Charles C. Comey

Partner

Palo Alto, (650) 813-5723

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Education

Yale University (B.A., 1984)
;
University of California, Berkeley (M.A., 1988)
;
University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law (J.D., 1991)

Practices

Private Equity Investments + Buyouts

Private Equity + Venture Capital | China

Mergers + Acquisitions | China

Bar Admissions

California

Charles Comey is a corporate finance partner in the firm's Palo Alto office. Mr. Comey’s practice experience includes working on the ground in China and Japan for 16 years. Before relocating to Silicon Valley in July 2010, he opened and served as Managing Partner of the firm's Shanghai office for seven years. Mr. Comey advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity, and strategic alliances, as well as RMB fund formation, life sciences, and clean technology matters. He has also counseled public companies on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act issues and internal investigations. He speaks and reads Mandarin.

Mr. Comey is recommended as a leading lawyer by Chambers Global 2012 (PE buyout expert - Asia Focus), Chambers Asia 2011, IFLR1000 2011, Legal 500 USA 2012, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2010-2012, PLC Which Lawyer? 2010, and Euromoney’s Expert Guides.

Beginning in 1994, Mr. Comey was seconded by Morrison & Foerster to the legal department of a major Japanese trading company, and thereafter was resident for nine years in Morrison & Foerster's Tokyo office, where he specialized in cross-border mergers and acquisitions and strategic alliances.

Mr. Comey is admitted to practice in California and is a member of the California and American bar associations.

Representative transactions handled by Mr. Comey appear below. To view a more complete list see Matters.

Walmart's 51% Increased Investment in Yihaodian

Represented Walmart’s Global e-Commerce division in its 51% increased investment in China e-commerce business Yihaodian. The transaction was one of the largest in-bound investments to China in 2012, and was recognized as a 2012 Deal of the Year by Asian-MENA Counsel.

McAfee's US$389 Million Tender Offer for Stonesoft Corporation

Representing Intel Corporation and McAfee, Inc., the world's largest dedicated security technology company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel, in McAfee's US$389 million tender offer for the outstanding shares and option rights of Nasdaq Helsinki OMX-listed Stonesoft Corporation, a global next-generation network firewall and network security solutions provider.

Hua Hong Semiconductor's Merger with Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing

Represented Hua Hong Semiconductor Limited in its merger with Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation. The transaction combines the business and operations of two of China’s leading semiconductor manufacturers.

Strategic Alliance Between Lianlian Group and American Express

Represented New Enterprise Associates and Oak Investment Partners as sellers and continuing shareholders in a strategic alliance between their portfolio company Lianlian Group, a China-based mobile services company, and American Express. The transaction included Amex’s purchase of an equity interest in Lianlian Group’s offshore holding company and an operating agreement under which Lianlian Pay will use American Express’ “Serve” platform, a next-generation consumer payment service technology, to provide new digital wallet products to the Chinese market.

Tangshan Jidong Products & Materials Trading Group's investment in CML Holdings

Represented China’s largest automobile trading group, Tangshan Jidong Products & Materials Trading Group, in an equity investment in and long-term iron ore offtake agreement with CML Holdings, Inc., a Utah-based iron mine operator.