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Developing innovative pricing structures and alternative fee agreement models that deliver additional value for our clients.
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Helping clients respond correctly when a crisis occurs.
Providing our clients with legal, strategic, and practical advice to make transformational changes in their organizations.
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Delivering seamless service through partnerships across the globe.
Leveraging leading-edge technology to guide change and create seamless, collaborative experiences for clients and attorneys.
Industry-leading conferences focused on affordable housing, tax credits, and more.
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Offering a range of investment management and fiduciary services.
Bringing together companies and investors for tomorrow’s new deals.
Offering fresh insights on cases that are delayed, over budget, or off-target from the desired resolution.
Courtroom-ready lawyers who can resolve disputes early on clients’ terms or prevail at trial before a judge or jury.
Creating positive impact in our communities through increasing equity, access, and opportunity.
Partner / Chair and Managing Partner of China/Asia Pacific Practice
David Cheng is the chair and managing partner of Nixon Peabody’s China and Asia-Pacific practice. He is qualified in both the United States and Hong Kong. He focuses on cross-border transactions, litigations and investigations, advising on issues ranging from acquisitions, capital financing (initial public offering), intellectual property protection and disputes to fraud, FCPA and SEC investigations. He has a client portfolio from all over the world: United States, Middle East, Europe, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, mainland China and Hong Kong.
With a practice in international transactions and disputes and as a former U.S. Department of Justice attorney that had litigated over 90 cases in the U.S. Federal District Courts, my focus is very broad. Examples include: (1) advising on tax and corporate structures and conducting due diligence related to cross-border acquisitions and capital financing projects, assisting clients to minimize their risks and global tax impact (as part of that process, I have also advised clients on IP, employment, immigration and other local government requirements issues); and (2) representing clients in disputes and investigations potentially leading to litigations (this can range from tax or IP disputes to fraudulent acts by employees to government investigations (such as FCPA, U.S. Department of Justice, SEC and FMC)). I have also been the independent counsel of the Audit Committee in SEC investigations for various international companies based in Asia.
Despite global tensions with countries creating new laws, regulations and policies setting new hurdles for doing global business, companies are still looking at new markets for opportunities to grow internationally.
David Cheng, chair and managing partner of NP’s China & Asia Pacific practice, is featured on this podcast episode, discussing his career path and cross-border China practice.
This article covers a recent “New Bridges to and from China” event, sponsored by NP, that included discussion of all things trade, electric vehicle competition and taxes, as well as additional topics from the headlines such as pandas, TikTok and Taylor Swift. David Cheng, chair and managing partner of NP’s China & Asia Pacific practice, served as a panelist, and David Kaufman, director of Global Strategies, moderated the panel discussion.
David Cheng, chair and managing partner of NP’s China and Asia-Pacific practice, is quoted in this article covering the recent “New Bridges to and from China” forum held at NP San Francisco. David served as a panelist for this discussion of how the US-Chinese relationship has evolved since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and how companies from both countries are working to do cross-border business.
This article mentions China and Asia-Pacific practice Managing Partner David Cheng and Director of Global Strategies David Kaufman for co-chairing the recent “New Bridges to and from China” forum at NP San Francisco, hosted by NP and the San Francisco Business Times. The article also quotes David Kaufman on how the relationship between the US and China has evolved since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This article covering the state of the US housing market highlights REAL Messenger’s SPAC merger with Nova Vision Acquisition Corp., mentioning NP for advising REAL Messenger in the deal. The NP deal team was led by China and Asia-Pacific practice Managing Partner David Cheng and Chicago Office Managing Partner David Brown, both of the Corporate practice. The team also included Washington, DC senior counsel Ken Silverberg, Chicago associate Marc Zhang, and Chicago paralegal Astrid McGruder, all of the Corporate practice, as well as Director of Global Strategies David Kaufman.
This roundup of recent deals across the M&A space mentions NP for representing REAL Messenger in its SPAC merger with Nova Vision Acquisition Corp. to become a publicly traded company. The NP deal team was led by China and Asia-Pacific practice Managing Partner David Cheng and Chicago Office Managing Partner David Brown, both of the Corporate practice. The team also included Washington, DC senior counsel Ken Silverberg, Chicago associate Marc Zhang, and Chicago paralegal Astrid McGruder, all of the Corporate practice, and Director of Global Strategies David Kaufman.
This article mentions NP for advising REAL Messenger in its merger with special purpose acquisition company Nova Vision Acquisition Corp., allowing REAL Messenger to become a publicly traded company. The NP deal team was led by China and Asia-Pacific practice Managing Partner David Cheng and Chicago Office Managing Partner David Brown, both of the Corporate practice. The team also includes Washington, DC senior counsel Ken Silverberg, Chicago associate Marc Zhang, and Chicago paralegal Astrid McGruder, all of the Corporate practice, and Director of Global Strategies David Kaufman.
NP is mentioned for serving as US compliance counsel for client Zibuyu International Ltd. in the clothing and footwear company’s recent listing with Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX). Zibuyu is represented by China and Asia-Pacific practice managing partner David Cheng, of the Corporate group.
This article on the surge in private equity deals includes NP for advising the owners of skin care brand Obagi in its $1.2 billion business combination agreement with Waldencast Acquisition Corp. and the spinoff of Obagi’s operations in China.
The NP team was led by David Cheng, chair and managing partner of the firm's China and Asia-Pacific practice, and New York City Corporate partners Michael Smith and Richard Langan. The team that advised Obagi also included Chicago Corporate partner David Brown, Rochester Corporate partner Jeremy Wolk, Washington, DC Complex Commercial Disputes partner and Antitrust team leader Gordon Lang, and Washington, DC Corporate senior counsel Kenneth Silverberg. Other members of the team included Boston Corporate associate Anthony Bova and Chinese legal consultant Kelly Xiang.
This article covering a roughly $1.2 billion merger of skin care and beauty brands with a special purpose acquisition company mentions NP for advising the owners of skin care brand Obagi in its business combination agreement with Waldencast Acquisition Corp. and the spinoff of Obagi's operations in China.
The NP team was led by David Cheng, chair and managing partner of the firm's China and Asia-Pacific practice, and New York City Corporate partners Michael Smith and Richard Langan. The team that advised Obagi also included Chicago Corporate partner David Brown, Rochester Corporate partner Jeremy Wolk, Washington, DC Complex Commercial Disputes partner and Antitrust team leader Gordon Lang, and Washington, DC Corporate senior counsel Kenneth Silverberg. Other members of the team included Boston Corporate associate Anthony Bova and Chinese legal consultant Kelly Xiang.
California
District of Columbia
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Supreme Court
Hong Kong
Golden Gate University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
Georgetown University Law Center, Taxation, with distinction
Chinese
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