Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) can be a vital source of economic growth, but also an inherent means by which a country's national security and other domestic interests can come under threat.
From early strategic advice on the applicability of FDI regimes, to steering transactions through the review processes, our priority is to ensure successful outcomes for our clients across multiple jurisdictions, offering a consistently high level of service. Failure to adopt a clear, coordinated strategy and to carefully consider the implications of FDI rules early on can expose parties to significant legal challenges and costs, as well as delays to their deal timetables.
Our team includes FDI specialists in the UK, European Union (including France), Asia, and the Middle East. We stay up to date with changing regulations and regularly advise clients on how to manage these challenges. Where we do not have in-house experts, we partner with trusted local counsel to secure all necessary approvals quickly and efficiently. This way, we help our clients achieve their commercial goals while staying compliant with all regulatory requirements.
Our Services
As more countries adopt strict FDI rules, businesses need to understand the requirements involved.
We have the expertise to advise on global FDI and the UK's National Security and Investment Act 2021 (NSIA) regimes. We carry out complex multijurisdictional assessments and have a track record of securing clearances.
NSIA filings
- Advising a UK-incorporated energy company on two NSIA filings in connection with the acquisition and disposal of assets in the Southern North Sea basin relating to natural gas. We represented the client throughout the initial review and during the in-depth assessment following the receipt of a call-in for one of the two filings.
- Advising a digital services company on a mandatory notification under the NSIA regarding supply contracts with entities in the defence sector. The team successfully obtained clearance.
Other FDI clearances
- Advising a global agricultural company on the sale of a 50% shareholding in a subsidiary company to an investment firm, successfully securing FDI clearances in the United States, Spain, Romania and Australia. COMESA, Serbian and Egyptian merger control clearances were also secured.
- Advising a UK private equity firm on the sale of a portfolio company which required mandatory filings under the UK NSIA regime and the FDI regime in Italy. Both clearances were successfully obtained.
Setting up new subsidiary/entity
- Assisting a UK integrated logistics services provider to set up its service subsidiary in Shanghai.
- Advising FanFixApp, LLC, an online subscription platform on the prospects and practicalities of setting up an entity in the UAE, to operate local aspects of the FanFix platform.
- Advising an online gaming and technology group on its entry into the UAE market, including entity establishment and ongoing regulatory support, with cross-border elements involving the UAE, Malta, and the Philippines.
Disposal of equity
- Assisting a Singapore listing company in the disposal of its equity in PRC subsidiary located at Sichuan Province.
FDI – acquisitions, disposals and restructuring
- Advising an active private equity fund, Creador, in connection with their FDI issues relating to several private equity acquisitions, disposals and restructuring in Indonesia, including on investment and divestment conditions and restrictions.
Regulatory clearance
- Advising the BW Group in obtaining regulatory clearance from (i) the Overseas Investment Office in New Zealand, (ii) the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board in Australia, and (iii) the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States in its acquisition of shares of Hawaiki Submarine Cable and International Connectivity Services.
- Advising Kroll in obtaining regulatory clearance from the Cayman Islands regulatory authorities in its acquisition of Borrelli Walsh, a leading specialist restructuring, corporate recovery, insolvency and forensic accounting firm.
- Advising an online gaming platform on establishing its presence in the UAE, including advice on permissible activities and gaming regulations, with cross-border considerations in the UAE, Singapore, and Gibraltar.
Corporate structuring and licensing
- Advising a Dutch renewable energy solutions provider on the corporate structuring and licensing requirements of its presence and operations in the UAE.
- Advising a blockchain technology and mining hardware provider on its expansion into the UAE, including corporate restructuring and licensing.
- Advising a global biopharmaceutical group on the establishment of a local representative office in Dubai, including obtaining all required licenses to conduct the intended business activities.
Financing
- Advising an ultra-high-net-worth Saudi national and prominent angel investor in relation to the Series A equity financing round of Kaykroo Foodtech Ltd, a UAE-headquartered innovative foodtech start-up.
- Advising Augmentum Fintech PLC on its US$7 million investment in Payable Technology Holding Limited, the owner of Pemo, an AI-driven expense management platform serving the Middle East. The matter involves cross-border elements between the UK and UAE and supports Pemo’s expansion into new GCC markets.
Please visit our Competition and Corporate pages for more information on the teams.
Awards and Recognition
Our People
Marta Isabel Garcia
Partner
Paris
Jean-Julien Lemonnier
Partner - Head of Ethics, Investigations, Defence, Avocat a la Cour
Hauts De Seine
Jane Ng
Partner - Head of Corporate, Greater China
Hong Kong
Tom Platts
Partner - Head of Corporate, Singapore
London
Toufic Safie
Partner
Dubai
Zoe Zhou
Managing Partner at Wei Tu Law Firm*
Latest News & Insights
