Yi Gao is Partner in Simpson Thacher’s Hong Kong office and a member of the Firm’s Corporate Department, where he focuses on capital markets transactions. His varied practice includes advising clients on SEC-registered offerings, Rule 144A/Regulation S offerings and listings in New York and Hong Kong for China-based companies from various industries. He also advises these companies in their pre-IPO and post-IPO financings and investments as well as various general corporate and regulatory matters. He is qualified in three jurisdictions, PRC, New York and Hong Kong.
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Work Highlights
- Full Truck Alliance in its US$1.57 billion U.S. IPO and listing on the NYSE and US$200 million concurrent private placement
- Underwriters in the US$4.4 billion U.S. IPO and listing on the NYSE of DiDi Global Inc., which is the largest U.S. IPO to date in 2021
- XPeng Inc. in its US$1.72 billion U.S. IPO and listing on the NYSE
- Underwriters in the US$5 billion Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A/Regulation S offering by HTSC
- Baozun Inc. in its US$427.9 million global offering and Hong Kong secondary listing
- Underwriters in the US$761.1 million global offering and Hong Kong secondary listing of Zai Lab Limited
- Yalla Group Limited in its US$139.5 million U.S. IPO and listing on the NYSE
- Underwriters in the US$84.8 million IPO and Nasdaq listing of BlueCity, a leading online LGBTQ platform
- U.S. IPOs and listings on the NYSE or Nasdaq of many Chinese issuers from various industries, such as Home Inns, Yingli Green Energy, Jinko Solar, China Lodging, Sky-mobi, FunTalk, BEST, Baozun, OneSmart Education, Ruhnn, Yunji, Jiayin, 36Kr, OneConnect, Agora and iHuman
Accolades
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Rising star partner by ILFR
Education
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University of Michigan Law School, 2005 J.D.
magna cum laude; Order of the Coif
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University of International Business and Economics, 2002 LL.M.
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University of International Business and Economics, 1999 LL.B.
Admissions
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Hong Kong 2013
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New York 2006
Yi Gao is Partner in Simpson Thacher’s Hong Kong office and a member of the Firm’s Corporate Department, where he focuses on capital markets transactions. His varied practice includes advising clients on SEC-registered offerings, Rule 144A/Regulation S offerings and listings in New York and Hong Kong for China-based companies from various industries. He also advises these companies in their pre-IPO and post-IPO financings and investments as well as various general corporate and regulatory matters.
Yi's experience in capital markets transactions include representing:
- Full Truck Alliance in its US$1.57 billion U.S. IPO and listing on the NYSE and US$200 million concurrent private placement
- Underwriters in the US$4.4 billion U.S. IPO and listing on the NYSE of DiDi Global Inc., which is the largest U.S. IPO to date in 2021
- XPeng in its US$1.72 billion U.S. IPO and listing on the NYSE
- Underwriters in the US$84.8 million IPO and Nasdaq listing of BlueCity
- Underwriters in the US$402.5 million IPO and Nasdaq listing of Agora Inc.
- Phoenix Tree Holdings Limited in its US$129.6 million IPO and NYSE listing
- Initial purchasers in US$180 million Convertible Bonds and US$649.9 million GDSs offering by Yageo
- Underwriters in the Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A/Regulation S offering by Yeahka Limited
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and listing on the NYSE of OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd.
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and listing on the Nasdaq Global Market of 36Kr Holdings Inc.
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and listing on the Nasdaq Global Market of Jiayin Group Inc.
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and listing on the Nasdaq Global Market of Yunji Inc.
- Ruhnn Holding Limited in its U.S. IPO and listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market
- Ant Financial in its US$100 million private placement investment in StoneCo Ltd., concurrent with the IPO and Nasdaq listing of StoneCo.
- Ganfeng Lithium in its Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A/Regulation S offering
- Underwriters in the IPO and NYSE listing of OneSmart International Education Group
- Shandong International Trust Co., Ltd. in its Hong Kong IPO and Regulation S offering
- BEST Inc. in its U.S. IPO and listing on the NYSE
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and NASDAQ listing of Gridsum Holdings Inc.
- Underwriters in the Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A/Regulation S offering by Xinte Energy Co. Ltd.
- Underwriters in the Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A/Regulation S offering by HTSC
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and NASDAQ listing of Baozun Inc.
- Linekong Interactive Co., Ltd. in its Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A/Regulation S Offering
- Underwriters in the Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A/Regulation S Offering by Tian Ge Interactive Holdings Limited
- Underwriters in the Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A/Regulation S Offering by Yida China Holdings Limited
- Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited in its U.S. IPO and listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2006, its follow-on offering of American depositary shares in 2009 and 2014
- Underwriters in the Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A/Regulation S Offering by China Huishan Dairy Holdings Company Limited
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and listing on the Nasdaq Global Market of American depositary shares of Sungy Mobile Limited
- 500.com Limited in its U.S. IPO and listing on the New York Stock Exchange
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and listing on the Nasdaq Global Market of Sky-mobi Limited
- Underwriters in the public offering and listing on the Nasdaq Global Market of Funtalk China Holdings Limited
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and listing on the New York Stock Exchange of JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and listing on the Nasdaq Global Market of China Lodging Group, Limited
- Fantasia Holdings Group Co., Limited in its Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A/Regulation S offering
- Country Garden Holdings Company Limited in its Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A/Regulation S offering
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and listing on the New York Stock Exchange of Trina Solar Limited
- Underwriters in the U.S. IPO and listing on the Nasdaq Global Market of Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc.
Yi received his J.D., magna cum laude, from The University of Michigan Law School in 2005, where he was elected Order of the Coif. He also received a Master of Law degree and Bachelor of Law degree from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing in 2002 and 1999, respectively. He was admitted to the Bar of the State of New York in 2006 and as a Solicitor of The High Court of Hong Kong in 2013 and holds a PRC Lawyer Qualification Certificate.
Yi was born in China and before studying in the U.S. he worked in the Beijing office of another leading U.S. law firm for two years on matters relating to foreign direct investments.