CMS bolsters global finance practice with appointment in Hong Kong

International law firm CMS is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Whiteley as a partner in its Finance practice group. Christopher joins from Ashurst where he was a partner and will be based in CMS’s Hong Kong office. 

Christopher’s appointment will expand CMS Hong Kong’s Finance practice, led by Tim Elliott, by establishing a Capital Markets and Derivatives practice. Christopher specialises in structured finance, particularly “over the counter” derivative transactions. He advises financial institutions, especially investment banks, in relation to hedging, trading activities and complex strategic and funding transactions, together with related credit support arrangements. He also has extensive experience in central clearing and other credit risk mitigants as well as advising in relation to the regulatory aspects of financial markets.

Ranked Band 1 for Capital Markets: Derivatives & Structured Products by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021, Christopher is described as being “held in high regard for his expert handling of structured finance mandates and derivatives transactions.” He is also a regular speaker at conferences for the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) in Hong Kong, Seoul and Singapore. 

Caryn Miller, CMS partner and joint managing director for Asia and the Middle East, comments: “We are delighted to welcome Christopher to the firm. With his appointment, CMS now has seven partners – Nick Beckett, Shirley Lau, Andrew Horton, Steven Wise, Jonathan Chu, Tim Elliott and Christopher – on the ground in Hong Kong. Christopher’s extensive experience in the derivatives and structured finance space broadens our finance offering in the region and complements our existing service lines.”

Christopher adds: “CMS’s global finance practice has a fantastic reputation and I’m really pleased to join a firm with such strong cross-border capabilities. By establishing a Capital Markets and Derivatives practice, I look forward to developing the firm’s finance offering in Hong Kong, which, from my perspective, is one of the world’s most important financial markets.”

CMS Hong Kong provides clients with a full-service offering for all multi-jurisdictional matters requiring international and local law elements. CMS Hong Kong operates in association with Lau, Horton & Wise LLP to provide local law services.