Kristen Kwok
Partner
Hong Kong
Kristen advises on all aspects of banking and finance with an emphasis on structured finance, debt capital markets and asset finance (in particular aircraft and ship finance).
Kristen joined Walkers in 2006 and is part of our Finance and Corporate Group.
She is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
"Kristen Kwok specialises in banking and finance work and has standout experience in Cayman Islands and Bermuda law matters. Based in Hong Kong, she offers notable knowledge in the debt capital markets and structured finance areas."
Experience and recent work
Examples of transactions Kristen has worked on include:
- Acting for major international banks and Chinese banks and securities houses in setting up offshore repackaging programmes and issuing repackaged notes with complex new structures such as loan repackaging and fund-linked note repackaging;
- Advising on numerous cross-border securitisation transactions in Korea (including future flow, credit card, auto loan and mortgage-backed transactions);
- Advising Chinese state-owned and privately owned enterprises, as well as prominent state-owned banks and other financial institutions on offshore bond issuances;
- Advising the lenders on numerous cross-border acquisition and real estate financings in China;
- Acting for major financial institutions, airlines and operating lessors on a variety of structures, including straight debt financings, pre-delivery payment financing, export credit and Exim bank supported financings, sale and leaseback and operating leasing.
Previously Kristen was with the International Finance Group of Sidley Austin in Hong Kong.
Qualifications
Admitted in:
- Bermuda, Registered Associate
- British Virgin Islands
- England and Wales (not practising)
- Hong Kong (not practising)
Education:
- Bachelor of Laws Degree, University of Hong Kong
2024 Legal 500 Asia Pacific - Leading Individual - "Widely recognised as the go-to Cayman counsel for setting up offshore repackaging programmes for Chinese banks and securities firm."
2023 Chambers Asia Pacific - Offshore - Notable Practitioner - "Kristen Kwok specialises in banking and finance work and has standout experience in Cayman Islands and Bermuda law matters. Based in Hong Kong, she offers notable knowledge in the debt capital markets and structured finance areas."
2023 Legal 500 Asia Pacific - Leading Individual - "Kristen Kwok, a partner in the Finance Group, has ‘extensive knowledge and experience’ in finance transactions."
2022 Who's Who Legal (Transport – Aviation & Shipping) - National Leader (Mainland China & Hong Kong SAR)
2022 Chambers Global - Offshore – Notable Practitioner
2022 Legal 500 Asia Pacific - Leading Individual - "Kristen Kwok heads the structured finance, debt capital markets and asset finance practice in Asia."
2022 Chambers Asia-Pacific - Recommended - Offshore: Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds - "She is highly responsive, very business-minded and easy to work with on difficult issues. She understands the business dynamics and culture of PRC clients and can deliver flexible solutions that address the needs of those clients."
2021 IFLR 1000 - Notable Practitioner
2021 Chambers Asia-Pacific - (Offshore: Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds) – Recommended Lawyer - "Kristen Kwok specialises in banking and finance work, with notable knowledge in the debt capital markets and structured finance areas. Sources appreciate her solution-based and proactive approach."
2021 The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific - Recommended Lawyer - "Kristen Kwok leads the firm's structured finance team and is lauded for her 'responsive, pragmatic and commercial advice' and knowledge of 'the nuts and bolts of the bespoke repackaged transactions arranged by PRC financial institutions'."
2021 Who's Who Legal (Transport – Aviation Finance) - Recommended Lawyer
2020 Chambers Asia-Pacific - (Offshore: Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds) - "Kristen Kwok is gaining increasing recognition in the market. She specializes in advising major financial institutions on asset finance, capital markets and structure finance."
2019 The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific Guide - Recommended Lawyer - "The 'very responsive and commercial' Kristen Kwok is another key member of the finance team across both structured finance and capital markets deals, and adds particular value for PRC and Taiwanese clients by virtue of her fluent Mandarin."
2019 Chambers Asia-Pacific - (Offshore: Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds) - Recognised Practitioner
2019 IFLR 1000 - Notable Practitioner
2018 Chambers Global Guide - (Offshore: Corporate & Finance including Investment Funds) A Notable Practitioner. "Client favourite and someone who I would highly recommend for capital markets work."
2017 Chambers Asia-Pacific - "Kristen Kwok specialises in aircraft and ship financing matters as well as advising on a broader array of structured finance and capital markets matters."
2016 Chambers Asia-Pacific - "Kristen Kwok maintains a robust practice in asset finance and structured finance. She is notable for her PRC-facing practice, especially for securitisation matters."
2016 Who's Who Legal (Transport – Aviation Finance) – Recommended Lawyer
2015 Chambers Asia-Pacific - "Kristen Kwok is the firm's asset finance expert and is sought after for her Chinese language abilities. She regularly advises a host of financial institutions, operating lessors and airlines on ship and aircraft finance, and leasing."
Team Members
Other team members with related expertise
