UK & international
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
The combined firm launched on 1 July 2026. Its long-established Hong Kong office pairs capital-markets work with a heavyweight disputes and restructuring practice and recruits trainees mainly through summer schemes.
- Category
- UK & international
- Origin
- Launched 1 July 2026 by the combination of Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
- HK presence
- Open since 1982; one of the largest international-firm practices based in the city, running Hong Kong and US law
- HK strengths
- Capital markets & IPOs, corporate/M&A and private equity, banking & finance, disputes, arbitration and restructuring
The Hong Kong practice
What does Hogan Lovells Cadwalader's Hong Kong office actually do?
The Hong Kong practice has operated since 1982. On 1 July 2026, Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader completed their combination and launched as Hogan Lovells Cadwalader. The Hong Kong office continues to run Hong Kong and US law across three engines: capital markets and corporate, banking and finance, and a disputes practice that carries real weight in the market. Combination announcement ↗
On the transactional side the office is known for mid-cap Hong Kong listings rather than the mega-IPOs the Magic Circle chases. It has built a niche in Chapter 18A biotech listings and in US and Hong Kong dual-law IPOs for Chinese and Asia-Pacific issuers, alongside private equity and going-private deals for US-listed Chinese companies. The finance side covers acquisition and leveraged finance, private credit and asset and aviation finance.
The disputes side is a genuine draw. It runs commercial and financial-services litigation, international arbitration (construction, energy, private equity and life sciences), and contentious restructuring and insolvency, where the office acted for the bond trustee in the landmark Tsinghua Unigroup keepwell case. For a trainee, the four-seat structure gives exposure across practice groups, with an opportunity to apply for a London secondment subject to visa restrictions.
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026
How does The Legal 500 rank Hogan Lovells Cadwalader in Hong Kong?
The current Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026 guide ranks the firm’s Hong Kong practice across 10 practice areas. Open any area below to see the corresponding Legal 500 table and editorial.
- Tier 1Data protection and cyber security ↗; TMT ↗
- Tier 2Construction ↗; Dispute resolution: litigation ↗; Restructuring and insolvency ↗
- Tier 3Capital markets (equity) ↗; Dispute resolution: international arbitration ↗
- Tier 4Banking and finance ↗; Fintech and financial services regulatory ↗; Intellectual property ↗
These are third-party market rankings, not recruitment rankings. The tables can change with each edition; this summary was checked on 23 September 2026.
Trainee & vacation scheme programme
How do you get into Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Hong Kong?
The combined firm's current Hong Kong careers page confirms both a summer vacation scheme and direct training-contract applications. Choose one route per recruitment cycle.
- Summer 2027Apply 1 October 2026 – 3 January 2027. June/July schemes last roughly three to four weeks, with a training-contract interview at the end.
- Direct routeSeparate 2028 and 2029 training-contract vacancies are listed. They are not subject to the summer-scheme deadline.
- EligibilityPenultimate-year qualifying-law students or above, with a 2:1 or equivalent. Chinese is not mandatory, though language skills can broaden opportunities.
- TrainingTwo years across four seats. A London secondment is an opportunity to apply for, subject to visa restrictions, not an unconditional guarantee.
- FundingPCLL and required conversion-exam fees reimbursed, plus a maintenance grant. The PCLL must be passed in full at the first sitting.
Recent matters worth knowing
Which recent matters has the Hong Kong office run?
These are the deals and disputes the Hong Kong office has publicly led or advised on, and they are the raw material for a good interview answer. They cluster where the office is strongest: mid-cap HKEX listings, Chapter 18A biotech floats, and heavyweight disputes and restructuring.
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Cloudbreak Pharma's HK$611m Chapter 18A IPOJuly 2025
Hogan Lovells advised on the Main Board HKEX listing of the clinical-stage ophthalmology biotech under Chapter 18A, the pre-revenue biotech route, with the stock listing in July 2025. Hong Kong corporate partner Sammy Li led. Source ↗
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Citicorp v Tsinghua Unigroup "keepwell" judgmentJune 2023
Hogan Lovells acted for the bond trustee, Citicorp International, and secured a Hong Kong Court of First Instance judgment of more than US$480m against Tsinghua Unigroup for breaching a "keepwell" deed backing its offshore notes, one of the landmark Hong Kong rulings on how far these China-market comfort instruments can be enforced. Reported as [2023] HKCFI 1572. Source ↗
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Wise Living Technology's HK$272m IPOJuly 2023
Acted for the sole sponsor, Guotai Junan Capital, and the underwriters on the Main Board listing of the mainland heat-service provider. Source ↗
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Sinohealth Holdings' HK$400m IPOJuly 2022
Advised on the Main Board HKEX listing of the China healthcare-data and insight group, which began trading on 12 July 2022. Hong Kong corporate partner Nelson Tang led. Source ↗
Insider tip
Deals like these only help if you can say what they mean. Learn the framework in our commercial awareness guide, and the paid Weekly News Digest breaks down one Hong Kong deal a week, what happened, why it matters, and how to talk about it in an interview.
Interview & selection intel
What does the Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Hong Kong selection process look like?
The current Hong Kong page confirms online assessments and rolling progression but does not name Watson Glaser or publish a fixed assessment-centre format. Do not treat older UK or pre-combination accounts as the current Hong Kong specification. Your invitation is the authority for the format and timing.
Prepare a specific explanation of why this office interests you, and practise discussing a Hong Kong transaction or dispute. Scheme performance and the final training-contract interview matter alongside the initial screening.
How to stand out
How do you stand out for Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Hong Kong?
With up to four trainees recruited annually, your edge comes from a sharp written application, genuine commercial awareness, and strong performance on whichever application route you choose. Here is where to put your preparation.
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1Build an evidence-led application. Explain achievements and commercial reasoning, not just duties. If you take the scheme route, treat everyday research, drafting and collaboration as part of your assessment.
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2Check the current assessment instructions. The combined firm's Hong Kong page does not identify a particular test. Use the format in your invitation to guide preparation instead of assuming another office's process applies.
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3Be able to talk about a Hong Kong deal and a Hong Kong dispute. This office earns on mid-cap listings and on heavyweight litigation and restructuring, so walk in able to explain a recent HKEX IPO and why a matter like the Tsinghua keepwell ruling mattered to bondholders. Build that reasoning in the Online Case Study Centre and the Mock Assessment Centre, then pressure-test your delivery with coaching.
Quick answers
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Hong Kong, in five questions
How many training contracts does Hogan Lovells Cadwalader offer in Hong Kong?
The firm currently advertises up to four Hong Kong trainees annually, subject to business needs, and up to 15 summer interns.
How do you get a training contract at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Hong Kong?
Through a summer vacation scheme or a direct training-contract application. The current Hong Kong careers page lists both routes, but permits only one application per recruitment cycle.
Does Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Hong Kong use the Watson Glaser test?
The current Hong Kong careers page confirms online assessments but does not name the test provider. Check your invitation rather than relying on older Watson Glaser descriptions.
What does the Hogan Lovells Cadwalader Hong Kong training contract look like?
Two years across four six-month seats, with an opportunity to apply for an international secondment, subject to visa restrictions. PCLL and required conversion-exam fees are reimbursed, with a maintenance grant.
What does Hogan Lovells Cadwalader look for in Hong Kong applicants?
A 2:1 or equivalent, commercial awareness and clear communication. Chinese language ability is not mandatory but can broaden opportunities. Check the current Hong Kong careers page for full requirements.