Linklaters strengthens private equity and leveraged finance capabilities with hires of Xiaoxi Lin and Alessandro Nolet in Hong Kong SAR

Linklaters announced two new partners joining the firm, Xiaoxi Lin will join the firm’s corporate practice and Alessandro Nolet will join the banking practice – both will be based in Hong Kong.

Xiaoxi has extensive private equity experience with a focus on control buyouts and growth capital investments. He is also one of the most experienced practitioners in Asia in US public transactions, including going-private transactions and PIPEs. 

Xiaoxi joins the firm from Kirkland & Ellis, where he was an M&A partner focused on private equity and public takeovers. He brings further private equity expertise to the Linklaters team in the region. Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis in 2015, Xiaoxi spent six years with Davis Polk & Wardwell in their New York, Beijing and Hong Kong offices.  

Alex joins Linklaters’ top ranked Asia leveraged and acquisition finance team of 10 partners and 70 associates across the region. He brings significant experience of assisting banks and other financial institutions, private equity funds and corporates on a wide range of banking, finance and restructuring transactions in Europe, Asia and the US, particularly in leveraged financings.

Alex previously trained and practiced at Linklaters in the London and Milan offices between 2004 and 2010, before leaving to join Cleary Gottlieb and then White & Case, where he has been a partner since 2018. During Alex’s time at Cleary Gottlieb, he worked in Hong Kong for three years and developed relationships with clients across Asia.

Nathalie Hobbs, Asia Managing Partner, Linklaters commented:

“These significant hires reflect our commitment to strengthening our focus on funds (PE, infrastructure and others) in Asia. Xiaoxi and Alex bring their extensive experience to bolster our client service offering for our global and regional private equity and banking clients.”

Sophie Mathur, Asia Head of Corporate, Linklaters commented:

“We are pleased to welcome Xiaoxi into our corporate practice. He has an impressive track record and an established reputation as a private equity specialist with financial sponsors in Asia.”

Philip Badge, Asia Head of Banking, Linklaters commented: 

“We are delighted to welcome back Alex to our banking practice; it’s always a pleasure to have well-liked former colleague return to the firm. During Alex’s time in Hong Kong he developed strong relationships with Asia based clients which he has continued to nurture from Milan. We look forward to building on those connections and working with Alex to further develop our existing relationships across the region.”