Jones Day announces new partners

International law firm Jones Day has added partners in its Greater China mergers and acquisitions and capital markets practices.

H. John Kao will relocate to Hong Kong and is elevated to the partnership to coordinate the firm’s Greater China mergers and acquisition practice. A member of Jones Day since 1997, Kao was previously based in its Taiwan practice and brings specialty in M&A, capital markets, private equity, venture capital and technology transactions to his expanded role.

Over his career, Kao has advised numerous companies in M&A in Taiwan, China and Silicon Valley. Notable work has included advising Uni-President Group, Flextronics, Winbond Electronics, Actions Semiconductor, Carat Group, General Mills, Temasek and United Test and Assembly Center (UTAC).

In Jones Day’s capital markets practice, Stephen Peepels has been named partner. A corporate finance attorney who specializes in international securities offerings involving Asian companies, Peepels has also toned his skills representing such firms as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch throughout Asia. He has also advised numerous international securities offerings under Rule 144A and Regulation S, while also working on several Asian privatization transactions.

Peepels started his career at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and has developed experience in US SEC-registered public offerings of debt and equity securities since moving to the private practice.