James C. Lin
  1. Partner
  1. Hong Kong
+852 2533 3368

Mr. Lin is a partner in Davis Polk’s Corporate Department, resident in Hong Kong. His practice focuses on public and private corporate finance transactions, including initial public offerings, convertible and high-yield debt offerings and private equity investments, and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Lin has worked on some of the most significant capital markets transactions in Asia, including with companies from the technology, media, Internet, healthcare, banking, natural resources, real estate, financial services, energy/oil and gas and other sectors.

Mr. Lin is recognized as one of the leading capital markets lawyers in Hong Kong/China by top tier international legal directories and surveys, including Chambers and IFLR1000.

Mr. Lin is fluent in English and Mandarin.

Work Highlights

Equity

Mr. Lin’s experience in securities offerings includes advising on:

U.S. Listings

  • LIZHI INC
  • I-Mab
  • Molecular Data 
  • 36Kr Holdings
  • ECMOHO
  • Youdao
  • 9F Inc.
  • Up Fintech Holding (Tiger Brokers) 
  • Tencent Music Entertainment
  • MOGU
  • CNFinance 
  • Studio City
  • Cango
  • Uxin
  • Puxin
  • iClick Interactive
  • Sogou
  • Sea Limited
  • RISE Education
  • iDreamSky Technology
  • Xunlei
  • Zhaopin
  • JD.com
  • Taomee Holdings
  • ChinaCache
  • Xueda Education
  • Zuoan Fashion
  • RDA Microelectronics
  • Baidu
  • Changyou.com
  • Shanda Games
  • Himax Technologies

HKEX IPOs

  • Razer
  • Orient Securities
  • AAG Energy
  • BAIOO
  • Kerry Logistics Network
  • Forgame
  • PICC
  • China Yongda Automobiles
  • Prada SpA
  • China Flooring
  • Air China
  • China Merchants Bank
  • Aluminum Corporation of China
  • KWG Property
Debt and Equity-Linked

Mr. Lin’s experience with investment-grade debt offerings includes advising on:

  • Tencent Holdings' $300 million Regulation S private bond offering
  • CNOOC's $4 billion SEC-registered guaranteed notes offering
  • Baidu’s $1 billion SEC-registered notes offering
  • Sinopec’s $3.5 billion Rule 144A/Regulation S notes offering
  • Temasek Holdings’ $1.7 billion Rule 144A/Regulation S notes offering
  • PT Pertamina’s (Persero) $2.5 billion Rule 144A/Regulation S senior notes offering
  • Several schedule B debt offerings by Export-Import Bank of Korea, Korea Development Bank and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power

Mr. Lin’s experience with high-yield debt offerings includes advising on:

  • China Aoyuan Property’s $100 million Regulation S high-yield notes offering
  • China Orienwise’s $100 million Rule 144A/Regulation S high-yield notes offering
  • Asia Aluminum’s $535 million Rule 144A/Regulation S high-yield notes offering
  • Galaxy Entertainment’s $600 million Rule 144A/Regulation S high-yield offering

Mr. Lin’s experience with convertible bond offerings includes advising on:

  • Zhongsheng Group Holdings Limited on its HK$2.35 billion convertible bonds repurchase and HK$3.925 billion convertible bonds issuance
  • Advanced Semiconductor Engineering:
    • $200 million Regulation S convertible bond offering
    • $400 million Regulation S convertible bond offering
  • Asia Cement’s Regulation S convertible bond offerings
  • 51job, Inc.’s $172.5 million Rule 144A/Regulation S convertible senior notes offering
  • YY Inc.’s $400 million Rule 144A/Regulation S convertible senior notes offering
  • Canadian Solar Inc.’s $150 million Rule 144A/Regulation S convertible senior notes offering
  • China Power International’s $182 million Rule 144A/Regulation S convertible bonds offering
  • Ctrip.com’s $180 million Rule 144A/Regulation S convertible bond offering
  • JinkoSolar Holdings’ $125 million Rule 144A convertible senior notes offering
  • ReneSola’s $175 million Rule 144A convertible senior notes offering
  • Shanda Interactive Entertainment’s $175 million Rule 144A convertible senior notes offering
  • Solarfun Power Holdings’ $173 million Rule 144A convertible senior notes offering
  • SK Telecom’s $332 million Regulation S convertible notes offering
  • Temasek Holdings’ Rule 144A/Regulation S convertible bond offering

Recognition

Mr. Lin is consistently recognized as a leader in the legal industry, including:

  • IFLR1000 – Capital Markets (Equity) U.S. Law: Hong Kong, Band 1, Leading Lawyer
  • American Lawyer – cited as an “Emerging Star” in “The New China Hands,” 2010
  • Chambers Asia-Pacific – Capital Markets (Equity and Debt) International Firms: China, Leading Individual 

Of Note

  • Member, Process Review Panel for the Insurance Authority

Professional History

  • Partner since 2007
  • Davis Polk since 1998

Practice Focus

Bar Admissions

  • Hong Kong
  • State of New York

Education

  • A.B., Harvard University, 1991
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • summa cum laude
  • M.Phil., University of Oxford, 1993
    • Rotary Foundation Scholar
    • St John's College
  • D.Phil., University of Oxford, 1996
    • Rotary Foundation Scholar
    • St John's College
  • J.D., Harvard Law School, 1998
    • cum laude

Languages

  • Mandarin