Kirkland & Ellis has represented Chinese online trip-booking company Qunar in its $4.4 billion merger with Ocean Management Holdings, which turned to Skadden, Arps, Meagher & Flom for legal advice. 

Maples & Calder was also involved in the deal, acting as Cayman Islands counsel to Qunar. The go-private deal is expected to close in the first half of 2017, subject to shareholders’ approval and other customary closing conditions.

K&E’s team was led by corporate partners David Zhang, Jesse Sheley and Xiaoxi Lin, while Hong Kong-based partners Julie Gao and Haiping Li handled the transaction for Skadden. Partner Derrick Kan headed the Maples & Calder team.

After the merger, Ocean Management, Ctrip.com and the other existing minority shareholders will form Qunar's ownership group. Qunar is the second major Nasdaq-listed Chinese digital travel services company to go private this year after eLong.