Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list.
March
24 Mar – Mishcon de Reya (Singapore, Singapore)
Mishcon de Reya has promoted eight of its lawyers to partner—fewer than half the number made up the previous year.
The law firm has promoted a single lawyer, Singapore-based Hong Chong Yi, to equity partner—as well as seven lawyers to junior equity partners. (from http://www.law.com)
22 Mar – Cooley (Beijing, Shanghai, & Hong Kong, China)
Cooley announced a new generation of leadership in three of its Asia offices. Xun Zeng and Michael Yu have been appointed as the first-ever partners in charge in the firm’s Beijing and Hong Kong offices, respectively. In Shanghai, Yiming Liu has assumed leadership of the office from Christina Zhang, who led the Shanghai office since joining Cooley in 2012.
Zeng joined Cooley’s Beijing office in 2019 and is a partner in Cooley’s investment funds practice. Broadly speaking, her practice focuses on the formation, structuring and operation of a wide variety of investment funds, including venture capital, private equity, hybrid and co-investment funds. In 2021, Zeng became the first Asia-based member of the firm’s partnership nominating committee.
Yu joined Cooley in 2019 as a partner in the capital markets practice based in Hong Kong. His practice focuses on initial public offerings and other equity capital markets transactions on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, pre-IPO investments, public takeovers, and listing rules and securities regulations compliance. Yu has deep Hong Kong regulatory experience with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.
Liu joined Cooley’s Shanghai office in 2021 as a partner in the capital markets practice. He represents companies and investment funds on strategic transactions in the life sciences and technology industries and is widely recognized for his work on life sciences and healthcare IPOs in Hong Kong and the US. He holds advanced degrees in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and health services administration. (from http://www.law.com)
22 Mar – Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. (Mumbai, India)
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. has hired corporate experts Danish Kazi and Manan Mehta as partners in Mumbai from Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.
With more than 15 years of experience, Kazi specialises in private equity, M&A and corporate restructuring. He advises sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and private equity funds on their investments and divestments in India, and Indian conglomerates on restructuring, cross-border transactions and joint ventures.
Kazi joined CAM as a partner in 2018 from Khaitan & Co, where he was a principal associate. . Prior to that, he worked at AZB & Partners and Crawford Bayley & Co.
Meanwhile, Mehta has experience of nearly two decades in M&A, securities law, corporate restructuring, corporate & commercial law, insolvency and bankruptcy, capital markets and litigation and arbitration. He advises multinational companies on foreign investments, involving both listed as well as unlisted entities, across sectors in India.
Mehta joined CAM as a partner in 2017 from AZB & Partners, and was at Crawford Bayley before that. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
16 Mar – Abhishek Sharma & Associates (Mumbai, India)
Abhishek Sharma, co-head of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas’ (CAM) real estate practice, has left to set up his own firm in Mumbai.
Abhishek Sharma & Associates will advise financial institutions, funds, real estate developers, large corporate houses and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) on strategic real estate matters, land and title diligence reports, and disputes related to real estate.
Having started his Wadia Ghandy & Co, Sharma moved to Khaitan & Co. in 2005. He left the latter firm as an equity partner in 2019 to join CAM. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
16 Mar – Norton Rose Fulbright (Sydney, Australia)
Norton Rose Fulbright has made its second Australian partner hire in two days, with financial crime prosecutor Sonja Marsic joining the global law firm in Sydney.
Marsic joins the firm’s national risk advisory team from the Australian Government’s central legal service, the Australian Government Solicitor. Norton Rose said she is among the most successful solicitor prosecutors of financial crime and anti-money laundering (AML) cases in Australia. (from http://www.law.com)
15 Mar – Atsumi & Sakai (Tokyo, Japan)
Japanese law firm Atsumi & Sakai (A&S) has hired finance specialist Taku Sonoura as a partner from Nishimura & Asahi.
Sonoura’s arrival marks the fifth lateral partner hire in Tokyo by A&S in the past 10 months. The other four are Harukuni Ito, Mitsuru Misawa and Kazuki Ishihara as partners in Tokyo, who cover emerging practice areas such as data protection, risk advisory, and environmental, social and governance (ESG); and corporate practitioner Fumiyo Doi, who joined last month and in-house role at GE Healthcare.
With more than two decades of experience, Sonoura advises on banking, structured finance, securitisation, trust, tax and tax planning, real estate finance and REIT among other things.
Having started his career at Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu in 2001, Sonoura moved to Nishimura & Asahi in 2014. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
14 Mar – Norton Rose Fulbright (Sydney & Melbourne, Australia)
Norton Rose Fulbright has boosted its mergers and acquisitions team in Australia with the addition of a partner from PwC.
Michael O’Neill will divide his time between Norton Rose’s Sydney and Melbourne offices. (from http://www.law.com)
14 Mar – Ashurst (Sydney, Australia)
International law firm Ashurst has hired an experienced employment partner and former prosecutor to bolster its growing workplace health and safety practice.
Sydney-based Scarlet Reid, who joins from the partnership of local firm McCullough Robertson, has specialized in workplace health and safety and employment law for 25 years. Her safety practice focuses on investigations, incident management, and assisting clients to respond to safety regulators. (from http://www.law.com)
14 Mar – Rajah & Tann (Singapore, Singapore)
Singapore firm Big Four firm Rajah & Tann has added an international arbitration lawyer to its partnership in Singapore.
Vanina Sucharitkul will initially be based in Bangkok and will eventually relocate to Singapore. (from http://www.law.com)
9 Mar – Stephenson Harwood (Hong Kong, China & Singapore)
Stephenson Harwood has appointed new leaders in Asia, which will see Jamie Stranger cut short his five-year term as Greater China managing partner, as well as the retirement of Singapore head Martin Green.
Dispute resolution partner, Daryll Ng, has succeeded Green, who will be retiring from the partnership in April. As the firm’s new Singapore head, Ng has relinquished his title as managing partner of Virtus Law, Stephenson Harwood’s Singapore Formal Law Alliance practice, to commercial litigator and restructuring lawyer, Lauren Tang. (from http://www.law.com)
7 Mar – Deacons (Hong Kong , China)
Deacons has strengthened its financial services practice bench in Hong Kong with the hire of regulatory lawyer Isabella Wong as a partner from global asset manager PIMCO, where she was a senior legal counsel.
The hire comes about six months after the Hong Kong-based firm added Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s former corporate partner Mark Stevens. The firm did, however, also lose its capital markets partner, Peter Cheng, to Paul Hastings in November. (from http://www.law.com)
7 Mar – Yoon & Yang (Seoul, Korea)
Korean law firm Yoon & Yang has hired three senior foreign attorneys: U.S.-qualified M&A expert Jason W. Lee (L) joins from Kim & Chang, corporate specialist Sung Jin Ro joins from an in-house role at Versum Materials, and China-qualified technology practitioner Song Feng Hong joins from Bae Kim & Lee. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
7 Mar – Luthra & Luthra Law Offices (Delhi, India)
Indian law firm Luthra and Luthra Law Offices has hired disputes expert Shreya Sircar as a partner in Delhi from Bharucha & Partners, its second partner hire in the capital in the last two weeks.
With more than 13 years of experience, Sircar advises on commercial disputes, arbitration, and litigation. She joined Bharucha in 2021 from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, where she was a principal associate. She previously worked for Bhasin & Company Advocates. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
6 Mar – Quinn Emanuel (Beijing, China)
Xiao Liu, the firm’s China practice chair and Shanghai co-managing partner, will be relocating to Beijing to lead the firm’s new office.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has received Chinese government approval to open a new office in Beijing—its fourth outfit in Asia.
The firm has over the past few years witnessed a shift in its clientele in China which warrants a physical Beijing presence, said Xiao Liu, Quinn Emanuel’s China practice chair and Shanghai co-managing partner. (from http://www.law.com)
3 Mar – DLA Piper (Bankgok Thailand)
DLA Piper has added a new partner to its corporate practice in Bangkok.
Joining from Baker McKenzie is Thananan Sangnuan, who has worked at Baker McKenzie for over two decades, first starting as an associate in 1998. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
2 Mar – PDLegal (Singapore)
Singapore law firm PDLegal has welcomed aboard disputes expert Nazim Khan as senior partner from UniLegal, its third disputes partner hire in just over a year.
In October last year, PDLegal hired insurance disputes expert Wei Hong Ling, while international arbitration and China practice specialist Cathryn Neo joined the firm in February 2022 from Ashurst ADTLaw.
With more than 25 years of experience, Khan focuses on fraud and white-collar crime cases, international arbitration matters, and forensic investigations. In a notable case, he represented an ex-Goldman director in the 1MDB case in relation to CMS charges in Malaysia as they related to Singapore. Khan also advises clients on corporate matters, including shareholders’ agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and asset and business purchases and sales. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
2 Mar – IndusLaw (Gurugram, India)
Indian law firm IndusLaw has welcomed a team of corporate lawyers from J Sagar Associates (JSA) in Gurugram, including partner Shantanu Jindel and principal associate Shweta Gupta.
Jindel advises on mergers and acquisitions and private equity investments, with a focus on the pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
2 Mar- J Sagar Associates (Gurugram, India)
Indian law firm J Sagar Associates (JSA) has hired Shraddha Krishnan Dash as a partner in the firm’s corporate practice in Gurugram from Trilegal, where she was a counsel.
Dash advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity transactions, and inbound and outbound investments in sectors such as information technology, infrastructure, renewable energy, and insurance. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
February
28 Feb – Norton Rose Fulbright (Tokyo, Japan)
Norton Rose Fulbright has secured Japanese law capability with the hire of a new Japanese-law-qualified banking and restructuring partner, Akihiko Takamatsu.
The firm will now operate as a foreign law joint enterprise, known in Japan as a Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo. (from http://www.law.com)
28 Feb – DLA Piper (Brisbane, Australia)
DLA Piper has rehired lawyer Jack Brumpton to the firm’s Brisbane office as a partner in the finance, projects & restructuring practice.
He is returning to the firm from renewable energy company Sun Cable where he was senior legal counsel. Prior to that Brumpton had been Special Counsel at DLA Piper in Brisbane. (from http://www.law.com)
28 Feb – Goodwin Procter (Singapore)
Goodwin Procter has made its first lateral partner hire in Singapore since launching in the city-state in October.
Matthew Nortcliff joins Goodwin from CMS, where he was head of the firm’s funds and indirect real assets practice in Asia. (from http://www.law.com)
28 Feb – Clifford Chance (Singapore)
Clifford Chance has hired a new Singapore technology practice partner, Stella Cramer, from Norton Rose Fulbright.
Cramer was Norton Rose’s technology practice co-head globally, co-head of the firm’s intellectual property and technology practice across Asia, the Middle East and Europe, as well as its fintech practice in Southeast Asia. (from http://www.law.com)
27 Feb – K&L Gates (Sydney, Australia)
K&L Gates has bolstered its real estate team with the hire of a partner from Australian firm Arnold Bloch Leibler, continuing a strong run of hires in Asia Pacific.
Sydney-based Jennifer McCosker has advised commercial property investors and developers on transactions including large-scale property and development finance matters, among others. Before joining Arnold Bloch Leibler in 2022, she was for 11 years a lawyer at King & Wood Mallesons, according to her LinkedIn profile. (from http://www.law.com)
27 Feb – Ascendant Legal (Singapore)
Ascendant Legal, Norton Rose Fulbright’s (NRF) formal law alliance firm in Singapore, has hired Mei Yen Tan as its head of restructuring and insolvency from local outfit Oon & Bazul, where she co-led that practice.
Tan joined Oon & Bazul in 2017 from WongPartnership, where she had been a partner since 2011. Prior to that, she was a director at another Big Four firm, Drew & Napier.
With more than two decades of experience, Tan advises multi-national corporations, court-appointed administrators, funds, banks and individuals on cross-border disputes, insolvency and restructuring, corporate fraud, and investigations. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
23 Feb – Han Kun Law Offices (Shanghai, China)
Tian Yuan Law Firm’s Shanghai-based managing partner Xu Ping has moved to Han Kun Law Offices to strengthen the latter’s capital markets capability.
Bringing more than 20 years of experience, new partner Xu specialises in securities, M&A, capital restructuring and overseas financing. (from http://www.law.com)
23 Feb – Luthra & Luthra Law Offices (Delhi, India)
Indian law firm Luthra and Luthra Law Offices has welcomed TMT expert Vikash Kukreti as a partner in Delhi from Big Four consulting firm EY, where he was director, regulatory advisory.
With more than decades of experience, Kukreti advises on compliance, regulatory and other disputes and litigations, contracts, business and operational issues, and policy and governance implementation. He joined EY in 2020, prior to which he held in-house roles at Telenor India. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
21 Feb – Appleby (Hong Kong)
Offshore law firm Appleby has recruited veteran restructuring expert Lorinda Peasland as a partner in Hong Kong from rival Harneys, where she was a consultant.
She becomes Appleby’s first partner in Hong Kong since July last year, when it added former Harneys partner Bronwyn King.
With over 30 years of cross-border onshore and offshore experience, Peasland advises banks, funds, creditors, accountancy firms, onshore law firms and regulators on restructuring, insolvency and workouts. She was earlier an equity partner at DLA Piper for 13 years. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
16 Feb – Cyril Amarchand Mangalds (Mumbai, India)
Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has expanded its current two-member technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) practice with the hire of intellectual property (IP) and education lawyer Aarushi Jain for its Mumbai office.
Jain, who was previously a senior associate and the IP and education practice group leader of Nishith Desai Associates, will now be Cyril Amarchand’s head of media, education and gaming practice. (from http://www.law.com)
13 Feb – Hall & Wilcox (Sydney, Australia)
Baker McKenzie has parted ways a finance partner who leaves its Sydney office join an Australian firm at the same time as it has hired a lawyer from Allen & Overy.
Baker McKenzie partner David Cooper left the firm to lead the Sydney finance practice at Hall & Wilcox. His expertise includes project finance, acquisition finance, corporate finance and real estate finance and he acts for a mix of domestic and offshore clients. (from http://www.law.com)
12 Feb – Allen & Overy (Hong Kong, China)
Allen & Overy has hired White & Case’s only Hong Kong litigation partner, in a knock to its Asia disputes practice.
The firm has added Melody Chan as a partner in Hong Kong from White & Case, where she was the head of the firm’s Greater China disputes practice. Her departure will leave White & Case without any commercial litigation and international arbitration partners in Hong Kong. (from http://www.law.com)
9 Feb – Ashurst (Sydney, Australia)
Ashurst has hired two lawyers, including a partner, from Deloitte to join its tax controversy practice in Australia, in anticipation of growing demand for complex advice as governments focus on revenue collections to bolster their budgets.
Deloitte partner Colin Little and director Vanja Podinic both join the firm’s Sydney office as partners. (from http://www.law.com)
9 Feb – Atsumi & Sakai (Tokyo, Japan)
Japanese law firm Atsumi & Sakai (A&S) has hired corporate practitioner Fumiyo Doi as partner in Tokyo from GE Healthcare, where she held an in-house role.
Doi joined GE Healthcare last year from another in-house role at Amazon Japan, where she worked about six years. She spent the early part of her career at Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu.
Experienced in the technology and pharmaceutical sectors, Doi advises on fintech, communications and intellectual property matters, among other things. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
9 Feb – Ashurst (Sydney, Australia)
Ashurst has hired two lawyers, including a partner, from Deloitte to join its tax controversy practice in Australia, in anticipation of growing demand for complex advice as governments focus on revenue collections to bolster their budgets.
Deloitte partner Colin Little and director Vanja Podinic both join the firm’s Sydney office as partners. (from http://www.law.com)
8 Feb – CMS (Hong Kong, China)
CMS has hired a Mayer Brown practice head to lead its Hong Kong asset finance practice.
Conor Warde, who has been based in the city-state for more than a decade, was Mayer Brown’s head of ship finance and maritime practice in Hong Kong. (from http://www.law.com)
8 Feb – J.Sagar Associates (India)
Indian law firm J. Sagar Associates has hired Varun Sehgal as a partner in its corporate practice. Sehgal joins from hotel aggregator Oyo Hotels and Homes, where he was VP legal.
Sehgal joined Oyo in September 2021 from Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, where he was a partner. Prior to that, he spent about 13 years at the legacy Amarchand Mangaldas and then Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, becoming a partner in 2017.
With experience in strategic acquisitions, joint ventures, and corporate restructuring in e-commerce, retail, technology and infrastructure sectors, Sehgal was part of the global legal and compliance team at Oyo, focusing on transaction management. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
8 Feb – Simmons & Simmons (Hong Kong, China)
Employment lawyer Wendy Wong has returned to Simmons & Simmons as a partner in Hong Kong following a 14-month stint at DLA Piper, where she was a counsel.
Wong specialises in contentious and non-contentious employment law matters, with a focus on sectors including financial institutions, asset management and investment funds. She previously spent a decade at Simmons & Simmons before joining DLA in November 2021. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
7 Feb – King & Wood Mallesons (Melbourne, Australia)
King & Wood Mallesons has rehired lawyer Annamarie Rooding, who is joining the firm as an employment law partner.
Rooding joins the firm’s Melbourne office from her own employment law consultancy. Before that, she spent eight years in-house at the wagering company Tabcorp, with more than three of those years as general counsel for operations. (from http://www.law.com)
6 Feb – K&L Gates (Sydney, Australia)
K&L Gates has rehired a partner to its asset management and investment funds practice from Australian funds management company Maple-Brown Abbott, where he was general counsel.
Matthew Watts, who will join K&L Gates’ Sydney office, was previously a partner in the firm’s asset management and investment funds before joining global asset manager First Sentier Investors and then Maple-Brown Abbott. (from http://www.klgates.com)
6 Feb – Paul Hastings (Hong Kong)
Paul Hastings has bolstered its capital markets practice in Asia with the hire of Sidley Austin partner Steven Hsu in Hong Kong.
Hsu’s legal career spans more than 12 years advising various entities, including financial institutions and asset managers, on corporate finance and capital markets transactions. This includes co-leading Sidley’s team acting as Hong Kong and U.S. legal counsel for joint sponsors and the underwriters on lifestyle products retailer MINISO Group’s $72 million dual-primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange last year. (from http://www.law.com)
6 Feb – Morrison & Foerster (Singapore, Singapore)
Morrison & Foerster has boosted its private equity and real estate practice in Asia with the hire of Tabitha Saw from White & Case for its Singapore office.
The appointment comes slightly over a month after Mayer Brown Hong Kong corporate partner Steven Tran relocated to Singapore to join Morrison & Foerster. (from http://www.law.com)
3 Feb – DLA Piper (Singapore, Singapore)
DLA Piper has appointed international tax veteran Barbara Voskamp as a partner for its Singapore office. She was previously the Asia Pacific co-head and Singapore head of Rotterdam-based Loyens & Loeff.
According to the Loyens & Loeff’s website, Voskamp was its only member of staff in Singapore. It is unclear if the firm will continue operating in Singapore with Voskamp’s departure. The firm has been contacted for comment. (from http://www.law.com)
3 Feb – Pinsent Masons (Sdynedy, Australia)
Norton Rose special counsel Melanie Hunter joins Pinsent Masons’ Sydney office as a financial services partner. She brings an extensive deal track record including advising global banks on large mixed-used real estate development and construction facilities, the international firm said. She was at Norton Rose for over nine years. (from http://www.law.com)
3 Feb – Link Legal (Bangalore, India)
Corporate generalist attorney Prashanth Sabeshan has joined Link Legal as Partner at its Bangalore Office.
Prashanth is a graduate from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore (1997 batch) and is dual qualified as an advocate and a (non-practicing) solicitor in India and UK, respectively.
With more than 24 years of experience, Prashanth specializes in general corporate, commercial contracts, infrastructure, construction, electricity, renewables and clean energy, oil & gas, ports, banking and project finance, foreign investments, real estate, regulatory and policy advisory sectors. He will strengthen the existing robust corporate, renewables, infra and ESG practices of Link Legal. (from http://www.bwlegalworld.businessworld.in)
3 Feb – McCullough Robertson Lawyers (Sydney, Australia)
Norton Rose Fulbright has parted ways with two lawyers, a partner and a special counsel, both based in Sydney.
Australian law firm McCullough Robertson Lawyers has hired Norton Rose partner Stephen Iu to join its corporate team while Pinsent Masons has hired a NRF special counsel to join its partnership. (from http://www.law.com)
2 Feb – Morgan Lewis & Bockius (Hong Kong, China)
U.S. law firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius has hired debt capital markets expert David (Changyu) Liao as a partner in Hong Kong from the PRC’s Fangda Partners.
Liao advises corporates, investment banks, and other financial institutions based in China and other Asian countries, with experience in the issuance of investment grade bonds, high-yield bonds and debt and equity hybrid instruments as well as tender offer, exchange offer, consent solicitation and other liability management transactions in connection with debt securities. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
2 Feb – Indochine Counsel (HCMC, Vietnam)
Vietnamese law firm Indochine Counsel has hired M&A expert Truong Huu Ngu as a partner in Ho Chi Minh City from Japan’s Nishimura & Asahi (N&A), where he was a counsel.
With more than 14 years of experience, Truong advises clients in sectors such as banking, real estate, energy, and pharmaceuticals on cross-border M&A, project finance and capital markets transactions. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
1 Feb – Watson Farley & Williams (Seoul, Korea)
Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is delighted to announce the opening of its 18th international office in Seoul, South Korea, with the arrival of new Partners Eugene Chang and Philip Kim who join the firm from K&L Gates and Herbert Smith Freehills respectively.
WFW Seoul will offer services across the firm’s core sectors with a particular focus on maritime, aviation, energy and disputes work and will expand the firm’s offering across Asia and worldwide. Having a dedicated office in South Korea will also enable the firm to develop its existing South Korean-based relationships and will provide an excellent launchpad for establishing a strong presence in the country. (from http://www.wfw.com)
1 Feb – DLA Piper (Tokyo, Japan)
DLA Piper has bolstered its cross-border M&A and energy-related project advisory capability with the hire of corporate M&A partner Peter Armstrong from Nishimura & Asahi in Tokyo.
Qualified in Canada and registered as a foreign attorney in Japan, Armstrong speaks fluent Japanese and has advised Japanese and foreign companies on cross-border transactions and projects for more than 15 years. The Canadian lawyer’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and foreign investments, specializing in renewable energy projects both in Japan and abroad. (from http://www.law.com)
1 Feb – Sidley Austin (Hong Kong, China)
Sidley Austin has strengthened its regulatory and dispute resolution capability in Asia with the hire of Stephanie Chan as a partner from Reed Smith for its China corporate and finance practice in Hong Kong.
Chan has a legal career spanning more than a decade, specializing in contentious regulatory matters, commercial litigation and international arbitration. She has handled disputes across multiple industry sectors including financial services, mining and real estate. Sidley Austin has strengthened its regulatory and dispute resolution capability in Asia with the hire of Stephanie Chan as a partner from Reed Smith for its China corporate and finance practice in Hong Kong.
Chan has a legal career spanning more than a decade, specializing in contentious regulatory matters, commercial litigation and international arbitration. She has handled disputes across multiple industry sectors including financial services, mining and real estate.
1 Feb – Clayton Utz (Brisbane, Australia)
Australian corporate law firm Clayton Utz has hired a planning law partner to join its environment and sustainable development team in Brisbane.
Wendy Evans, a practicing town planner before she qualified as a lawyer, joins the firm from Evans Planning Law, which she founded in 2020. (from http://www.law.com)
January
31 Jan – Pinsent Masons (Melbourne, Australia)
Pinsent Masons hired corporate partner Andrew Fisken from DLA Piper to join its Australian offices as the international law firm gears up for an anticipated rise in mergers and acquisitions from China.
Fisken, who led DLA’s China practice in Australia, specializes in cross-border M&A with a focus on advising clients from East Asia on their strategic investments into Australia and Australian clients on transactions involving Asian counterparties. (from http://www.law.com)
31 Jan – WongPartnership (Singapore, Singapore)
Singapore Big Four law firm WongPartnership has hired Low Wee Siong as a partner in its China practice from local firm CNPLaw.
Low joined CNP in early 2021 from Wong Tan & Molly Lim, where he was a director. He advises on mergers and acquisitions, represents companies in takeovers, and works with issuers, sponsors, underwriters and subscribers in equity and debt market transactions. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
31 Jan – Reed Smith (Hong Kong, China)
Reed Smith and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius have each hired a debt securities partner in Hong Kong.
Reed Smith has appointed Vivian Ji, who joins the firm as a partner from the small Hong Kong corporate finance law firm Jeffrey Mak Law Firm, where she was one of two partners. (from http://www.law.com)
30 Jan – K&L Gates (Sydney, Australia)
K&L Gates has hired a corporate partner and three lawyers from Australian firm HWL Ebsworth, as it continues to grow its corporate and asset management and investment funds teams.
The hire comes just weeks after the international firm poached three other partners from HWL to join its asset management and investment funds team. (from http://www.law.com)
19 Jan – OH-EBASHI LPC & Partners (Tokyo, Japan)
Osaka-based OH-EBASHI LPC & Partners, one of Japan’s largest law firms, has hired former Atsumi & Sakai corporate M&A and disputes partner Go Hashimoto as a foreign law partner in Tokyo.
Admitted in New York and a foreign registered lawyer in Japan, Hashimoto has a legal career spanning more than 25 years specializing in cross-border corporate M&A transactions and dispute resolution. (from http://www.law.com)
18 Jan – K&L Gates Straits Law (Singapore, Singapore)
K&L Gates Straits Law has bolstered its litigation and dispute resolution practice in Asia with the hire of disputes partner Joan Lim-Casanova from Cavenagh Law, Clifford Chance’s Formal Law Alliance (FLA) partner in the city-state.
Lim-Casanova specializes in providing advice on contentious issues and dispute resolution, with a focus on commercial litigation and international arbitration. She acts on cases involving the infrastructure, power generation, and insurance sectors. Whilst at Cavenagh, she regularly advised Chinese private and state-owned enterprises on managing and avoiding disputes across Asia. (from http://www.law.com)
17 Jan – Vanguard (Melbourne, Australia)
A senior executive at Australia’s financial regulator has left the public sector to join global investment fund Vanguard to lead its Australian office of the general counsel.
Sean Hughes, who was appointed a commissioner at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in 2018, will oversee the legal and compliance functions of the business and join the Australian executive team. He starts Feb. 8. (from http://www.law.com)
16 Jan – Linklaters (Singapore, Singapore)
Linklaters has bolstered its financial regulation, and structured finance and derivatives practices with the hire of Ashurst’s Singapore financial regulation practice head, Evan Lam, as a partner in the city state.
Lam’s hire comes about a week after the U.K. firm expanded its investment funds practice also in Singapore with the hire of counsel Kylee Zhu, who was previously Singapore-based Dymon Asia Capital’s deputy general counsel.
Starting his legal career at Singapore firm Allen & Gledhill, Lam advises banks, fund managers and brokerage houses on Singapore financial regulations, specializing in areas such as over-the-counter derivatives and financial technology. (from http://www.law.com)
12 Jan – Loeb & Loeb (Hong Kong, China)
Loeb & Loeb has strengthened its corporate practice in Asia with the hire of Cooley’s former Beijing corporate practice head Henry Yin as a partner for its Greater China practice.
Yin specializes in cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as well as equity and capital investments. He represented Asia-based private equity firm SAIF Partners on a $401 million offer to take private Chinese biotech company Sinovac Biotech Ltd. from Nasdaq in 2017. He also acted for Hong Kong-based tech startup Tink Labs on a $125 million financing round from technology manufacturer Foxconn in 2016. (from http://www.law.com)
12 Jan – Allen & Overy (Perth, Australia)
Allen & Overy has announced the appointment of David Jenaway as its office managing partner for Perth.
Jenaway’s appointment will take effect on February 1, as he succeeds M&A partner Geoff Simpson in the role. A&O said the appointment would “allow time for transition ahead of [Simpson’s] upcoming retirement from the partnership”. (from http://www.law.com)
12 Jan – Watson Farley & Williams (Singapore, Singapore)
Watson Farley & Williams has hired a new energy practice partner in Singapore from Dentons.
Kunal Kapoor was a Singapore partner and co-head of Denton’s ASEAN energy and infrastructure practice. (from http://www.law.com)
12 Jan – Cuatrecasas (Beijing & Shanghai, China)
Cuatrecasas has hired a new director of its offices in China as the country reopens after almost three years of lockdown under its zero-COVID policy.
The new director, Sandra Costas, worked for DLA Piper in China for one decade and then as senior legal director for investment management company Carpag for six years, according to her LinkedIn profile. In China, Costas also worked for the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. (from http://www.law.com)
11 Jan – Withers KhattarWong (Singapore, Singapore)
Withers KhattarWong has launched a Japan desk in Singapore with the hire of a corporate partner from a Big Four Japanese firm.
Yutaka Sakashita joins from Tokyo-based firm Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, where he had been since 2007. He relocated to Singapore in 2015 and was made partner in 2019. He advises on private equity investments in Asia Pacific. (from http://www.law.com)
9 Jan – Allen & Overy (Shanghai, China)
Allen & Overy has added an investment funds partner, Daisy Qi, to its Shanghai office from Beijing-based Han Kun Law Offices, marking the firm’s second lateral this year.
Qi’s joining follows the hire of antitrust and competition partner, Vivian Cao, to Allen & Overy’s Shanghai joint operation partner firm, Lang Yue Law Firm, last week. Cao joined the firm from the Beijing office of Linklaters’ China joint operation practice, Zhao Sheng Law Firm. (from http://www.law.com)
9 Jan – DLA Piper (Hong Kong, China)
DLA Piper has strengthened its corporate practice in Hong Kong with the hire of a corporate partner from Mayer Brown.
Xin Fang was previously a counsel at Mayer Brown in Hong Kong, a position that he had held since 2018, specializing in cross-border M&A, joint ventures and private equity transactions with a focus on Greater China and the Asia Pacific region. (from http://www.law.com)
8 Jan – Hillman Sembiring Advocates (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Oentoeng Suria & Partners (OSP), Ashurst’s association firm in Indonesia, has hired litigator Hillman Sembiring as a partner in Jakarta.
Sembiring joins from Hillman Sembiring Advocates, a firm he founded in March 2016. He previously worked at HHP, Baker McKenzie’s member firm in Indonesia.
With expertise in formulating dispute strategies, Sembiring’s experience spans class-action cases, civil lawsuits, financial derivative cases, arbitrations, and import-export disputes. He also conducts internal investigations in clients’ companies, especially on corruption and bribery issues. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
8 Jan – Baker McKenzie (Hong Kong, China)
Baker McKenzie has boosted its employment practice in Asia with the hire of employment lawyer Tess Lumsdaine from Herbert Smith Freehills for its Hong Kong office.
Before joining Baker as a partner, Lumsdaine had spent more than 12 years at Herbert Smith first as an associate in Australia and later as a counsel in Hong Kong representing Asia-based clients in labor and safety litigation cases. She also assisted businesses in carrying out multi-jurisdictional compliance and restructuring projects, as well as employee relations management. (from http://www.law.com)
5 Jan – Baker McKenzie (Hong Kong, China)
Baker McKenzie has boosted its employment practice in Asia with the hire of employment lawyer Tess Lumsdaine from Herbert Smith Freehills for its Hong Kong office.
Before joining Baker as a partner, Lumsdaine had spent more than 12 years at Herbert Smith first as an associate in Australia and later as a counsel in Hong Kong representing Asia-based clients in labor and safety litigation cases. She also assisted businesses in carrying out multi-jurisdictional compliance and restructuring projects, as well as employee relations management. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
5 Jan – Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (Mumbai, India)
Indian law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has hired real estate expert Siddharth Hariani as a partner in Mumbai from Phoenix Legal.
Hariani becomes CAM’s second real estate partner hire in Mumbai in as many months. In December, the law firm added Rishiraj Prasad Bhatt from Kanga & Co.
Hariani, who was a partner at Phoenix Legal for 11 years, advises real estate developers, companies, funds and investors on mergers and acquisitions and investment in the real estate sector. He began his career at Hariani & Co before joining Phoenix in 2011. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
4 Jan – Link Legal (New Delhi, India)
Indian law firm Link Legal has recruited energy and environment expert Rajesh K Sehgal as a partner in New Delhi from the Singapore office of U.S.-headquartered Trina Solar, where he was head of legal and regulatory compliance for India and the Asia-Pacific.
With more than 23 years of experience, Sehgal advises on cross-border energy assets acquisition, renewables and infrastructure projects, project financing, risk management, contracts and due diligence, and global compliance.
Sehgal, who joined Trina Solar in 2015, previously held in-house roles at Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries and WWF India. He additionally worked at law Fox Mandal in Delhi. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
4 Jan – Tilleke & Gibbins (Bangkok, Thailand)
Thailand’s Tilleke & Gibbins has hired five capital markets lawyers in Bangkok, led by partner Yaowarote Klinboon, from the local office of U.S. law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth.
Joining Yaowarote in the move are senior associaties Karinevidch Olivero, Phatamol Phisitbuntoon, and Sittiwate Jewsittiprapai, and associate Wisara Harnchonboth.
With more than 20 years of experience in domestic and international capital markets work, Yaowarote is experienced in U.S., Singaporean and Thai securities law. She also advises on general corporate matters, corporate governance, and M&A, as well as offerings of equity and debt instruments.
Yaowarote, who started her career at the legacy Weerawong, Chinnavat & Peangpanor in 2003, left that firm in 2015 to join The Capital Law Office. She moved to the pre-merger Hunton & Williams in 2017, becoming a partner in November 2021. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
3 Jan – Allen & Overy (Bijing, China)
Allen & Overy and Linklaters have both kicked off the new year by adding new partners to their joint operation practices in mainland China.
Shanghai Lang Yue Law Firm, Allen & Overy’s joint operation partner, has hired Linklaters antitrust and competition partner, Vivian Cao, who had been practicing in the Beijing office of Linklaters’ China joint operation practice, Zhao Sheng Law Firm. (from http://www.law.com)
