Edwin Northover is an Asia-based corporate partner and Head of our Financial Institutions and Corporate practices in Asia. Mr. Northover has a broad cross-border public and private mergers & acquisitions practice, with a particular focus on mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures and distribution agreements in the insurance industry.
Mr. Northover has worked on several of the most significant insurance M&A transactions in Asia and is ranked by Chambers Greater China (2024-2025) as a Band 1 lawyer for Insurance: Non-contentious. He is further recommended for Mergers & Acquisitions. Clients note that he is “very seasoned” and “a trusted adviser” who “brings substantial experience to bear in an effective way.” He is also said to be “responsive and technically excellent, and his knowledge of insurance M&A is second to none.” Sources describe him as “approachable, likeable, straightforward,” “thoughtful and detailed, and willing to push firmly on behalf of the client.” He has won praise for his commercial acumen and technical judgement, with sources describing him as “a very skilled and competent lawyer” who “understands the underlying commercial and strategic requirements of the client and focuses on ensuring those are achieved.” He is said to be “an excellent negotiator – always calm, balanced and unflustered and never one to seek to antagonise the other side, but always remaining focused on getting the deal done.” In previous editions of the guide he has been described as a “very talented lawyer” who is “very responsive and pragmatic” and is noted for his “extensive knowledge of bancassurance arrangements across Asia-Pacific.” Mr. Northover is also recommended by Chambers Global (2024) for Corporate/M&A in China. He is recognised for Mergers & Acquisitions and Insurance in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Greater China (2024-2025) and in the 2023 edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, where he is described as “a trusted legal advisor.” The guide has also described him as “a standout,” “technically excellent,” “approachable” and a “very good negotiator.” He is also recommended by IFLR1000 (2023-2024) and is named in China Business Law Journal's A-List (2022-2024).
Mr. Northover also has extensive private equity experience, having worked on a number of PE and VC deals, including both strategic and co-investments. Mr. Northover joined Debevoise in 2007 and was based in our London office prior to his move to Asia in 2012. He is qualified in both England & Wales and Hong Kong.
During 2013, Mr. Northover spent six months on secondment to the Mergers & Acquisitions team of a multinational insurance company in Paris. In 2015, he spent a period in the Financial Institutions Group of our New York office.
Mr. Northover graduated in 2001 with a Double First Class Honours degree in Modern History from Merton College, University of Oxford. He went on to study at BPP Law School, London (2002–2003).
He was admitted as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales in 2006 and Hong Kong in 2013.
吕德云律师常驻亚洲，是德普公司业务部的一名合伙人，也是亚洲金融机构业务部的负责人。吕律师的执业领域为各类跨境的公开及非公开并购业务，尤其专注于保险行业的并购、合资公司及分销协议业务。
吕律师参与了亚洲多起极为重要的保险并购交易，他被《钱伯斯大中华区》（2024-2025年）评为保险领域（非诉讼类业务）第一等级律师，并以其并购业务而获推荐。客户指出，吕律师“经验极为丰富”，是“值得信赖的顾问”，能够“高效运用其丰富的经验”；他“反应迅速，专业能力卓越，在保险并购方面的知识无人能及”。消息人士形容吕律师“友善、讨人喜欢、坦诚”，“考虑周到、细致入微，愿意坚定地为客户争取利益”。吕律师的商业头脑和专业判断赢得赞誉，消息人士称他为“非常娴熟且能干的律师”，“能够理解客户潜在的商业和战略需求，并致力于确保满足客户的需求”。吕律师被称为“一名杰出的谈判者——始终冷静、沉稳、从容不迫，从不试图激怒对方，而始终专注于促成交易”。在该指南的以往期版本中，吕律师被描述为一名“非常有才华的律师”，“反应迅速且务实”，以其“对亚太地区银行保险业务安排的广泛了解”而获关注。吕律师因其中国公司/并购业务获《钱伯斯全球》（2024年）的推荐；以其并购和保险业务获《亚太地区法律500强——大中华区》（2024-2025年）以及《亚太地区法律500强》（2023年）的认可，后者称他为“值得信赖的法律顾问”。该指南还形容他“出类拔萃”、“专业能力卓越”、“友善可亲”，是一名“非常优秀的谈判者”。吕律师还获《国际金融法律评论1000》（2023-2024年）的推荐，并入选《中国商法杂志》的精英律师榜单（A-List）（2022-2024年）。
2013年，吕律师被派驻至巴黎一家跨国保险公司的并购组工作6个月。2015年，他在德普纽约分所的金融机构业务团队工作过一段时间。
吕律师于2001年以双重一级荣誉毕业于牛津大学Merton学院，获得当代历史专业学士学位。2002年至2003年，吕律师在伦敦BPP律师学院学习。
加入德普之前，吕律师是一家国际顶尖律师事务所公司及并购业务部的律师。
吕律师于2006年获得英格兰及威尔士高等法院律师执业资格，并于2013年获得香港律师执业资格。