Morrison & Foerster Expands Global Private Funds Capabilities With New Partner in Hong Kong

HONG KONG (October 10, 2019) – Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that Nicholas Sheets has joined the firm in the Hong Kong office as a partner in its global Private Funds Group. Mr. Sheets is an accomplished corporate lawyer who brings nearly a decade of experience advising Asia, U.S., and Latin America sponsors and investors in the structuring, formation, and offering of private equity funds as well as co-investment activities and secondary transactions.

Mr. Sheets’ practice primarily focuses on the representation of private equity sponsors in their fund formations, co-investments, and related activities, particularly in transactions involving Asia and the United States. Mr. Sheets, who is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, regularly counsels on large fund raises and has extensive experience working with some of the largest funds in Asia, including in China, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia. He represents some of the most prominent private equity firms and leading financial institutions in the world. He also advises Limited Partners in their private equity investments. 

“Nick is a talented funds lawyer who has a practice that is complementary to the complex work we do for fund sponsors and institutional investors,” said Eric Piesner, firmwide managing partner for Asia. “Nick’s strong practice and his ability to speak Mandarin Chinese make him an important addition to our growing Hong Kong office and an asset to our clients.”

Mr. Sheets further strengthens Morrison & Foerster’s global Private Funds Group, which is widely recognized by both fund sponsors and institutional investors as leading counsel in the field. The group advises clients throughout the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Mr. Sheets is just the latest lateral partner to join the group in recent years, following the addition of Serena Tan in Hong Kong, Jason Nelms in Singapore, and Rob Mailer and Oliver Rochman in London.

During his career, Mr. Sheets has practiced in New York and Hong Kong. He received his J.D. from New York University School of Law, where he served as president of the Asia Law Society; his M.A. from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, earning his degree in China Studies and International Finance; and his B.A., magna cum laude, in Chinese and Literary Studies from Middlebury College.

“Morrison & Foerster has an impressive global presence, high-caliber multinational clients, and a progressive and congenial culture,” said Mr. Sheets. “I am excited about the opportunity to continue growing my practice on one of the strongest legal platforms in Asia. I look forward to advising the firm’s clients and working with my new colleagues to further expand the reach of MoFo’s private funds offerings.”

For 36 years, Morrison & Foerster’s Hong Kong office has served Chinese and international clients, including leading private equity sponsors, financial investors, and institutions, as well as Fortune 500, institutional, and Chinese state-owned companies. In addition to Mr. Sheets joining Morrison & Foerster in Hong Kong, the firm also recently welcomed capital markets partner Ke Huang and M&A and private equity of counsel Brian Snyder.