WU Howard

Howard Wu

Partner
Baker & McKenzie LLP
Shanghai

Biography

Mr. Wu is the chief representative of Baker McKenzie’s Shanghai office. His practice focuses on cross-border transactions involving the PRC, in particular mergers and acquisitions with a focus on information technology, consumer goods & retail and major project matters.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Advising METRO AG on the sale of Metro China and the establishment of a strategic partnership with Wumei Technology Group (Wumei), a leading retailer in China.
  • Acting for Shanghai Jinjiang Hotels in multiple overseas acquisition and disposals (US, Europe and Southeast Asia).
  • Acting for Tencent in various M&A transactions (including a private placement in an online bank and a USD 488 million acquisition of a 36.5% stake in Sogou Inc., one of the leading search and internet services providers in China).
  • Assisting Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp in raising equity financing from Future Industry Investment Fund in connection with Joyson’s assets acquisition of Takata Corporation.
  • Acting for a US-based fund in respect of an investment in a Chinese taxi-hailing app company.
  • Advising Costco in market entry and e-commerce operations in China.
  • Acting for eBay, Inc. in the acquisition of EachNet Inc.(2003) and in the restructuring of its China e-commerce business involving a joint venture with Tom Online (2006). 
  • Acting for an online payment company in an investment into an online payment solutions company in China.
  • Acting for a global credit card company in a joint venture for a prepaid card business in China.
  • Advising Lidl Hong Kong Limited on its cross-border e-commerce entry into the China market.
  • Advising L Brands, Inc in multiple transactions including the sale of VS to Sycamore Partners and in terminating franchises in HK/China and undertaking direct operations.

Professional Honors

China Top 15 M&A Lawyers – ALB (2020)

Lawyer Star – Acritas (2019, 2018, 2017)

Leading Lawyer (Corporate & M&A, China) – Asia Pacific Legal 500 (2014–2020)

Leading Lawyer for Technology, Media & Telecommunications (Information Technology, China/ Hong Kong) – Chambers Asia (2009–2020)

Admission

California

Registered Foreign Lawyer, Hong Kong

Education

Fordham University School of Law (J.D.)(1998).

Columbia University (M.A.)(1994)

University of California at Berkeley (B.A.)(1991)

Languages

English

Mandarin

Shanghainese