., Limited

  • Memblaze Limited

  • Novogene (HK) Co., Ltd.

  • Occean Master Health & Technologies Co., Ltd.

  • Favored Tech HongKong Corporation Limited


Digital Assets

  • Represented CMB International in leading the Series A private equity financing of HashKey Group (exchange)

  • Represented Infore Capital in investing in Frontier AGI (stablecoin)

  • Represented Superior Link in completing angel round financing (stablecoin)

  • Represented Pacific Digital Alliance in completing angel round financing (digital asset insurance)

  • Represented a family office in investing in Legend Finance (global payment license)

  • Represented a family office in acquiring PayerMax (global payment license)

  • Provided services for VDX's asset security backup and custody (exchange)

  • Provided legal consultation for a stablecoin license applicant

  • Provided legal services for a gold mining enterprise in fundraising and issuance of RWA tokens


Other Hong Kong Compliance Services

  • Provided legal advice to clients such as ABC International, CIB International, CMB International, Huatai Financial Holdings, China Merchants Securities., ICBC Asset Management, Guolian Securities, Guoyuan Securities, and Guosen Securities on Hong Kong financial regulation, particularly the application for SFC Type 9 License (Asset Management) and business compliance

  • Provided legal advice to clients such as FAW Group Corporation, Swellfun Co., Ltd., Haid Group Holdings Co., Ltd., TF International Securities Limited, Telink Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Galaxycore, China Three Gorges Energy Co., Ltd., Ninebot Limited, Konis, and NOVOGENE on Hong Kong corporate governance and compliance, particularly during A-share IPOs and major asset restructurings

  • Provided legal advice to clients such as United Microelectronics Center, Taihe Investment Group Co., Ltd., China CITIC Financial Asset Management, and Bo Shun on Hong Kong winding-up and bankruptcy, as well as related asset restructuring, appointment of liquidators/receivers, court proceedings, asset tracing, and dispute resolution

  • Provided legal advice to clients such as INB Capital, Harvest Fund Management Co., Ltd., CMB International, and Meta Lab on Hong Kong virtual asset regulation, as well as related license applications, token issuance/trading, and dispute resolution

  • Provided legal advice to clients such as Mitsui & Co., Ltd., LifeStyles, and China Medical System Holdings Limited on Hong Kong medical and pharmaceutical regulation, as well as related license applications, import and export of pharmaceuticals/food, registration of private clinics/pharmaceuticals/medical devices, and medical disputes

  • Provided legal advice to clients such as Wei Lai Education on Hong Kong education regulation, as well as related license applications, university-enterprise cooperation, curriculum design, and school building construction/lease

  • Bar Admissions/Professional Qualifications

    PRC Bar
    Hong Kong Solicitor

  • Education

    Juris Doctor & PCLL, City University of Hong Kong
    B.A. & LL.B., Wuhan University

  • Professional Experience

    Non-equity partner and associate, Zhong Lun Law Firm, 2017 to present

  • Languages

    Chinese
    English