DLA Piper has strengthened its Hong Kong capital markets bench with the hire of leading IPO and Equity Capital Markets specialist Sherlyn Lau as Head of Capital Markets and Corporate Finance, APAC.
Lau joins the firm’s Hong Kong office from Sidley Austin, where she served as Deputy Head of the firm’s multidisciplinary China Corporate and Finance practice. She arrives with a team of 12 experienced capital markets practitioners, who will integrate into DLA Piper’s Asia Corporate practice led by Roy Chan, and its Equity Capital Markets practice in Greater China, which includes Hong Kong-based partners George Wu and Christina Loh, and Beijing-based partners Yang Ge and Vivian Liu.
With two decades of experience, Lau is widely regarded as one of Hong Kong’s most respected equity capital markets lawyers. Her practice spans Hong Kong IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, secondary equity fundraisings, listing rules compliance and pre-IPO private placements. The firm said her arrival, together with her team, enhances DLA Piper’s understanding of the Hong Kong and Mainland China capital markets and their regulatory and commercial environments.
Lau has led numerous complex, high-profile, and first-of-its-kind transactions across sectors, including life sciences and biotech, emerging technology, and mining and resources. Her clients include leading Chinese and international investment banks, as well as a significant number of Hong Kong-listed companies and businesses preparing to list.
The hire comes as Hong Kong reasserts its position as a global IPO hub. In 2025, the market reclaimed its top ranking in global IPO league tables for the first time since 2019, supported by an all-time high of active IPO applications. The firm believes the city is well positioned to sustain this momentum through 2026 and beyond.
Lau’s appointment follows several other recent additions to DLA Piper’s Corporate practice, including Oliver Crowley, Chris Field, and Anthea Bamford in London, as well as Koji Yamamoto and Yoshiyuki Omori and their team in Tokyo.
Over the past year, DLA Piper’s Corporate practice has advised on a number of major transactions, including StonePeak’s acquisition of a majority controlling stake in Castrol from bp; B&K Corporation’s Hong Kong IPO; a funding round for UK brain monitoring start-up CoMind; Echelon’s joint venture with Iberdrola for Spanish data centres; the creation of a joint venture between Daimler Truck and Volvo Group to develop a common software-defined vehicle platform; Benchmark Holdings’ proposal to return capital to shareholders; Barloworld’s ZAR23 billion cash offer; and Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Co., Ltd.’s IPO on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
KEY QUOTES
“Sherlyn’s arrival is a real game changer for our Corporate practice in Asia. Her impressive track record coupled with her exceptional expertise in the Hong Kong and Mainland China markets significantly enhance our ECM and broader Corporate capabilities in the region. This is a major step forward in positioning DLA Piper as a leading global firm in the region’s most influential financial centers.”
Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry, Managing Director For Asia Pacific, DLA Piper
“The appointment of Sherlyn and her team is significant for the firm and underscores our strategy to further strengthen our capabilities in key financial centres across Asia. Following the addition of several partners in strategic locations, DLA Piper is focusing its investment on expanding our regional footprint and enhancing our ability to support clients on their complex, cross-border opportunities.”
Jon Kenworthy, Global Co-Chair Of The Corporate Group, DLA Piper
“DLA Piper’s global platform is one which many firms aspire to have. Its strong presence across Asia means it is well placed to support businesses from across the region achieve their capital markets-related objectives. I am excited to join the firm at a time when Hong Kong is experiencing renewed momentum in the capital markets, and I look forward to contributing to our continued growth together with my team.”
Sherlyn Lau, Head Of Capital Markets And Corporate Finance, APAC, DLA Piper
