Already the UK’s leading Japan travel specialist, Inside Travel will use CJF’s support to further growth in high-end travellers visiting Japan from the UK, US and Australia.

“This successful UK travel company began after a graduation trip to Japan by its founders in the 1990s,” said Herbert Smith Freehills Tokyo partner Joseph Fisher. “Over 20 years, they have built their passion for Japan and Asia into becoming the region’s leading specialist tour operator.”

Established in 2013, CJF currently has US$1.4 billion in assets under management in sectors such as food, clothing and housewares, leisure, local and traditional products, education, and tourism.

“Public-private fund CJF was set up to expand overseas demand for products and services unique to the Japanese lifestyle and culture,” said Herbert Smith Freehills London partner Dylan Doran Kennett. “It’s been a pleasure to support its investment in the burgeoning travel sector.”

CJF was advised from Tokyo by Joseph Fisher with associate Alexander Chuprunov, from London by partner Dylan Doran Kennett, senior associate Tom Watkins and associates William Beynon and Sabry Salama, and from Sydney by partner Damien Roberts.

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With this strategic investment, QIA will enter the project as a long-term investor and partner. QIA’s investment will provide a substantial capital injection and further pave the way for increasing infrastructure and team buildout, positioning the team for long-term success in the Formula 1.

QIA was established in 2005 to protect and grow Qatar’s financial assets, and to help diversify the economy. It is a global investment organization with investments spanning all major global markets, asset classes, sectors and geographies. Audi will officially enter Formula 1 with a factory team with the change of the technical regulations in 2026.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.​

The Freshfields team was led by Partner Ralph Kogge (Corporate/M&A, Munich) and also included:

• Partners: Helmut Bergmann (Antitrust & Competition, Berlin), Giles Pratt (Commercial/IP/IT, London), Stephen Hewes (Corporate/M&A, London)
• Counsel: Judit Gajdics (Corporate/M&A, Munich), Mariusz Motyka-Mojkowski (Antitrust & Competition, Berlin), Martin Rehberg (Tax, Munich)
• Principal Associates: Sandra Jung (Corporate/M&A, Munich), Moritz Lehmann (Tax, Munich)
• Associates: Charlotte Schings (Corporate/M&A, Munich), Caroline Guichoux, Christopher Sickinger (both Antitrust & Competition, Berlin), Tochukwu Egenti, Jaymie Younger (both Commercial/IP/IT, London)
• Senior Transaction Lawyer: Franz Dahl (Hamburg)

Inhouse the transaction was advised by Michael Schweppe.

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“Thanks to our team of specialized corporate/M&A and life sciences lawyers, we were able to contribute on the legal side to the success of this Series A financing round of ATB Therapeutics. This will further expand the potential of the ATBioFarm platform and make transformative therapies available to patients worldwide”, commented Younes Sebbarh, leading the Baker McKenzie team.

Founded in 2018, ATB Therapeutics is a biotechnology company based in Marche-en-Famenne, Belgium, specializing in the discovery and development of novel antibody therapies. Utilizing a proprietary technology platform based on plant-based molecular farming, ATB Therapeutics aims to deliver targeted solutions for oncology and autoimmune diseases through innovative next-generation antibody therapies.

Baker McKenzie’s Corporate Finance and Life Sciences regularly advise pharma and biotech companies, as well as financial and strategic investors on cross border and transformational transactions in the life sciences field. Most recently, Baker McKenzie advised, inter alia, AgomAb Therapeutics on its USD 100 million Series C and USD 89 million Series D financing, Numab Therapeutics in a CHF 100 million cross-over financing, Denmark-based Chr. Hansen Holding on the acquisition of Jennewein Biotechnologie, Ariceum Therapeutics on the acquisition of UK based biotechnology company Theragnostics Ltd., on the extension of Ariceum Therapeutics’ Series A financing to EUR 47.75 million, Seamless Therapeutics on a USD 12.5 million financing and in-licensing from TU Dresden; Allecra Therapeutics on an exclusive licence and supply agreement with ADVANZ PHARMA, MODAG on a strategic collaboration with Teva; Chord Therapeutics in its sale to Merck KGaA and EQT Life Sciences (formerly LSP) as lead investor in a EUR 20 million Series A equity financing of Innovative Molecules.

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The multi-format, multi-territory agreement will see Merlin invest in excess of GBP85 million into the first two attractions, launching in the US and the UK between 2026 and 2027. In the longer-term, Merlin plans to expand the experiences to other global destinations. Merlin’s first global partnership with a gaming brand, the deal marks the latest milestone in the group’s strategy to work with leading IP and brands across its estate.

DLA Piper partner Duncan Calow and senior associate Ally Clark, of the firm’s Media, Sports and Entertainment group, advised Merlin on Intellectual Property and Media considerations.

The Merlin in-house team was led by: Jonathan Lewis, Global IP Director; Christine Dure-Smith, Senior Contracts Director; and Natahsa Breeze, Legal Director.

Duncan Calow comments: “Congratulations to our clients Merlin on this exciting project and milestone, as they bring gaming into their long list of successful collaborations with brands for the first time. The huge and continued success of the Minecraft franchise is well documented, and to see that IP continue to expand into new and creative avenues will be an exciting venture for both parties.”

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The DLA Piper team was led by partner Álvaro Sarmiento and included associate Iker Gonzalez Luna (both in Mexico City). DLA Piper in Latin America’s team offers full-service business legal counsel to domestic and multinational companies with interests in and operations throughout the region.  Our integrated approach to serving clients combines local knowledge with the resources of the DLA Piper global platform.  With more than 400 lawyers practicing throughout Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico, in addition to our US-based cross-border attorneys, our teams serve clients throughout the LatAm region, Iberian Peninsula, and around the globe.  DLA Piper’s global platform of 90+ offices in more than 40 countries enables us to meet our clients’ legal and business needs, whether they are based in Latin America or wish to do business there.

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We have advised SDICS International as the fund manager on its public fund product under this Cross-boundary WMC 2.0, particularly the formation of SDICSI (Hong Kong) Open-ended Fund Company, a Hong Kong public open-ended fund company, along with its initial sub-fund, SDICSI USD Money Market Fund (Fund). We have led the deal and assisted our clients in answering multiple rounds of enquires with SFC regarding this new product, after which the Fund was conditionally registered and authorized by the SFC on 17 October 2024 and is launched on 2 December 2024 and will be recognized under the Cross-boundary WMC 2.0.

SDICS International is a group affiliate of SDIC Securities and is licensed under the SFC to provide various financial services, including asset management services. Established in August 2006, SDIC Securities is a fully licensed comprehensive securities firm, ranking among the best in China. Headquartered in Shenzhen, it has 50 branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shantou, Foshan and others, along with 310 securities sales offices in 29 provincial-level administrative regions. As of 31 December 2023, SDIC Securities had total assets of RMB254.844 billion and net assets of RMB49.484 billion. The dual qualification of SDICS International and SDIC Securities according to the 2024 List will support operation of Southbound Cross-boundary WMC of the Fund within the client’s own group.

The Dentons Hong Kong team, which advised on Hong Kong law in such Fund formation, was led by investment funds partner Charles Yim, along with managing associate Ivan Tsang, associates Kelvin Wong, Tracy Lei, trainee solicitor Sunny Liu, and legal assistants Yeung Man Fung, Alison Chan and Helen Hu.

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Dentons also advised CEC Bank on the establishment of its MTN Program in December 2022 whose limit has now been increased from with a total amount of €600 million to €1.5 billion, also offering drawdown options in RON, EUR, and USD.

Bucharest-based partner Loredana Chitu, Head of the Capital Markets practice in Romania, led the cross-border Dentons team advising the issuer, working closely with Frankfurt-based partner Oliver Dreher, Head of the Debt Capital Markets (DCM) practice in Germany, as well as associate Alin Roca and paralegal Bogdan Galatanu in Bucharest, and Philippa Münnich-Winter (Senior Associate), Nadja Reiß (Associate) and Sven Henneke (Project Manager Legal) in Frankfurt.

“As long-standing advisors to CEC Bank since their very first issuance, we are proud to be by their side throughout this remarkable journey in the international debt capital markets. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the dedicated and talented CEC Bank team on this latest successful bond issuance, and we thank the joint bookrunners, managers, and their counsel for the collaboration on this significant achievement!,” said Loredana Chitu.

“This transaction demonstrates Dentons’ capability in navigating intricate cross-border capital markets matters, demonstrating the exceptional synergy of our multi-jurisdictional teams and their knowledge across key regions”, added Oliver Dreher.

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The joint venture’s goal is to develop a significant residential project in the Židenice area of Brno, the Czech Republic’s second-largest city.

Dentons advised on the creation of the joint venture as well as on the acquisition of a land plot, on which a residential complex will be constructed in several stages. The project will feature more than 750 apartments as well as several commercial spaces. The construction should begin in June 2025 and the completion of the entire project is expected in mid-2031. The estimated market value of the apartments is over €200 million.

Partner Markéta Tvrdá led the team, which was composed of Associate Jan Sedlák and Junior Associate Kateřina Bugnerová.

Markéta Tvrdá commented: “Our team advised YIT on its previous partnerships with RSJ for several residential development projects in Prague, including Lappi Tornio and Vesi Hostivař. We are pleased to have assisted YIT in expanding beyond Prague to seize opportunities in residential and commercial real estate development in Brno and the region where the demand for quality housing is rapidly growing.”

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