Leon Yap
Counsel Corporate & Finance
Languages
English
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
Leon is a Counsel with the International Debt Capital Markets practice at Hogan Lovells. He has over fifteen years of experience on DCM matters, advising both Issuers and Dealers/Bookrunners on Reg S and Rule 144A Standalone Debt Offerings, Equity-Linked (Convertible and Exchangeable Bond) issuances, Green, Social and Sustainability bonds, Medium Term Note (MTN) and Euro-Commercial Paper (ECP)/Certificates of Deposit (CD) programmes, regulatory capital instruments and liability management exercises. He is a member of the global ESG board at Hogan Lovells and the Sustainable Finance practice in Asia-Pacific.
Leon has practised with international law firms in the UK and Europe, and has also worked at a number of leading investment banks across Europe on debt capital markets legal matters. He is a solicitor of England and Wales.
Leon has been identified as a “Rising Star” in DCM by the Legal 500 and by Euromoney/IFLR (Asia-Pacific) and has been ranked as a “Notable Practitioner for Capital Markets: Debt (Singapore)” in the IFLR1000 directory (2023). He has been cited as “a strong lawyer who is highly skilled at navigating legal risk in advising clients and does so in an approachable and comforting manner”. Several of his deals have won industry awards, including the IFLR Europe 2019 “Debt and Equity-Linked Deal of the Year”.
Representative experience
Advising International Finance Corporation (member of the World Bank Group) on its JPY16.5bn investment in a sustainability-linked bond issued by CapitaLand Ascott Trust.
Advising International Finance Corporation on its investment in a US$250 million green bond issued by Bank of the Philippine Islands to finance eligible green assets in the Philippines.
Advising J.P. Morgan, BNP Paribas and BofA Securities as Joint Lead Managers on the standalone issuance of €500m 60NC5.25 guaranteed subordinated hybrid notes by APA Infrastructure Limited.
Advising BOC Aviation Limited on its US$15bn GMTN Programme and various issuances thereunder.
Advising Ausgrid Finance on its US$3bn Secured EMTN Programme.
Advising Transurban Finance on its US$10bn Secured EMTN Programme and issue of €650m Notes due 2033 thereunder.
Advising Agricultural Bank of China (DIFC Branch) on its US$5bn Certificate of Deposit Programme.
Advising the Issuer and the Dealers on the J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. US$65bn Euro Medium Term Note Program, incld annual updates and numerous issuances thereunder.*
Advising the Dealers on Mitsubishi HC Capital’s US$5.5bn Euro Note Programme, including a €325m green bond in 2021 and a $2bn liability management exercise in 2020.*
Establishing over 40 Euro-Commercial Paper Programmes for key UK and European corporates in 2020 and 2021 (including for the Bank of England CCFF), acting for both Issuers and Dealers.*
Advising Swisscom on its inaugural €500m standalone green bond in 2020.*
Establishing the €3bn Euro Medium Term Note Programme of Vestas Wind Systems in 2022, and subsequent dual-tranche €1bn sustainability-linked bond issues thereunder.*
*Matter handled prior to joining Hogan Lovells.
Credentials
- Postgraduate Diploma (Legal Practice), College of Law, Moorgate, 2008
- Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LLB), The London School of Economics and Political Science, 2007
- Solicitor, England and Wales