Bio
Fiona Chan is a partner in the corporate department of Appleby’s Hong Kong office, leading the Banking and Finance practice in the Hong Kong office as well as Appleby’s Technology & Innovation Group in Asia. Fiona has almost 25 years of offshore and onshore experience in the International and Asian market and currently advises on the laws of Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands.
Fiona’s finance practice includes a range of bilateral and syndicated re(financing) in various credit lines relating to acquisitions, structured products, funds, projects, privatization, assets, restructuring, premium insurance, ESG and crypto financings. Fiona is routinely instructed by major international and Asian financial institutions, listed and private companies, securities providers and leading law firms.
Fiona is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Bio
Fiona Chan is a partner in the corporate department of Appleby’s Hong Kong office, leading the Banking and Finance practice in the Hong Kong office as well as Appleby’s Technology & Innovation Group in Asia. Fiona has almost 25 years of offshore and onshore experience in the International and Asian market and currently advises on the laws of Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands.
Fiona’s finance practice includes a range of bilateral and syndicated re(financing) in various credit lines relating to acquisitions, structured products, funds, projects, privatization, assets, restructuring, premium insurance, ESG and crypto financings. Fiona is routinely instructed by major international and Asian financial institutions, listed and private companies, securities providers and leading law firms.
Fiona is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Work Highlights
Some of Fiona’s recent cases include:
- acted as Bermuda and BVI counsel to the syndicate lenders led by Bank of China Limited on all the financing aspects of this 15-year USD975 million loan project for the construction and development of the Chancay Multipurpose Port Terminal in Peru. The port is 60% owned by COSCO Shipping Ports, China’s largest state-owned shipping company. This transaction had been selected as the iconic case of state-owned enterprise with sustainability investment strategy in July 2023 China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and also won the Finance Deal of the Year by ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2023
- acted as Bermuda counsel to the syndicate banks led by Bank of China Limited in a USD700 million facility to Asia Symbol China Holdings Limited, a RGE member company and a world leading manufacturer and distributor of paper products. The facility was linked to certain sustainability criteria verified by an independent environmental certification agency. This transaction was shortlisted for the Finance Deal of the Year by ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2023
- acted as Cayman counsel to Allied Group on the closing of Allied Merger Corporation’s private placement financing for approximately USD267 million relating to a series of transactions including a reverse take-over which culminated in the listing of the resulting issuer’s shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange, being Canada’s largest mining IPO since 2010 with a market capitalisation of CADD1.3bn (USD970m) on the first day, and ongoing advice including closing of its USD53 million streaming transaction with Triple Flag International Ltd. in 2014 relating to exploration of gold mines in Africa
- acted as Cayman counsel to Citibank N.A. Hong Kong Branch in relation to an over USD100m receivables-backed securitisation facility to Qupital Limited in the first e-commerce merchant financing securitisation in Asia to merchants on online platforms
- acted as BVI counsel to AngelHub, Hong Kong’s first SFC licensed equity crowdfunding plat form for professional investors and global technology startups, on a series of financing into the group, together with related corporate, trust, technology and general legal and regulatory assessment acted as Bermuda and Cayman counsel to the largest Norwegian financial services group in its global ship finance and vessel acquisition deals, including a USD240 million loan facilities for the acquisition of ten vessels and a USD700 million facility for the collateral arrangements for change of ownership of vessels
- acted as BVI and Cayman counsel to the lender in an over HKD155 million financing/refinancing in relation to the privatization of a Bermuda target by way of section 99 scheme of arrangement and withdrawal of listed shares from the HKSE
Some of Fiona’s recent cases include:
- acted as Bermuda and BVI counsel to the syndicate lenders led by Bank of China Limited on all the financing aspects of this 15-year USD975 million loan project for the construction and development of the Chancay Multipurpose Port Terminal in Peru. The port is 60% owned by COSCO Shipping Ports, China’s largest state-owned shipping company. This transaction had been selected as the iconic case of state-owned enterprise with sustainability investment strategy in July 2023 China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and also won the Finance Deal of the Year by ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2023
- acted as Bermuda counsel to the syndicate banks led by Bank of China Limited in a USD700 million facility to Asia Symbol China Holdings Limited, a RGE member company and a world leading manufacturer and distributor of paper products. The facility was linked to certain sustainability criteria verified by an independent environmental certification agency. This transaction was shortlisted for the Finance Deal of the Year by ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2023
- acted as Cayman counsel to Allied Group on the closing of Allied Merger Corporation’s private placement financing for approximately USD267 million relating to a series of transactions including a reverse take-over which culminated in the listing of the resulting issuer’s shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange, being Canada’s largest mining IPO since 2010 with a market capitalisation of CADD1.3bn (USD970m) on the first day, and ongoing advice including closing of its USD53 million streaming transaction with Triple Flag International Ltd. in 2014 relating to exploration of gold mines in Africa
- acted as Cayman counsel to Citibank N.A. Hong Kong Branch in relation to an over USD100m receivables-backed securitisation facility to Qupital Limited in the first e-commerce merchant financing securitisation in Asia to merchants on online platforms
- acted as BVI counsel to AngelHub, Hong Kong’s first SFC licensed equity crowdfunding plat form for professional investors and global technology startups, on a series of financing into the group, together with related corporate, trust, technology and general legal and regulatory assessment acted as Bermuda and Cayman counsel to the largest Norwegian financial services group in its global ship finance and vessel acquisition deals, including a USD240 million loan facilities for the acquisition of ten vessels and a USD700 million facility for the collateral arrangements for change of ownership of vessels
- acted as BVI and Cayman counsel to the lender in an over HKD155 million financing/refinancing in relation to the privatization of a Bermuda target by way of section 99 scheme of arrangement and withdrawal of listed shares from the HKSE
Recognition
Her recent awards and recognition include:
- Leading Partner” (2023 – 2025) – Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide
- “Highly Regarded” and “Women Leaders” (2023-2024) – IFLR1000 APAC
- “A-List of Top 50 Offshore Lawyers” and “Growth Driver (International)” (2023-2025) – Asia Business Law Journal
- “Offshore Client Choice List” (2017-2021) – Asian Legal Business
- “Lawyer of the year for Offshore” (2020) – Women in Business Law Awards
Her recent awards and recognition include:
- Leading Partner” (2023 – 2025) – Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide
- “Highly Regarded” and “Women Leaders” (2023-2024) – IFLR1000 APAC
- “A-List of Top 50 Offshore Lawyers” and “Growth Driver (International)” (2023-2025) – Asia Business Law Journal
- “Offshore Client Choice List” (2017-2021) – Asian Legal Business
- “Lawyer of the year for Offshore” (2020) – Women in Business Law Awards
Coverage & Insights
Fiona is the editor of the firm’s quarterly publication Appleby Asia Alert which provides offshore legal and regulatory updates to Asian clients. She regularly speaks at international conferences and offers seminars and training to various organisations. Her expertise is frequently sought by industry and legal journals and publications.
Fiona is the editor of the firm’s quarterly publication Appleby Asia Alert which provides offshore legal and regulatory updates to Asian clients. She regularly speaks at international conferences and offers seminars and training to various organisations. Her expertise is frequently sought by industry and legal journals and publications.
Qualifications & Education
- University of Oxford (England)
- College of Law, London (England)
- University of Oxford (England)
- College of Law, London (England)
Memberships & Associations
Fiona sits on the firm’s global Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee and is the DIB Champion in Asia. She also leads the firm’s Women’s Leadership Network in Hong Kong.
Fiona holds a number of external positions, including the Vice-Chair and Chair of the Legal Committee of the Greater Bay Area Young Talents Association, mentor of law students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and committee member and lead of male allyship of Women in Law Hong Kong.
Fiona sits on the firm’s global Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee and is the DIB Champion in Asia. She also leads the firm’s Women’s Leadership Network in Hong Kong.
Fiona holds a number of external positions, including the Vice-Chair and Chair of the Legal Committee of the Greater Bay Area Young Talents Association, mentor of law students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and committee member and lead of male allyship of Women in Law Hong Kong.
We have worked closely with Fiona Chan and her team at Appleby on fintech matters that involve offshore elements. Fiona is well versed in fintech matters, providing comprehensive and considered advice. She is always timely with deadlines, and can also work under tight turnaround times to provide clients with cutting-edge opinions considering the ever-changing fintech landscape.