Sophie Lyall
Biography
Overview
Sophie Lyall is a partner in the Firm's Financial Restructuring and Insolvency group, based in Hong Kong.
Sophie specialises in all aspects of restructuring, insolvency and special situations matters, with a long-standing focus on both North and South Asia. She is widely known for her energetic and collaborative approach, strong work ethic, and sharp commercial acumen.
Sophie represents financial stakeholders at all levels of the capital structure, insolvency practitioners, issuers and borrowers in relation to distressed situations, including dealing with both distressed loan and bond debt where a resolution is achieved either through consensual means or, where necessary, enforcement or formal proceedings.
Sophie has considerable experience advising on large scale cross-border restructuring matters, having acted on some of the most high-profile restructurings in the region in recent years. This experience gives Sophie the ability to implement creative, holistic and multi-jurisdictional enforcement strategies and restructuring solutions for her clients.
She also has experience acting for financial institutions, distressed credit funds and other alternative capital providers in relation to both secondary debt and new money investments.
Prior to joining White & Case, Sophie was a partner at a multinational law firm headquartered in London and has spent the majority of her career working in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Experience
Sophie's experience includes advising:
- China Maple Leaf in relation to the restructuring of its Hong Kong listed convertible bonds.*
- An ad hoc group of bondholders in relation to Tsinghua Unigroup's guaranteed bonds, including winding up proceedings in relation to the Issuer.*
- MIE Holdings in relation to its holistic restructuring implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement in relation to its NY law governed notes, along with a consensual and inter-conditional restructuring of its secured loan facilities.*
- A substantial bondholder in relation to E-House (China) Enterprise Holdings’ offshore bond defaults and restructuring.*
- The mezzanine lender in relation to the US$320m restructuring of Trans Maldivian Airways.*
- Various Receivers appointed in respect of several commercial and high-end residential properties in Hong Kong following defaults under both secured bond and loan debt.*
- A leading Hong Kong bank in relation to the enforcement and subsequent workout of its offshore bilateral exposure to a major PRC property company.*
- A substantial bondholder in relation to China Fortune Land’s offshore bond restructuring by way of scheme of arrangement.*
- The liquidators of a Hong Kong company in relation to various antecedent transaction claims.*
- A shareholder of LYCRA following payment defaults, and subsequent enforcement action, under its mezzanine financing.*
- A consortium of investors in relation to the distressed acquisition of shares in a company holding significant commercial property in Hong Kong.*
- The Lenders in respect of Jindal Steel's US$765m multi-jurisdictional debt restructuring in relation to four syndicated loan facilities.*
- A leading Hong Kong bank in relation to a series of enforcement actions against various borrowers, corporate and personal guarantors arising from defaults under a suite of loan facilities, personal guarantees and real estate mortgages.*
- An oil conglomerate in relation to its rights as an unsecured trade creditor against a Bermuda-incorporated investment holding company listed in Hong Kong, including winding up proceedings in Hong Kong.*
- The provisional liquidators of UA Cinema, including in relation to various asset disposals and landlord/tenant related issues.*
*Experience prior to joining White & Case
Leading Individual, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023
Restructuring and Insolvency – Hong Kong
Up and Coming Lawyer, Chambers Greater China 2023
Restructuring/Insolvency – China (International Firms)
A top '40 under 40' lawyer in Restructuring and Insolvency
Global Restructuring Review 2022
