Steven Franklin’s practice focuses on public and private cross-border transactions, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), debt and equity investments, joint ventures and the corporate aspects of domestic and cross-border financial restructurings. His experience includes advising hedge, private equity and other investment funds on structuring, acquiring and disposing of their investments.

Steven advises on many high-profile shareholder activism situations across the Asia-Pacific and European regions. He often acts in a quasi-general counsel role for his clients—managing multidisciplined advisor teams across multiple jurisdictions in Europe and Asia-Pacific throughout the lifecycle of an investment, including establishing optimal investment structures, providing ongoing corporate governance and financing, and advising on exit strategies (whether through the equity capital markets, M&A or otherwise).

Steven is one of 30 lawyers to be included in the Asian Legal Business (ALB)’s Rising Stars Hong Kong 2023 list which spotlights lawyers in Hong Kong who are doing high-quality work and earning accolades from their colleagues, superiors and clients. He was also recognised by The Deal as a Rising Star in 2021 which spotlights exemplary new partners at top US law firms who have demonstrated their ability to navigate complex dealmaking situations. In the publication, he was noted for his work advising hedge funds on shareholder activism situations, investments and joint ventures and for having significant experience providing investor-side advice on complex corporate transactions and investment opportunities, such as M&A, merger arbitrage opportunities and private equity investments, across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.