Hughes-Castell Blog

Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list.

December 

18 December – Cooley (Shanghai,China)

Cooley has expanded its cross-border strategic investment advisory capabilities in Asia with the hire of corporate partner Ruomu Li from Morrison & Foerster for its Shanghai office.

Li has a legal career spanning more than 15 years specializing in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity deals and venture capital investments, with a particular focus on global technology and life sciences markets. As a Shanghai-based corporate lawyer qualified in New York and California, she has been representing U.S., Chinese and international companies in strategic technology and life sciences deals ranging from public to private mergers to divestitures and spinoffs. (from http://www.law.com)

15 December – Mills Oakley (Adelaide, Australia)

Australian law firm Mills Oakley is to open an office in Adelaide after poaching a real estate partner from corporate law firm MinterEllison to lead the new office.

The firm already has several lawyers based in Adelaide and said the hire of Stephen Hill has provided the impetus for a permanent office which is expected to have 15 lawyers and staff at launch. (from http://www.law.com)

13 December – Ashurst (Sydney, Australia)

International law firm Ashurst has hired real estate partner Kitty Vo for its Sydney office as it seeks to expand its offering to developer and investor clients.

The hire is a return to Ashurst for Vo, who spent 14 years at the firm before joining Australian firm Hall & Wilcox as a partner in 2019. (from http://www.law.com)

13 December – Herbert Smith Freehills  (Sydney, Australia)

Herbert Smith Freehills has become the latest firm to appoint a female leader in Australia, with the announcement that Sydney intellectual property partner Kristen Stammer will become executive partner Asia and Australia next year.

Stammer, who has been with the firm for 25 years, will succeed incumbent Andrew Pike on May 1 next year. (from http://www.law.com)

8 December – Khaitan & Co (Mumbai, India)

Khaitan & Co has hired corporate lawyer Anshuman Mozumdar as partner in Mumbai from Luthra and Luthra Law Offices India.

Mozumdar, who spent more than 11 years at Luthra, specialises in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, buyouts and platform deals across sectors such as retail, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and financial services. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

8 December – Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (Mumbai, India)

Indian law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has hired Rishiraj Prasad Bhatt as a partner in its real estate practice in Mumbai from Kanga & Co.

Bhatt advises companies, realty developers, investors and high net-worth individuals on real estate transactions including acquisitions, sales, assignments and leasing, and on regulatory compliance. He spent the entirety of his 17-year legal career at Kanga, becoming a partner there in 2013. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

5 December – Allen & Overy (Sydney, Australia)

Allen & Overy has made another addition to its global leveraged and acquisition finance practice with the hire of a Sydney-based lawyer from Herbert Smith Freehills.

Marnie Fels, whose practice focuses on global and domestic private equity sponsors and large corporates as well as banks and financial institutions, is the latest addition to A&O’s leveraged finance team, and follows the hire of London-based partner partner Marwa Elborai from Shearman & Sterling last month. (from http://www.law.com)
5 December – DLA Piper (Hong Kong, China)

DLA Piper has boosted its finance and debt restructuring advisory capability in Asia by adding a third lawyer to its Asia finance, projects and restructuring team in Hong Kong in the past year.

Trinh Hoang joins the firm from Linklaters, where she was a Hong Kong-based managing associate in its banking team. Hoang will be joining her ex-Linklaters banking and finance colleague Crystal Chen, who joined DLA Piper from the U.K. firm in May this year. (from http://www.law.com)

5 December – Ashurst (Hong Kong, China)

London-headquartered Ashurst has hired restructuring and insolvency expert Lance Jiang as a partner in Hong Kong from Addleshaw Goddard, which recently closed its office in the Chinese city.

With this move, Jiang becomes the latest Addleshaws Hong Kong partner to find a new home, after litigator Janie Wong, who moved to Howse Williams, and disputes head Ronald Sum, who joined Baker McKenzie.

Jiang has more than 20 years of experience and advises on cross-border restructurings and insolvencies with a Chinese element. He joined Addleshaw Goddard in 2018 from an in-house role at Chinese distressed-debt manager Great Wall AMC International Holdings. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

November

29 November – King & Spalding (Singapore, Singapore)

King & Spalding announced today that Richard Sharpe, an experienced trial lawyer and former barrister, has joined the firm as a partner in its Special Matters and Government Investigations practice. He is based in the firm’s Singapore office.

Sharpe assists multinational clients with a variety of criminal, civil fraud and transactions matters, including anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, international sanctions, cyber-crime, other cross-border investigations, and strategic transactions assessment. He also has significant experience in complex civil litigation and arbitrations arising from fraud and other misconduct and advises global companies on investment-related international risk and the design and implementation of compliance programs. (from http://www.kslaw.com)

23 November – Kennedys (Singapore, Singapore)

UK law firm Kennedys has bolstered its aviation offering in Asia by hiring Tristan Thompson as a partner in Singapore from DLA Piper, and naming Anita Quy as its new APAC practice head.

Thompson specialises in handling aviation and aerospace matters on behalf of operators and their insurers and reinsurers across jurisdictions. He joined DLA, where he was most recently a legal director, in 2019. Thompson began his career at Clyde & Co. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

23 November – Zhong Lun Law Firm (Hong Kong, China)

The PRC’s Zhong Lun Law Firm has hired disputes expert Terence Luk as a partner in Hong Kong from local firm Fairbairn Catley Low & Kong, where he spent about 25 years.

Luk advises on a range of disputes, including shareholder disputes, commercial litigation, cross-border arbitration, receivership, liquidation, bankruptcy, divorce, custody, wardship, guardianship, mediation, Mental Health Ordinance-related applications, professional misconduct, defamation, shipping, contentious probate matters, commercial fraud, disciplinary proceedings, regulatory and criminal matters.

His clients include companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, real estate developers, local and international banks and other financial institutions, multijurisdictional corporations, charitable organizations, NGOs, government officials, celebrities and affluent individuals. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

23 Novmeber – Trilegal (Bengaluru, India)

Indian law firm Trilegal has hired labour and employment lawyer Veena Gopalakrishnan as a partner in Bengaluru from AZB & Partners.

With 14 years of experience in employment law advisory, Gopalakrishnan offers advice relating to workforce structuring, employee mobility and employee benefits. She has also worked with organisations and industry bodies to create awareness of workplace sexual harassment, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and diversity and inclusion. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

22 November – Withers (Hong Kong, China)

U.K.-based firm Withers has hired Dentons’ Hong Kong private funds lead, Simon Wong, as a partner.

Wong’s appointment comes just weeks after the firm brought on veteran corporate partner Kazumitsu Goto from Japanese firm TMI Associates in Tokyo. (from http://www.law.com)

21 November – Squire Patton Boggs (Sydney, Australia)

Squire Patton Boggs has appointed Graeme Slattery to lead its Sydney office, replacing Campbell Davidson, who has led the office since the firm launched in Australia a decade ago.

Davidson, a mergers and acquisitions lawyer, will remain with the firm, according to the firm. (from http://www.law.com)

20 November – Clyde & Co (Bangkok, Thailand)

Clyde & Co will soon be launching a new office in Bangkok, Thailand, having hired partner Ian Johnston and legal director Sorawat Wongkaweepairot from the shuttered Thai office of Kennedys.

The Thai office, which will open subject to regulatory approval, will focus on providing insurance advice to local and international insurers and reinsurers, and litigation and arbitration services, according to the firm’s statement. (from http://www.law.com)

16 November – Selvam (Singapore, Singapore)

Selvam, Duane Morris’ Singapore joint law venture firm, has added Jerald Foo as a director in its litigation and dispute resolution group from local firm Oon & Bazul.

A former judicial officer, Foo focuses on commercial litigation, arbitration, and mediation. He joined Oon & Bazul as a partner in September last year along with fellow litigator Priscilla Lua. Both were senior associates at Cavenagh Law, the Singapore law firm of Clifford Chance.

Foo’s areas of practice include cross-border disputes, company law, banking law, equity and trust, joint venture and shareholder disputes, restructuring and insolvency, fraud and asset recovery, international trade, oil and gas, employment and white-collar crime. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

16 November – Tilleke & Gibbins (HCMC, Vietnam)

Thai firm Tilleke & Gibbins has boosted its corporate and commercial advisory capability with the hire of YKVN M&A partner, Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen, for its Ho Chi Minh City office.

Nguyen, who has spent 16 years at Vietnamese firm YKVN becoming partner in 2019, specializes in advising on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. Qualified in Vietnam, she also advises on real-estate projects as well as data protection laws. (from http://www.law.com)

15 November – Dentsu Group Inc (Tokyo, Japan)

Tokyo-based advertising and public relations giant Dentsu Group has promoted Alison Zoellner to general counsel, effective in January.

The post will give Zoellner responsibility for legal and compliance teams for 900 companies owned by Dentsu, which does business in 145 countries. (from http://www.law.com)

15 November – Fangda Partners (Shanghai & Shenzhen, China)

Aaron Chen, who has returned from Jia Yuan Law Offices, is a Fangda partner in Shanghai. He focuses on IPO, investment, financing, M&A and restructuring in many areas such as automobiles, aviation, electrical appliances, energy and pharmaceuticals.

Chen’s clients included famous companies such as SAIC Motor, Junshi Biosciences, Apptec and Midea Group.

He was a member of the 18th Main Board Issuance Appraisal Committee of the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

Zou Wen, who had previously spent five years at GEN Law Firm and AnJie & Broad Law Firm after leaving the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in 2017, has joined Fangda’s Shenzhen office as a partner. She had served the court for more than a decade, specialising in IP and criminal law. (from http://www.law.com)

14 November – Paul Hastings (Hong Kong, China)

Paul Hastings has boosted to its capital markets stead by adding Deacons partner, Peter Cheng, to its Hong Kong office.

Cheng primarily represents issuers and underwriters on Hong Kong initial public offerings (IPO). He also advises corporates on compliance with Hong Kong Listing Rules, as well as on M&A and private equity investments. He has particular experience acting for companies dealing in the TMT sector. (from http://www.law.com)

14 November – Pinsent Masons (Sydney, Australia)

Pinsent Masons has poached an energy and infrastructure team from K&L Gates to join its Sydney office, while Baker McKenzie and HFW have also made hires in the city.

The Pinsent Masons team consists of partner Kirstie Richards and senior associates Luke Salem and Alec Kibblewhite, who will lead the firm’s Australian planning and environment capabilities, the firm announced. (from http://www.law.com)

11 November – Karas (Hong Kong, China)

Karas LLP in association with Mishcon de Reya is growing its contentious and non-contentious private client capabilities, welcoming new Partner Jonathan Mok and his team to its Hong Kong office on 1 December 2022.

One year on from Karas LLP and Mishcon de Reya launching their association, this marks a significant expansion of the firms’ trilingual private client capability, complementing the expertise across Mishcon de Reya’s London and Singapore offices.

Jonathan is an established senior lawyer, known for his work in high-profile family disputes, criminal defence and regulatory compliance practices.

His reputation for promoting his clients’ interests – beyond a sole focus on family matters to include regional and global wealth planning – has been developed both as the sole principal of Jonathan Mok Legal and in his years spent within international law firms. He will be joined by Carmen Cheng as Special Counsel, along with associate Sarah Wong and legal assistant Angela Li. (from http://www.mishcon.com)

10 November – Reed Smith (Singapore, Singapore)

Reed Smith has continued its Asia expansion with the addition of an associate from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy in Singapore.

Hui Ling Teo, a transportation lawyer who has spent the last seven years at Milbank in Singapore, has left the firm to join Reed Smith as a partner. (from http://www.law.com)

10 November – Saraf and Partners (Mumbai, India)

Indian law firm Saraf and Partners has hired litigation and arbitration specialist Sairam Subramanian as a partner in Mumbai from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.

Subramanian is experienced in general and commercial disputes, infrastructure and property-related disputes. He joined SAM in 2019 from Khaitan & Co, prior to which he worked at DSK Legal. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

8 November – White & Case (Sydney, Australia)

White & Case has launched a debt finance practice in Australia with the hire of two former London based partners.

Partner duo Mark Wesseldine and David Kirkland will spearhead a new debt finance practice, based in the firm’s Sydney office. (from http://www.law.com)

8 November – Bird & Bird (Hong Kong, China)

International law firm Bird & Bird welcomes back Wilfred Ng as a partner in the Tech & Comms team, based in Hong Kong. He started at the firm on the 1st of November.

Wilfred joins from Tencent’s International Privacy and Data Protection Department where he was Senior Legal Counsel, specialising in data protection and privacy issues. Before this role, he was a technology, media, telecoms and data protection lawyer at Bird & Bird in the Hong Kong office, with a secondment in the London Commercial practice covering a range of commercial regulatory and corporate transactional matters in the TMT space. (from http://www.twobirds.com)

7 November – K&L Gates (Hong Kong, China)

K&L Gates has hired Simmons & Simmons debt capital markets partner Jay Lee in Hong Kong.

Qualified in Hong Kong and the U.S., Lee advises financial institutions and corporations on debt capital markets transactions including RMB bonds, G3 bonds, high-yield bonds, asset-backed securities, medium-term notes, and loan syndications. He also advises on structured debt products and derivatives transactions, as well as mergers and acquisitions. (from http://www.law.com)

3 November – Clyde & Co (Singapore, Singapore)

Clyde & Co has hired projects expert Ton van den Bosch (L) as a partner in Singapore from Addleshaw Goddard, where he was the office managing partner.

van den Bosch joined Addleshaw Goddard as a partner in 2019 from Ince & Co, where he was head of the global terminals and maritime infrastructure practice and energy and projects team in South and Southeast Asia. He was earlier general counsel at International Container Terminal Services and Bluewater Energy Services, and also worked at Allen & Overy.

Specialising in corporate, restructuring and project development, van den Bosch focuses on the energy, offshore, logistics, ports, transportation, infrastructure, agribusiness and terminals industries in frontier and emerging markets in Asia, the Gulf and in Africa.

Clyde & Co has also hired Sumyutha Sivamani as legal director in Singapore from RPC. Sivamani specialises in cyber risk and incident response.  (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

2 November – Makarim & Taira S (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Indonesian law firm ADCO Law has hired Alexandra (Alex) Gerungan as partner and head of its litigation and alternative dispute resolution practice from Makarim & Taira S, where she spent more than 17 years.

She is ADCO’s second partner hire in a little over a month, with the other being corporate lawyer Alta Mahandara, who joined from Wibowo Hadiwijaya & Co in September.

Gerungan has expertise in civil lawsuits, arbitration, employment, debt recovery and restructuring, insurance claims, police and anti-corruption investigations, compliance and internal investigations, and other general corporate and commercial issues. She started her career at Luhut MP Pangaribuan & Partners. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

2 November – White & Case (Sydney, Australia)

White & Case has hired an antitrust partner from Norton Rose Fulbright to its antitrust practice in Sydney.

Belinda Harvey is the firm’s second recent antitrust hire in Sydney, with partner Stefanie Benson joining from Allen & Overy. (from http://www.law.com)

2 November – Shihui Partners (Beijing, China)

Chinese law firm Shihui Partners has hired a team of over 30 intellectual property (IP) practitioners, including patent lawyers, and patent agents and process managers.

One of its new partners is Yue Weining, who joins from King & Wood Mallesons. Yue, who made partner at King & Wood in 2016, has a legal career spanning 15 years specializing in the protection of intellectual property rights with a particular focus on high-tech areas including electronics. He has advised domestic and international technology companies in emerging markets on IP rights protection involving business areas like artificial intelligence, computer software and algorithms to chips and semiconductors. (from http://www.law.com)

1 November – Baker McKenzie (China)

Shih Yann Loo, a senior partner in Baker McKenzie Hong Kong’s intellectual property (IP) group, has been appointed as the firm’s Asia Pacific chair. He succeeds M&A and tax partner Michael Wong, who has returned to practice in Taipei.

As an IP partner qualified in Hong Kong, Singapore and the U.K., Loo’s practice focuses on cross-border litigation enforcement in Hong Kong and China. He has represented clients in some of the largest IP litigation cases across Greater China. These landmark cases include advising a U.S. client on a patent litigation against China’s technology and electronics giant Huawei, and also litigating successfully the first trade secret case in China. (from http://www.law.com)

October

31 October – Ashurst (Canberra, Australia)

Ashurst has hired a special counsel from Australian firm Clayton Utz to join as a partner in the firm’s digital economy team, as it expands its Canberra office to help Australian Government agencies in digital and data projects.

Mathew Baldwin has advised public and private sector clients on a range of contracting and procurement law issues including cloud services, cyber security and data protection, Ashurst said in a statement. (from http://www.law.com)

31 October – Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (Singapore, Singapore)

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has hired a new disputes partner, Paul Tan, for its Singapore office.

Tan, a former partner at Cavenagh Law, which operates in a Formal Law Alliance (FLA) in Singapore with Clifford Chance, will lead the Asia international arbitration practice at Gibson Dunn. (from http://www.law.com)

30 October – Clyde & Co (Sydney, Australia)

Clyde & Co appointed head of insurance Lucinda Lyons as its new Australia managing partner.

Lyons, who joined the firm as a partner in 2016, will take over the role from current incumbent Michael Tooma when his five-year term expires on Nov. 1. (from http://www.law.com)

27 October – Dechert (Hong Kong, China)

Dechert has appointed its next Hong Kong managing partner 10 months after the former office leader left the firm.

Asia head and global co-head of white collar, compliance and investigations at Dechert Maria Sit has been appointed to the role, replacing David Cho who left the firm in January. (from http://www.law.com)

27 October – Nozomi Sogo Attorneys at Law (Tokyo, Japan)

Nozomi Sogo Attorneys At Law has hired the president of European Business Council in Japan as the Tokyo-based firm’s first foreign partner.

Swiss-qualified Michael Mroczek, who previously spent a nearly ten-year stint as the first foreign law partner at Okuno & Partners, specializes in international dispute resolution. He is registered as an EU lawyer with the Warsaw Bar Association. The experienced litigator has also served as a former president of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, and an attorney-at-law at Swiss law firm Stach Rechtsanwälte AG. (from http://www.law.com)

25 October – Yoon & Yang (Seoul, Korea)

South Korea Big Six law firm Yoon & Yang has hired two lawyers and a consultant for its aviation practice, taking its head count in that specialised offering to eight lawyers.

Helen Sohn, a veteran aviation lawyer, has joined Yoon & Yang as senior foreign attorney. She was most recently a partner at the firm’s Big Six rival, Lee & Ko, where she had practiced for almost three decades. (from http://www.law.com)

25 October – Herbert Smith Freehills  (Singapore, Singapore)

Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed global co-heads of its technology, media and telecoms sector, with one of the appointments based in its Singapore office for the first time.

Singapore-based partner Mark Robinson takes up one of the co-head roles alongside London partner Veronica Roberts. (from http://www.law.com)

24 October – IndusLaw (Mumbai, India)

Indian law firm IndusLaw has recruited corporate specialist Ashutosh Narang as a partner in Mumbai from Luthra & Luthra Law Offices, which he leaves after a seven-month stint.

Narang, who joined Luthra from a general counsel role at Capital India Finance in March, has more than 16 years of experience. He advises on corporate and commercial matters with focus on banking and finance, fintech, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code and other regulatory advisory work. His clients include funds, banks and other financial entities. Prior to joining Capital India Finance, Narang worked for law firms AZB & Partners and Link Legal. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

19 October – Luthra & Luthra Law Offices (Delhi & Bengaluru, India)

Indian law firm Luthra & Luthra Law Offices has hired two partners, Tamal Mandal in Delhi, and Abhilekh Verma in Bengaluru. They join from the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) and from Kochhar & Co, respectively.

Mandal will be joining the firm’s international trade practice, while Verma will be a part of the corporate practice.

These partner hires are Luthra’s first since August, when the firm brought on board corporate lawyer Sarika Raichur and litigator Abhimanyu Kampani as partners in Delhi from Kochhar & Co and Rajiv Mohan Law Offices, respectively. The firm is currently in a rebuilding phase, after losing 21 partners to DSK Legal in July this year.

With more than 13 years of experience, Mandal advises on litigation, arbitration, inter-state disputes, and trade and investment policies and negotiations with a focus on emerging sectors such as climate change, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and data privacy. Before joining DIT in 2020, he worked for the World Trade Organization. Mandal started his career at the erstwhile Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co in 2009.

Meanwhile, Verma has more than 26 years of experience. He joined Kochhar as a partner in 2017 from Khaitan & Co, prior to which he worked at J Sagar Associates, and in an in-house role with telecom major Bharti Airtel. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

19 October – HFW (Hong Kong, China)

UK law firm HFW has added a new partner, disputes expert Kevin Warburton, in its Hong Kong office. Warburton will join HFW from local firm Tanner De Witt.

Warburton is HFW’s first partner hire in Hong Kong since September last year, when disputes lawyer Karen Cheung joined from Li & Partners.

With 15 years of experience, Warburton advises on arbitration, commercial litigation, regulatory investigations and inquiries, and privacy and cyber security. He joined Tanner De Witt in 2020 from Slaughter and May, where he spent about 13 years, leaving as a partner. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

18 October – Zhong Lun Law Firm (Shanghai, China)

Zhong Lun Law Firm has hired Jiang Haoxiong as a partner in its capital markets practice, who was previously a partner at Chen & Co Law Firm and Hui Cheng & Partners.

With 30-plus years of experience in capital markets, Jiang specifically focuses on outbound and inbound public offerings and listings, M&A, private equity investing, and cross-border financing.

He was a member of the 10th and 11th Main Board Issuance Appraisal Committee of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, which “helps corporates to grab opportunities and develop smoothly amid the strengthened capital markets regulatory environment”, according to Zhong Lun.

Jiang has advised on significant transactions, such as the Haid Group listing on the SZSE, the Sinopharm Group listing on the HKEX, Fosun High Technology’s listing on the HKEX via a red-chip structure, and French firm Groupe SEB acquiring Chinese-listed company Supor via an equity transfer agreement, voluntary general offer and private placement. (from http://www.law.asia)

18 October – Grandway Law Offices (Shanghai, China)

Grandway Law Offices welcomed Peng Cheng as partner. Peng was originally from AllBright Law Offices. Peng is a capital markets expert and has extensive experience in corporate restructuring and listing, New Third Board listing, equity investment and financing, and mergers and acquisitions. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

18 October – JunHe (Hong Kong, China)

In Hong Kong SAR, JunHe recently added Philip Kwok as partner. Before joining JunHe, Kwok worked at EY’s Hong Kong member firm, LC lawyers.

Kwok was among the first batch of lawyers to pass the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination. Kwok focuses on complex commercial litigation and arbitration, regulatory investigations, cybersecurity and data protection, financial technology compliance, electronic data preservation and retention, as well as disputes and regulatory matters for internet and e-commerce businesses. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

18 October – King & Spalding (Middle East, Singapore & Tokyo)

International law firm King & Spalding said Monday it hired Damien Bailey, the one-time global co-head of telecommunications at Herbert Smith Freehills as a partner to its corporate, finance and investments practice group.

Bailey joins King & Spalding from KPMG Law, where he was a partner. Before joining KPMG, Bailey led the telecom practice at HSF. He also previously led the Asia-Pacific technology, media, telecommunications practice at Simmons & Simmons in Hong Kong.

Bailey, currently based in Sydney, Australia, is expected to divide his time between the firm’s Middle East, Singapore and Tokyo offices, and focuses on data, digital, technology and telecommunications transactions, King & Spalding said in a statement. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

17 October – Thomson Geer (Sydney, Australia)

Australian law firm Thomson Geer has hired a special counsel from top tier corporate firm Clayton Utz to join its construction disputes practice as a partner.

Jack Fan, who joins Thomson Geer’s Sydney office, has experience in complex disputes involving major public infrastructure and has acted on some of the largest public infrastructure projects in New South Wales, including the Sydney Metro Northwest and City and Southwest projects, Parramatta Light Rail, a number of stages of the WestConnex motorway, the NorthConnex motorway, and various rollingstock projects. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

14 October – Han Kun Law Offices (Shanghai, China)

Two former Deloitte Legal partners have joined the Shanghai office of China’s Han Kun Law Offices, following the recent closure of the Big Four accounting firm’s legal arm in Shanghai.

Partners Weiheng Jia and Cody Chen, who were previously partners at Deloitte’s now defunct legal China affiliate Qin Li Law Firm, are corporate lawyers who specialise in multiple practice areas, notably cross-border M&A and corporate regulatory compliance. (from http://www.law.com)

13 October – Penningtons Manches Cooper (Singapore, Singapore)

UK law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper has welcomed back energy lawyer John Zadkovich as a partner in Singapore. Zadkovich had been running an independent energy consultancy in Hong Kong for the past three years.

Penningtons Manches Cooper’s presence in Singapore dates back to 1996, when one of its constituent firms, Thomas Cooper, opened an office in the city-state. Zadkovich marks the firm’s second Singapore partner hire in two years; in February last year, it added corporate lawyer Nick Dingemans from Watson Farley & Williams.

With more than 15 years of experience in energy, trade and finance matters across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, Zadkovich puts particular focus on international arbitration, investigations and public international law. He advises sovereign states, state-owned entities, companies, trading houses, private equity funds, and family offices.

Prior to running his independent consultancy, Zadkovich worked for Vinson & Elkins and McGrigors for close to a decade in total. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

13 October – Gadens (Sydney, Australia)

Australian law firm Gadens has hired Dentons’ Sydney office head, who was also its real estate leader in Australia.

Sally Tuckfield joins the national firm as partner in its real estate and construction group in Sydney, Gadens said in a statement. (from http://www.law.com)

12 October – Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung  (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Herbert Smith Freehills’ Indonesia association firm Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung has hired disputes lawyer Prawidha Murti as partner in Jakarta from Oentoeng Suria & Partners, which operates in association with Ashurst.

Murti is the third partner to join Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung this year. In May, the firm hired Abimata Putra and Irfan Ghazali from HHP Law Firm and telecom company Sarana Menara Nusantara, respectively. It also lost two partners to Widyawan & Partners, Linklaters’ Indonesia association firm: Disputes and labour expert Narendra Adiyasa, and corporate lawyer Teguh Arwiko.

With about 20 years’ experience, Murti advises international and domestic clients in sectors such as private wealth, energy, infrastructure, projects and construction, technology, media and telecommunications, finance, mining and resources, and aviation, on litigation, arbitration, regulatory and compliance investigations, and contentious competition and employment matters.

Murti was at Oentoeng Suria for five years. Previously, she worked at law firms Makes & Partners and Lubis Santosa & Maramis. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

11 October – Seyfarth Shaw (Hong Kong, China)

U.S. law firm Seyfarth Shaw has added corporate expert Stefano Beghi as a partner in Hong Kong from Italy’s Gianni & Origoni, where he spent about 19 years.

This is the second partner appointment in Hong Kong this year for Seyfarth, which opened its Hong Kong office in 2017. In January, Seyfarth hired TMT expert Paul Haswell as a partner from Pinsent Masons.

Beghi advises international companies as well as family-owned businesses in Middle East, Asia and Europe on multi-jurisdictional issues, including commercial strategy and commercial transactions.

Prior to joining Gianni & Origoni, Beghi worked at advisory firms Andersen Legal and EY. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

11 October – PDLegal  (Singapore, Singapore)

Singapore boutique PDLegal has hired insurance disputes expert Wei Hong Ling as a partner, the firm’s second partner hire in 2022. Ling was most recently a vice-president at insurance company Marsh.

In February this year, PDLegal hired disputes specialist Cathryn Neo as a partner in the firm’s international arbitration and China practices from Ashurst ADTLaw.

With roughly 16 years of experience, Ling advises on insurance claims relating to cyber, professional indemnity, bankers’ blanket bonds, and trade credit. He acts for statutory boards, corporations, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, project engineers, and contractors in sectors such as earthworks, air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation, pipe works, and fireproofing.

Ling worked for Marsh and JLT (which merged with Marsh in 2020) for nearly six years. Previously, he worked at law firms WongPartnership, Tan Kok Quan Partnership, and Drew & Napier.  (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

10 October – Morgan, Lewis & Bockius (Singapore, Singapore)

Morgan Lewis & Bockius has claimed an eight-lawyer team, including three partners, from K&L Gates, providing a significant boost to its global aviation practices in London, Dubai and Singapore.

Parners Sidanth Rajagopal and Manuela Krach will join Morgan Lewis in London along with an associate, while partner James Bradley will be resident in Singapore, the firm said in a statement. (from http://www.law.com)

9 October – Herbert Smith Freehills (Melbourne, Australia)

Herbert Smith Freehills has hired partner Alice Molan to join its financial services regulatory practice in Melbourne from Walkers in Hong Kong.

Joining the firm on 10 October 2022, Molan will advise clients in the banking, non-bank lending, payments and fintech sectors on Australian and offshore banking regulatory matters alongside partner Charlotte Henry, HSF said. (from http://www.law.com)

7 October – Helmsman (Singapore, Singapore)

Singapore and Hong Kong law firm Helmsman has hired Una Khng as director and head of its commercial disputes practice group. Khng was most recently deputy divisional registrar of the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC), and assistant registrar of the Supreme Court of Singapore.

Helmsman, established as a shipping and commodity boutique in 2019, created dedicated practice groups for commercial disputes, employment, and corporate, banking and finance last month. Since then it unveiled the following lawyers as the respective practice heads: Associate director Zhida Chen (commodities), director Lynette Koh (corporate, banking and finance), director Maureen Poh (shipping), and associate director Matthew Teo (employment).

Experienced in dispute resolution, Khng advises on matters related to financial products, banking and investment, joint ventures and shareholders, corporate governance, breaches of trust, contracts, fraud and white-collar crime, misrepresentation. and property. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Khng was at Drew & Napier for nearly six years, leaving in 2013 as an associate director. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

3 October – Linklaters (Hong Kong, China)

Linklaters has hired Richard Woodworth, the co-head of Allen & Overy’s Asia Pacific restructuring practice, just three months after Allen & Overy took two of Linklaters’ capital markets heavy hitters in Hong Kong.

Woodworth joins Linklaters as a partner in the firm’s Asia restructuring and insolvency practice, leaving Allen & Overy with three restructuring partners in its 11 offices in Asia. He advises creditors, borrowers, insolvency practitioners and other stakeholders on all aspects of financial restructurings and formal insolvency proceedings. (from http://www.law.com)

2 October – Reed Smith (Beijing, China)

Reed Smith has brought on its third new partner for Asia in less than two months.

Corporate lawyer and tech specialist Barbara Li has joined Reed Smith in Beijing with two associates. The team joins from PwC, where Li was a partner in the tax and business advisory team at PwC China, focusing on corporate & regulatory matters.  (from http://www.law.com)

Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list.

September 

29 September – ADCO Law (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Jakarta-based law firm ADCO Law has hired corporate lawyer Alta Mahandara as partner from Wibowo Hadiwijaya & Co.

With nearly 15 years of experience, Mahandara advises on foreign investment, electricity and water utility projects, railways, cross-border M&A, general corporate matters, mining, energy and infrastructure projects, sale and purchase, joint ventures, facility and loan agreements, security, licensing and power purchase agreements.

Mahandara worked for Wibowo Hadiwijaya for nearly 12 years. He began his career with a short stint at mobile tower operator PT Protelindo. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

29 September – Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Singapore, Singapore)

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has hired projects lawyer as its second Singapore partner a year after opening an office in the city state.

A specialist in the renewable energy field, Karthik Kumar joins Orrick from Jones Day, where he was a lawyer for 10 years and a partner for six. (from http://www.law.com)

29 September – Trilegal (Delhi, India)

Indian law firm Trilegal has hired disputes lawyer Rajat Jariwal as partner in Delhi from Khaitan & Co. He is set to join the firm in the next few months.

Jariwal is the latest in a string of lateral hires by Trilegal this year. In August, the firm welcomed tax specialist Meyyappan Nagappan and disputes expert Shalaka Patil as partners in Mumbai from Nishith Desai Associates and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, respectively following addition of competition expert Rudresh Singh as a partner in Delhi from L&L Partners and corporate expert Pranav Atit as partner in Mumbai from AZB & Partners in July. Prior to that in April, it decided to hire disputes experts Anuj Berry and Vishrov Mukerjee as partners in Delhi from Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and J. Sagar Associates, respectively.

With 17 years of experience, Jariwal specialises in civil and commercial litigations relating to environment defense and environmental advisory, as well as shareholder disputes both before courts and arbitral tribunals, tenders, defamation, and mining issues arising out of India’s Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act. Jariwal worked for Khaitan for more than 12 years, becoming a partner in 2017. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

27 September – AZB & Partners (Mumbai, India)

Indian law firm AZB & Partners has welcomed back Ajay Upadhyay as the Mumbai-based head of its compliance and investigation team from KPMG. Prior to leaving for KPMG in 2017, Upadhyay held the same role.

Specialising in dispute resolution, expert witness, forensic, financial crime and regulatory investigations and advisory services, Upadhyay has 20 years of experience. At KPMG, he was a forensic services partner. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

27 September – Holman Fenwick Willan (Perth, Australia)

Global law firm Holman Fenwick Willan hired shipping partner Ashwin Nair in Perth as it continues to expand in Australia.

Nair, who joins the firm from maritime boutique Cocks Macnish, where he was special counsel, specializes in shipping, admiralty and marine insurance, acting for shipowners and charterers and their P&I Clubs and other insurers of marine risks, HFW said. He has a particular interest in the offshore energy and commercial fishing industries. (from http://www.law.com)

27 September – Bird & Bird (Singapore, Singapore)

Bird & Bird has hired aviation expert Niel Liebenberg as a partner in Singapore. Liebenberg’s most recent role was as general counsel at China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Specialising in asset leasing and project finance with focus on aircraft finance, leasing and sales, Liebenberg has more than 24 years of experience. He joined CALC in 2016 after working in law firms like White & Case, Hogan Lovells, Norton Rose Fulbright, and Beaumont & Son (now part of Clyde & Co), and in in-house roles at Transportation Partners and BOC Aviation. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

27 September – Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (Hong Kong, China)

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has moved to rebuild its Hong Kong office with a partner hire, nine months after its former China head and heavyweight partner Betty Yap left for Linklaters.

Paul Weiss has added corporate partner Bosco Yiu from Goodwin Procter, according to two people with knowledge of the move. (from http://www.law.com)

22 September – Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (Mumbai, India)

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has hired finance lawyer Jian Johnson as a partner in Mumbai from ICICI Bank, where he spent more than 13 years, and was most recently senior group head of the corporate legal group.

Johnson marks CAM’s second finance partner hire in Mumbai this year. In April, CAM welcomed back project finance specialist Manasvini Raj as a partner from International Finance Corporation, a unit of the World Bank, where she was a counsel.

Johnson advises on derivatives, capital markets, project finance, structured finance, general corporate, securities, M&A, IPR, regulatory and compliance, technology, corporate centre and policy.  (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

22 September – Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (Bengaluru, India)

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas has hired four dispute resolution lawyers in Bengaluru, including partner Karan Joseph. Joseph was most recently running his own law chambers.

With more than 10 years of experience, Joseph advises on commercial, civil, employment and constitutional issues. These include cases relating to company law, arbitration, intellectual property, white collar crime and employment-related disputes.

Joseph represents both private clients, as well as central and state governments, before the High Court of Karnataka, trial courts and tribunals in Bengaluru, and other courts in India. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

22 September – Khaitan & Co (Mumbai, India)

India’s Khaitan & Co has hired corporate lawyer Prateek Desai as partner in Mumbai office from Trilegal, where he was a counsel.

Desai advises Indian corporates, credit funds, financial sponsors, banks and other financial institutions on banking, finance, commercial debt and private credit and structured credit transactions. His clients include oil and gas, real estate, pharmaceuticals, technology, financial services, specialty chemicals, power, transportation and infrastructure companies.

Prior to joining Trilegal last year, Desai worked at Talwar Thakore & Associates, AZB & Partners, and Wadia Ghandy & Co.  (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

21 September – Mills Oakley (Sydney, Australia)

Australian law firm Mills Oakley has acquired a second small insurance firm in a fortnight as it further expands its insurance practice.

The national firm has acquired Vardanega Roberts in Sydney, and its two partners Stephen Vardanega and Mike Roberts and their team will join Mills Oakley on October 1. (from http://www.law.com)

20 September – White & Case (Sydney, Australia)

White & Case is expanding its global antitrust practice with the hire of an Allen & Overy lawyer in Sydney.

Stefanie Benson joins the partnership having previously been a counsel at A&O. She advises domestic and international clients on the antitrust aspects of complex mergers and joint ventures across the Asia-Pacific region, according to a White & Case statement. (from http://www.law.com)

18 September – Reed Smith (Hong Kong, China)

Reed Smith has bolstered its dispute resolution practice with the hire of arbitration partner Zeldar Wang. Joining Reed Smith’s Hong Kong office as a partner, Wang has been seconded to the firm’s Shanghai office.

Wang primarily handles international arbitrations and advises on commercial disputes in areas such as trade, commodities and shipping. (from http://www.law.com)

15 September – Dentons (Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, Australia)

In a significant recruitment drive that reflects increasing client demand, Dentons has appointed six new lateral partners in Australia, continuing its growth trajectory with a total of 12 new partners joining since 1 July 2022. These six partner appointments build on a truly national Australian offering, in particular, strengthening its national real estate practice and adding depth and breadth to its Melbourne office.

Meet Dentons’ six newest partners:

Paul O’Halloran – Employment and Safety, Melbourne
Seamus Gunson – Real Estate, Melbourne
Nathan Rhimes – Real Estate, Melbourne
Jill Milburn – Corporate, Sydney
Darryl Kipping – Real Estate, Perth
Brendan Golden – Recovery & Restructuring, Adelaide

Employment and safety specialist Paul O’Halloran and his team specialise in workplace disputes including employee misconduct, industrial action, reputational risk and union disputes, across a range of industries including education, religion, health and aged care. Commenting on the move, Paul said “It is a great privilege to be joining Dentons, to grow Dentons’ national Employment and Safety practice in Melbourne, the heartland of industrial disputation in Australia”.

Seamus Gunson is a real estate specialist and brings experience advising on sales, acquisitions and leasing of industrial, commercial and retail property, as well as the development of apartment towers and subdivisions.

Nathan Rhimes also commences as a partner in our Real Estate practice, bringing significant expertise in advising on all aspects of property and development, including acquisition and due diligence, mixed use development and land subdivision, as well as advising landlords and tenants in relation to the leasing of commercial offices and retail premises.

Paul, Seamus and Nathan’s appointments continue Dentons’ growth trajectory in the Victorian market, increasing the firm’s footprint in Melbourne and adding depth to our national Real Estate and Employment and Safety teams. The recruitment comes on the back of the recent partner appointments in Melbourne of Ryan Hennessey, Restructuring and Recovery, and Matthew Hennessey, Intellectual Property, Technology & Competition.

In Sydney, Jill Milburn brings a wealth of experience advising clients on capital raisings, mergers and acquisitions, management buyouts, divestments and joint venture arrangements, across a range of industries including automotive, transport and logistics, banking and finance, and energy and mining. Commenting on the move Jill said, “I’m thrilled to be joining Dentons and I am excited by the tremendous opportunity to connect clients to global resources and the diverse talent within the world’s largest law firm”.

Darryl Kipping joins our Perth office, further expanding our national Real Estate practice. Darryl brings substantial and diverse knowledge advising on all aspects of property law including pre-acquisition due diligence, off the plan contracts for strata title and commercial and industrial property.

In Adelaide, Brendan Golden joins our national Recovery and Restructuring practice, where he brings expertise in dispute resolution and insolvency, property litigation, debt recovery and corporation law disputes.

Seamus Gunson commenced with the firm on Monday 5 September 2022. Paul O’Halloran commences with Dentons on Thursday 15 September 2022. The remaining new partners and teams will commence with the firm in the coming weeks. (from http://www.dentons.com)

15 September – Appleby (Hong Kong, China)

Offshore law firm Appleby has hired two former Harneys investment funds lawyers in Hong Kong: Bronwyn King joins as partner, while Grace Yeung joins as legal manager.

King, most recently partner and head of Asia-Pacific at the Cayman Islands-heaquartered Intertrust Law, was at Harneys Hong Kong until March 2021, leaving as a partner. She has more than 15 years of offshore experience, specialising in investment funds, asset management regulatory and general corporate transactions. King’s previous employers include Simmons & Simmons, and offshore firms Mourant Ozannes, Walkers, and Ogier. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

15 September – Trowers & Hamlins (Kuala Kumpur, Malaysia)

Trowers & Hamlins has hired corporate expert Geoff Allen as a partner in Kuala Lumpur, becoming the UK-headquartered law firm’s third partner in Malaysia. Allen was most recently working at Pinsent Masons Vario.

Trowers opened its Kuala Lumpur office in 2012. In 2015, it became the first foreign law firm to be granted a Qualified Foreign Law Firm (QFLF) licence in Malaysia. Trowers currently has 16 lawyers in the Malaysian capital. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

15 September – Deacons (Hong Kong, China)

Hong Kong law firm Deacons has added corporate lawyer Mark Stevens to its now 33-strong corporate commercial practice. His joining marks the first partner-level hire for Deacons’ corporate commercial practice in Hong Kong this year. (from http://www.law.com)

14 September – Mills Oakley (Melbourne, Australia)

Australian law firm Mills Oakley is enhancing its litigation capability with the acquisition of Melbourne boutique Patrick & Associates, including principal Ben Patrick and his team of six lawyers and support staff. (from http://www.law.com)

14 September – Clifford Chance (Singapore, Singapore)

Clifford Chance has appointed its next Singapore office managing partner, as international firms continue to cement their presence in the country.

Corporate partner Valerie Kong will begin her term in the position on 1 October 2022, according to a statement by the firm on Wednesday. She becomes the first woman to take on the position. (from http://www.law.com)

13 September – Baker Botts (Singapore, Singapore)

Baker Botts has relaunched its Asia strategy and is set to open in Singapore, as many international law firms plump for investment in the city.

Baker Botts had previously pulled out of Asia entirely with the closure of its Hong Kong office after several partner exits from the base last year.

“The three partners are: Ashurt’s global co-head of international projects Richard Guit, energy resources and infrastructure partner Michael Harrison and energy projects partner Daniel Reinbott. Guit and Harrison have both been at the firm for over six years, while Reinbott has spent the last 14 years at Ashurst, according to their LinkedIn profiles. (from http://www.law.com)

12 September – Baker Botts (Singapore, Singapore)

Baker Botts had previously pulled out of Asia entirely with the closure of its Hong Kong office after several partner exits from the base last year.

At the time, the firm left the option to return open, stating it was “considering additional markets where the scale of the firm’s Asia practice can be expanded”. In October 2020, Baker Botts also shuttered its Beijing offering”.

“The three partners are: Ashurt’s global co-head of international projects Richard Guit, energy resources and infrastructure partner Michael Harrison and energy projects partner Daniel Reinbott. Guit and Harrison have both been at the firm for over six years, while Reinbott has spent the last 14 years at Ashurst, according to their LinkedIn profiles. (from http://www.law.com)

8 September – RPC Premier Law (Singapore, Singapore)

RPC has hired a technology lawyer as a partner for its joint legal venture, RPC Premier Law, in Singapore.

Nicholas Lauw, who advises on high-value contentious and non-contentious intellectual property and technology-related deals and matters, was most recently a partner at Singapore firm Rajah & Tann, where he had practiced for almost 14 years. Lauw joined Rajah & Tann in 2009 as a senior associate and was made partner in 2013. (from http://www.law.com)

6 September – Thomson Geer (Melbourne, Australia)

Australia-headquartered Thomson Geer has become the latest local firm to pick up an international infrastructure partner with the hire of a Hong Kong-based Eversheds Sutherland partner.

Jae Lemin, who will work in Thomson Geer’s Melbourne office, had been a partner at Eversheds since 2016, according to his LinkedIn profile. An infrastructure finance lawyer, he has a particular focus on the energy and renewables sector. According to the firm’s website, his clients include lenders and borrowers who require financing for significant infrastructure projects across the Asia-Pacific region. (from http://www.law.com)

6 September – Baker McKenzie (Hong Kong, China)

Baker McKenzie continues to grow its bench strength and capabilities in Hong Kong by hiring veteran arbitrator Ronald Sum JP as partner. Ronald will bring a team, composed of associates Plato Cheung and Beryl Wu, with him. This latest hire further bolsters the Firm’s bench strength in Hong Kong, following the recent hire of partners Thomas Tarala and Victoria Lloyd.

Ronald joins the Firm from Addleshaw Goddard where he led its Arbitration Practice in Asia. His practice covers all areas of dispute resolution, specializing in China related matters, international arbitration, cross border disputes, complex commercial disputes, sports related disputes, insurance and reinsurance.

Ronald is highly regarded in the international arbitration arena, and has acted as both counsel and arbitrator in administered arbitration proceedings in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, Australia, London and the United States. In addition to being an accredited arbitrator and mediator of various institutions — including the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), and Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (SHIAC) — Ronald also sits on the Hong Kong Government Advisory Committee on the Promotion of Arbitration and the Hong Kong Steering Committee on Mediation. He is also an Investor State Mediator under the China and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Ronald is qualified as a solicitor in Hong Kong, England and Wales, and Australia, and has passed the Greater Bay Area (GBA) legal professional exam. (from http://www.bakermckenzie.com)

5 September – MinterEllison (Sydney, Australia)

MinterEllison welcomes back to the firm leading financial services and superannuation lawyer Ruth Stringer as a partner in the Capital Solutions practice.
Ruth will again lead the firm’s national Superannuation practice, which she established some years ago. She will provide expertise and advice to clients as they look ahead and respond to legislative change and current and future member needs. (from http://www.minterellison.com)

5 September – Slaughter and May (Hong Kong, China)

Slaughter and May’s long-serving corporate partner Benita Yu has been appointed as senior partner and head of the firm’s Hong Kong office. Yu succeeds Peter Brien, who will be retiring from the firm, where he has served for three decades.

Yu joined the firm in 1994. She advises on high-stakes securities, M&A and corporate finance and debt financing deals. (from http://www.law.com)

5 September – DLA Piper (Perth, Australia)

Global law firm DLA Piper has today confirmed three recent senior hires in Perth including Owen Alcorn (Partner), Matthew Watkins (Partner) and Neil Macdonald (Special Counsel).

Owen Alcorn has been appointed as partner in our Finance, Projects & Restructurings (FP&R) practice in Perth and commences today. He is returning to Australia, having joined from Herbert Smith Freehills in London. Owen brings deep international experience on a wide variety of financing transactions, including project finance, acquisition finance and general corporate finance. Owen will be focused on supporting the mining industry, particularly in Perth where we have a substantial portfolio of projects in the pipeline. He will also act for lenders and sponsors on infrastructure and renewables projects across Australia.

Matthew Watkins will join the firm on 12 September as partner in our Corporate practice in Perth, moving across from Gilbert + Tobin. Matthew is an experienced corporate lawyer who advises on the full spectrum of private and public M&A and equity capital markets transactions, particularly in the energy and natural resources sector. The addition of Matthew, following the appointment of James Nicholls (Partner) last year, gives us strength and depth to support the heavy domestic demand we are seeing in the junior and mid-cap markets. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

5 September – DAC Beachcroft (Singapore, Singapore)

Insurance-focused law firm DAC Beachcroft has tripled its partner count in Singapore after hiring Summer Montague and Andrew Robinson from RPC and DLA Piper, respectively.

Specialising in cross-border insurance and reinsurance disputes, Montague advises on property, power generation, onshore and offshore energy, mining and construction, including product recall policies and product liability claims in Asia, Europe and the U.S. in sectors such as technology, pharmaceutical and automotive. In addition, she covers cyber security and information technology claims.

Before joining RPC, Montague worked with Mayer Brown and Kennedys in Singapore and London and also had an in-house stint at Zurich Insurance.

Robinson advises on insurance and reinsurance matters with a focus on international financial lines and indemnity disputes, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and regulatory, compliance and casualty losses, as well as litigation, arbitration, and mediation. He is also experienced in cyber risks and data security. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

1 September – Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (Delhi, India)

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co has hired project and project finance specialist Samridha Neupane as a partner in New Delhi from Saraf and Partners, after a stint that lasted three months.

Neupane joined Saraf in May this year from L&L Partners (now Luthra & Luthra Law Offices). With more than 11 years of experience, he advises Indian and foreign investors, regulatory authorities, think-tanks, developers, contractors, multilateral institutions and financial institutions on investments, private equity, mergers, and acquisitions. He has a special focus on energy and infrastructure in the renewables space.

Prior to joining L&L, Neupane worked at Khaitan & Co and Tatva Legal. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

1 September – Herbert Smith Freehills (Bangkok, Thailand)

Herbert Smith Freehills has hired M&A and competition lawyer Niab Paiboon as partner in Bangkok from Allen & Overy.

Niab has more than 12 years of experience in advising Thai and international clients on public and private M&A in sectors such as energy, petrochemicals, TMT, food and beverage, financial institutions, consumer and automotive. As part of her M&A practice, Niab has built up experience in competition law in Thailand in areas such as merger control regulations. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

August

25 August – Assegaf Hamzah & Partners (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Indonesian law firm Assegaf Hamzah & Partners (AHP) has welcomed back tax expert Nazly Parlindungan Siregar as a partner in Jakarta. from KPMG in Singapore.

Siregar, who was at AHP for a year between 2017 and 2018, has more than 20 years of experience in international tax. She worked more than 12 years with Deloitte in San Francisco, London and Jakarta, and also counts PwC and KPMG among her employers. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

24 August – Luthra & Luthra Law Office (Delhi, India)

Indian law firm Luthra & Luthra Law Office has hired Sarika Raichur and Abhimanyu Kampani as partners in Delhi from Kochhar & Co and Rajiv Mohan Law Offices, respectively.

The announcement comes as Luthra looks to rebuild following a number of high-profile departures. In July, Luthra lost 63 lawyers, including 21 partners, to DSK Legal, and later saw the exit of partner Pallavi Bedi to Phoenix Legal.

A corporate specialist, Raichur advises on inbound and outbound investments, India entry strategies, M&A, disposals, joint ventures, private equity, venture capital, venture debt, investment funds, restructuring, distressed assets financing, special situation investments, franchising, distribution, commercial contracts, securities litigation, shareholders’ disputes, corporate governance and general corporate advisory.

Raichur joined Kochhar in 2016 from boutique firm Yuti Law, which she co-founded. Prior to that, she worked at Khaitan & Co. and the London office of European law firm Noerr. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

24 August – Herbert Smith Freehills (Hong Kong, China)

Herbert Smith Freehills has welcomed back banking and finance expert Ellen Mao as a partner in the Hong Kong office from Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, where she was a counsel.

Mao advises international, Asian, and particularly Chinese clients on syndicated lending, cross-border financing, insolvency work and complex project financing.

Mao started her career with JunHe in Shanghai, before joining Clifford Chance in 2010. She moved to Paul Weiss in 2020. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

24 August – Squire Patton Boggs (Singapore, Singapore)

U.S. law firm Squire Patton Boggs has hired shipping specialist Joel Cockerell as a partner in Singapore from HFW.

Cockerell is Squire Patton Boggs’ second partner hire from HFW in Singapore in the past year, after commodities lawyer Ivan Chia came on board last September. The past year has also seen a number of partner departures from the firm’s Singapore office, including Ignatius Hwang and Alfred Chia to McDermott Will & Emery, and Biswajit Chatterjee to Hogan Lovells.

Cockerell specializes in admiralty work, including vessel casualties, collisions, groundings, salvage, pollution, wreck removal and hull, machinery insurance claims, and charterparty and bill of lading disputes. He was at HFW for nearly three years, prior to which he worked at Reed Smith and Clyde & Co. Cockerell also spent more than 12 years in the Royal Australian Navy. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

22 August – Clyde & Co (Singapore, Singapore)

Clyde & Co partner, Andrew Bicknell, has relocated from the firm’s London office to Singapore. He has joined the firm’s Asia Pacific energy, marine and natural resources practice, and brings along with him one associate, Callum Gerrish, who has a focus on shipping and trade disputes including marine insurance recovery claims and casualty matters.

Bicknell’s practice focuses on international shipping, trading and marine insurance disputes. (from http://www.law.com)

22 August – Grandall Zimmern (Hong Kong, China)

Grandall Zimmern Law Firm, the Hong Kong association firm of the PRC’s Grandall, has hired real estate expert Shiu-man Wan as a partner from Baker McKenzie, where he spent 18 years.

Wan, who became a partner of Baker McKenzie in 2015, has a primary focus on development project matters, including the drafting of deeds of mutual covenant, obtaining of pre-sale consent, compliance with relevant laws, and project conveyancing. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

22 August – Phoenix Legal (Delhi, India)

Indian law firm Phoenix Legal has hired and projects expert Pallavi Bedi and disputes specialist Aman Avinav as partners in New Delhi. Bedi joins from Luthra & Luthra Law Offices, making her the latest departure from that firm.

Last month, Luthra & Luthra (then known as L&L Partners), lost 63 lawyers, including 21 partners, to DSK Legal as the firm announced an overhaul of its structure.

With more than 18 years of experience, Bedi specialises in projects, energy and infrastructure. She advises domestic and international borrowers and lenders on finance of projects such as nuclear power, renewables, oil and gas, LNG, mining as well as transportation projects including railways, ports, airports among other projects.

Having started her career at Trilegal in 2004, Bedi worked for the legacy Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co, Mayer Brown and J. Sagar Associates prior to joining Luthra & Luthra in 2017.

Experienced in dispute resolution with focus on commercial and regulatory litigation, arbitration and white-collar crimes, Avinav has acted for clients before Supreme Court of India and High Courts in New Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab and Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Assam. He had been an independent practitioner since 2018. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

21 August – Reed Smith (Hog Kong, China)

Reed Smith has added Fangda Partners counsel, Matthew Townsend, as a partner for its Hong Kong office.

Townsend acts as arbitration counsel in complex and high-stakes arbitration proceedings. His practice focuses on disputes relating to M&A and the energy, infrastructure, construction and technology sectors. (from http://www.law.com)

18 August – Squire Patton Boggs (Singapore, Singapore)

Squire Patton Boggs has grown its intellectual property team in Northern California with the addition of trademark partner Candice Kwok.

Kwok arrived, according to a firm announcement, on Thursday, after practicing for nearly two decades in the Singapore office of United Kingdom-born IP firm Marks & Clerk. (from http://www.law.com)

18 August – Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (Mumbai, India)

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has welcome back finance specialist Okram Singha as a partner in Mumbai from Trilegal.

Singha, who joined Trilegal from CAM in 2019 as a counsel following a one-year stint, has more than 14 years of experience. He advises lenders, multilateral institutions, sponsors, investors and borrowers on structured finance, project finance, debt capital market transactions and general banking matters. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

18 August – Baker McKenzie (Brisbane, Australia)

Global law firm Baker McKenziea has hired an experienced funds partner Tr to join its transactional practice group’s financial services & funds team in Brisbane.

Trudi Procter, who joins from Australian firm McCullough Robertson, advises on all facets of financial services regulation and compliance, Baker McKenzie said. (from http://www.law.com)

17 August – Allen & Overy (London, UK)

Allen & Overy has announced that Indian corporate M&A expert Harsh Pais will be joining in London as a partner to lead its India Corporate practice. Harsh is a recognised market-leader in Indian corporate M&A and has previously worked in India and New York.
Harsh has a wealth of expertise advising multinational corporations and private equity funds investing into India. He has experience is across sectors, with a particular focus on energy, technology and financial services. Harsh’s role at A&O will see him based in London, working as part of A&O’s highly regarded India Group. (from http://www.law.com)

17 August – Widyawan & Partners (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Widyawan & Partners, Linklaters’ Indonesia association firm has welcomed disputes and labour expert Narendra Adiyasa as a partner in Jakarta from Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung (HBT), the local association firm of Herbert Smith Freehills.

With experience in litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, Adiyasa has experience in labour problems, contingency planning and crisis management in relation to strikes, health and safety breaches, termination of employment, internal regulatory investigations and other employment-related issues in the Southeast Asian country. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

11 August – Howse Williams (Hong Kong, China)

Hong Kong law firm Howse Williams has continued its lateral hiring streak after adding a team of three litigation lawyers, including partner Janie Wong, from Addleshaw Goddard.

Earlier this year, Addleshaw Goddard had announced it would be closing its Hong Kong office. Joining Wong on the move to Howse Williams are senior associate Plato Cheung and associate Hugo Tam.

Wong becomes Howse Williams’ fifth lateral partner hire since May. Over the past four months, the firm has hired real estate partners Alan Yip and Jovanne Zee from Mayer Brown and Charles Russell Speechlys, respectively; insurance expert Gary Chow from Clyde & Co, and corporate specialist William Wong from Clifford Chance. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

10 August – Haiwen & Partner (Hong Kong, China)

PRC law firm Haiwen & Partners has hired shipping dispute resolution specialist Edward Liu as a partner in its Hong Kong office from the UK’s Hill Dickinson.

Liu joined Hill Dickinson in 2018, and became a partner in 2021. Prior to that, he worked at Reed Smith for nearly eight years across two stints, and DLA Piper. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

8 August – Bowers (Hong Kong, China)

Hong Kong boutique law firm Bowers has hired a new partner for its dispute resolution practice.

Mark Bedford has joined the firm from Zhong Lun Law Firm, one of China’s most prominent law firms where he had practiced as a partner for over seven years. (from http://www.law.com)

7 August – Clifford Chance (Singapore, Singapore)

Clifford Chance has hired Kobre & Kim Asia investigations head, Vasu Muthyala, as a partner for its litigation and dispute resolution team. Muthyala is based in Hong Kong and will be relocating to Singapore for his new role.

Muthyala advises multinational corporations, financial institutions, corporate executives and government officials on a broad range of cross-border government investigations and regulatory enforcement matters. His practice focuses on U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, anti-money laundering, sanctions and securities fraud. (from http://www.law.com)

4 August – ADTLaw (Singapore, Singapore)

UK firm Ashurst’s Singapore alliance firm, ADTLaw, has hired three M&A partners and a counsel from Allen & Gledhill, the largest firm in the city-state. Tao Koon Chiam joins as ADTLaw’s head of corporate/M&A for Southeast Asia, while Xiaozheng Ko and Choo Yi Ming join as director, and George Kho as associate director.

The hires come at a time when Ashurst has been steadily adding laterals across Asia. In June, it hired M&A transactions expert Yuan Yan as a partner in Shanghai from Clifford Chance, and last week, it added projects lawyer Tom Wilson as special counsel in Tokyo from the Asian Development Bank. Wilson will become a partner once the necessary regulatory approvals are received.

With more 20 years of experience, Tao specializing in deal structuring and execution for cross-border private equity (PE) transactions. He was with A&G for more than 14 years.

Experienced in PE funds on transactions throughout Southeast Asia, Ko advises various sectors including financial services, digital economy, and projects and infrastructure. He worked for A&G for more than 11 years.

Choo focuses on M&A for sovereign wealth funds and large-cap corporates in joint ventures and acquisitions of targets with a particular emphasis on real estate platforms, including for data centres, industrial and logistics properties, hotels, student accommodation and offices. She worked for A&G for more than nine years.

Ko, who was at A&G for more than eight years, advises industries such as food and beverage, education, healthcare, insurance, construction and fast-moving consumer goods on various matters including venture capital transactions. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

4 August – J Sagar Associates (Bengaluru, India)

Indian law firm J Sagar Associates (JSA) has hired corporate expert Ajay G Prasad as partner in Bengaluru from Kochhar & Co.

Prasad, who joined Kochhar in 2013, was made a partner last year. He earlier worked for PwC, MMB, and Khaitan & Co.

With more than 13 years of experience in M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and reorganisations, business transfers, asset purchases, and other strategic and financial Investments, Prasad advises on foreign inbound and outbound investments, fintech, banking and finance, corporate governance, insolvency and bankruptcy, employment law, and other regulatory matters. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

3 August – Johnson Winter & Slattery (Canberra, Australia)

Australian law firm Johnson Winter & Slattery is opening an office in Canberra and has hired two partners from rival MinterEllison for the launch.

In what the company described as a long-term strategic move, it has hired the recent head of MinterEllison’s foreign investment and trade team, David Moore, and foreign investment and mergers partner Mellissa Lai. and acquisitions of MinterEllison, to staff the new office in the Australian capital. (from duchetridao.com)

3 August – Sidley Austin (Singapore, Singapore)

Investigations and compliance lawyer Shu Min Ho has become the second McDermott Will & Emery Singapore partner to return to Sidley Austin, after a stint that lasted three months.

In April this year, Ho joined McDermott’s Singapore office, which opened in July 2021, along with Yuet Ming Tham, head of Asia-Pacific and Singapore managing partner at Sidley. Tham recently announced that she was returning to Sidley as global co-chair of the white-collar (government litigation and investigations) practice.

Ho, who began her career in 2011 at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, joining Sidley in Hong Kong in 2019. She has experience in cross-border investigations, with a focus on bribery, corruption, fraud, embezzlement and other corporate crime, especially in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

3 August – Ashurst (Tokyo, Japan)

UK law firm Ashurst has hired projects lawyer Tom Wilson as special counsel in Tokyo from Asian Development Bank, where he held an in-house role. Wilson will become a partner once the necessary regulatory approvals are received.

Wilson is Ashurst’s first partner-level lateral hire in Tokyo since it added Alexander Dmitrenko, the former head of Asia sanctions at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, in November last year.

With more than 14 years of experience in cross-border transactional project development and finance with PPP in the Asia-Pacific region, Wilson has advised the governments Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Palau, Pakistan and the Philippines on PPPs in sector such as LNG infrastructure, renewables, utilities, transport and social infrastructure. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

1 August – Kudun and Partners (Bangkok, Thailand)

Emi Rowse Igusa has joined Kudun and Partners as a partner launching a brand new Japan Practice to cater to the burgeoning Japanese legal needs in Thailand. She is a specialist in commercial litigation and international arbitration and has represented numerous clients in arbitration cases under the ICC, LCIA, SIAC and TAI rules. She has extensive experience in advising clients on commercial contracts, shareholder and joint venture disputes, employment law, investigations (corruption, fraud and corporate governance) and competition law. In addition to practicing law, Emi is a professional counselor. She possesses a unique combination of skills as a lawyer and a counselor, allowing her to comprehend the psychology of dispute resolution, an increasingly topical issue in the field. Emi is half Japanese and speaks fluent Japanese.

Emi was previously a senior counsel and of counsel with Herbert Smith Freehills based in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bangkok for over 10 years and Robertsons in Hong Kong as an associate for 7 years. Some of her landmark cases include representing a major Japanese trading house in an arbitration case relating to a dispute over a natural resources project, acting for a high net worth individual in Hong Kong in an arbitration over a family shareholders dispute and representing a major energy company in an arbitration concerning a multi-billion dollar dispute. (from http://www.kap.co.th)

1 August – Norton Rose Fulbright (Brisbane, Australia)

Norton Rose Fulbright has hired an energy and infrastructure partner from DLA Piper amid expectations that work related to renewable energy projects will increase following the election of a new government in Australia.

Kate Muller, who joins the firm’s Brisbane office, advises international and domestic clients across the energy and resources, infrastructure, government and transport sectors, with a primary focus on Australia and Asia. (from http://www.law.com)

1 August – Loeb & Loeb (Hong Kong, China)

Loeb & Loeb is pleased to announce the arrival of Terence Wong as a partner in Hong Kong. Terence joins the firm’s Litigation department and focuses on international commercial arbitration and other dispute resolution mechanisms, such as mediation, expert determination and court proceedings.

With more than 20 years of experience in the region, he has handled disputes for clients throughout Hong Kong, Mainland China, the United States of America, Singapore, England, France, Indonesia, the Middle East, Nigeria, Tanzania and Venezuela. (from http://www.loeb.com)

July

28 July – King & Spalding (Singapore, Singapore)

King & Spalding has appointed a new Singapore managing partner as the firm continues its push to diversify its sector expertise in the city-state.

Debt finance and restructuring partner Andrew Brereton, who joined the firm in 2019, will take on the new role, succeeding project finance lawyer Kelly Malone. (from http://www.law.com)

28 July – Wotton + Kearney (Canberra, Australia)

Wotton + Kearney is opening its eighth office in Canberra, having attracted experienced insurance litigator Catherine Power and her team from Sparke Helmore. The move into Canberra continues the firm’s strong growth trajectory as the largest specialist insurance law firm across Australia and New Zealand.

The eight-strong team, led by Partner Catherine Power, includes Gemma Burke (SC), Cindy Lim (SC), Emma Bozic (SA), Rachel Walls (SA), Denisa Zezulka (Solicitor), Wendy Bradford (Practice Manager) and Sheridan Martin (Legal Admin). The majority of the team join the firm on 1 August 2022 and will move into a new office at 17 Moore St, Canberra in September when the fit-out is complete. (from http://www.wottonkearney.com.au)

21 July – Watson Farley & Williams (Singapore, Singapore)

Watson Farley & Williams has added dispute resolution expert Kimarie Cheang as a partner in Singapore from Incisive Law, where she was director  and head of the China group.

Cheang has 15 years of experience advising on disputes in international trade and transportation, oil and gas including liquefied natural gas, metals and mining, soft commodities, shipbuilding, offshore and construction, and insurance sectors. Her clients include oil majors, national oil companies, state-owned enterprises, mining companies, trading companies, and shipping companies.

Cheang joined Incisive in March 2020, after working at HFW for more than a decade. She was earlier at Singapore law firm Allen & Gledhill.

Cheang is WFW’s second disputes partner hire in Singapore in the past two years. Last August, the firm brought on board Sumeet Malhotra from Hill Dickinson. With her arrival, WFW now has eight partners in the city-state. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

19 July – DSK Legal (Delhi, India)

Indian law firm DSK Legal has hired 63 former lawyers of L&L Partners, including 21 partners. They include Delhi-based senior partners Bobby Chandhoke (L) and Sudhir Sharma.

The news comes just about a year after L&L Partners lost 85 lawyers, including 21 partners, as part of an exodus led by erstwhile equity partner Mohit Saraf, who then set up his own outfit, Saraf and Partners, in three Indian cities.

As for the group headed to DSK, the exits happened after L&L reportedly dissolved its litigation arm, and gave the lawyers the option of leaving or joining the firm’s existing corporate arm under a unified structure. L&L also recently acquired the disputes practice of Verus, led by partner Krishnayan Sen.

The partners joining DSK specialise in a range of practice areas, including dispute resolution, competition and antitrust, employment, international trade, corporate/M&A, intellectual property, and fintech.

Apart from Sharma and Chandhoke, the partners are Abdullah Hussain, Akhil Anand, Altaf Fathima, Anant Garg, Ashish Chandra, Deepali Chandhoke, Durga Bose Gandham, Kanika Chaudhary Nayar, Kunal Mehra, Mohit Bakshi, Pradyuman Dubey, Prashant Mishra, Prashant Pakhiddey, Saleem Hasan Ansari, Saurabh Tiwari, Shiv Sapra, Subhash Bhutoria, Suyash Srivastava, and Tarun Dua. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

19 July – Trilegal (Delhi, India)

Indian law firm Trilegal has hired competition expert Rudresh Singh as a partner in Delhi from L&L Partners.

The news of Singh leaving L&L comes around the time that the firm saw some 63 of its lawyers, including 21 partners, exit and join DSK Legal, including partners Bobby Chandhoke and Sudhir Sharma.

Singh advises on competition law, antitrust and merger control matters, representing private equity and other institutional investors. He joined L&L in 2013, and was named as a partner in 2020. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

18 July – Sidley Austin (Singapore, Singapore)

Life sciences expert Yuet Ming Tham has rejoined Sidley Austin with her team of three lawyers after just five months at McDermott Will & Emery in Singapore.

Tham confirmed her move in a post on her LinkedIn profile. She returns to Sidley in the same capacity as when she departed the firm in April. (from http://www.law.com)

18 July – Gilbert + Tobin (Melbourne, Australia)

Australian law firm Gilbert + Tobin hired K&L Gates partner Zac Kerr, who joins the firm in Melbourne.

Kerr was global co-head of construction and infrastructure at K&L Gates, advising on projects and infrastructure transactions globally, particularly in Australia and Asia. (from http://www.law.com)

15 July – BeiGene (Beijing, China)

A former in-house legal leader for Sanofi and Pfizer is joining BeiGene as the global biotech company’s general counsel.

Chan Lee will take over as Beijing-based BeiGene’s top lawyer on July 18. He succeeds Scott Samuels, BeiGene’s first-ever legal chief and in-house lawyer who joined the company in 2017 and built its global legal and compliance team. (from http://www.law.com)

14 July – Siam Premier (Bangkok, Thailand)

Bangkok-based law firm Siam Premier International Law Office has hired corporate specialist Maythawee Sarathai as a partner from Hunton Andrews Kurth.

Maythawee advises on domestic and cross-border financing, M&A, general corporate and commercial matters, distressed debt situations including settlement, recovery and enforcement strategies, and business and asset re-organisation. He joined Hunton Andrews Kurth last year following nearly 24 years at Mayer Brown. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

13 July – Sidley Austin (Singapore, Singapore)

Sidley Austin has hired a Hong Kong-based Goodwin Procter private equity partner for its Singapore base.

Daniel Lindsey, who specializes in private equity deals, joins the firm’s partnership in Singapore this month. He joined Goodwin in 2018 from Kirkland which he joined in 2016 from Linklaters. He has been based in Asia since 2012 having previously been based in London. (from http://www.law.com)

13 July – Mishcon de Reya (Singapore, Singapore)

UK law firm Mishcon de Reya has hired aviation specialist Ethan Tan in Singapore as partner and head of its Asia aviation practice from Reed Smith, where he was a counsel.

Tan has expertise in aviation finance, operating leases, finance leases, commercial lending, ECA-backed lending, OEM purchase orders, aircraft secured bonds, ABSs, hedging, asset-driven M&A, aviation JVs, MRO contracts, restructuring, enforcement and repossession, private jets, aircraft trading, and commercial disputes. His clients include airlines, lessors, banks and investors. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

13 July – Argus Partners (Delhi, India)

Indian law firm Argus Partners has welcomed corporate experts Jitendra Soni and Namitha Mathews as partners in Delhi, with Mathews becoming its fifth hire from Algo Legal in about a month.

Last month, Argus hired four partners, namely Abhinav Bhalaik and Armaan Patkar in Mumbai, Ankit Guha in Bengaluru, and Neha Madan in Delhi, from Algo Legal, which is currently embroiled in a defamation lawsuit against its former client Sequoia Capital, among others. Argus also hired Bhavya Mohan as a partner in Bengaluru in June.

Soni is experienced in corporate and M&A, private equity, venture capital, technology and data privacy, and advises both traditional and emerging technology companies. Until April this year, he was at DSK Legal, prior to which he worked for Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, AZB & Partners, and Gnarus Partners.

Meanwhile, Mathews has more than 15 years of experience in litigation, dispute resolution and corporate advisory. She focuses on civil law, corporate law, private estate law, alternative dispute, real estate, infrastructure, property laws, education and white-collar issues. Mathews joined Algo Legal in 2020 from Samvid Legal, a law firm she founded in 2017. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

7 July – Howse Williams (Hong Kong, China)

Hong Kong firm Howse Williams has hired Alan Yip as partner and head of its real estate practice from Mayer Brown, where he had been a partner since 2010.

Yip is Howse William’s fourth lateral partner hire in recent months after Jovanne Zee – another property law expert – insurance specialist Gary Chow, and corporate lawyer William Wong.

Yip advises on land compulsory sale applications, residential first-hand sale legislation compliance, project conveyancing, strategic acquisitions for redevelopment purpose, commercial real estate building plans and town planning legal issues, property-related litigation, government leases, leasing projects, stamp duty legal advice and PRC real estate projects and acquisitions. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

7 July – Allen & Gledhill (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

The Ho Chi Minh City office of Singapore law firm Allen & Gledhill has hired corporate and banking expert Phuong Tran as a partner. Tran was most recently deputy head of legal at Vietnamese conglomerate Masan Group.

Prior to joining Masan Group in October last year, Tran spent more than six years at the Singapore office of Vietnamese law firm YKVN, becoming a partner in 2020. He earlier worked for Allen & Overy, VILAF, and Kim & Chang.

Tran’s practice areas include banking and finance, capital markets, corporate and commercial, and M&A. He has experience in corporate matters such as structure advice, due diligence, negotiation, documentation, and regulatory advice, involving industries such as including real estate, securities, pharmaceutical, education, power and energy, and insurance. He also has experience in international arbitration. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

6 July – Atlas Asia Law Corporation (Singapore, Singapore)

Atlas Asia Law Corporation (AALC), EY’s Singapore law firm, has hired corporate expert Liew Lan Hing as a director from casino developer and operator Genting Singapore, where she was general counsel and senior vice-president.

Her hire shortly comes after AALC lost eight lawyers, including three directors, to Dentons Rodyk. The directors included founder and managing director Evelyn Ang, who rejoined Dentons Rodyk as senior partner.

With more than two decades of experience in capital markets and M&A, Liew advises on corporate and commercial matters and compliance. Before joining Genting, she was at law firms Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow and Rajah & Tann. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

6 July – Trilegal (Mumbai, India)

Indian law firm Trilegal will hire corporate expert Pranav Atit as partner in Mumbai from AZB & Partners, with Atit set to start it in his new role in the next few months.

Since last year, Trilegal has hired five partners from AZB, including Sai Krishna Bharathan, Shivani Kabra, Pallabi Ghosal and Vivek Bajaj in late 2021, and Richa Choudhary in March.

With more than 10 years of experience in cross-border M&A and private equity (PE), Atit advises PE sponsors and investors on public and private M&A deals, including Reliance Industries and Apax. He has particular expertise in the information technology and infrastructure sectors. Additionally, Atit also advises on securities laws and offshore flip structures. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)

5 July – Park Arbitration Chambers (Seoul, Korea)

Kim & Chang’s veteran partner and co-founder of its international arbitration practice, Eun Young Park, has retired from the Big Six South Korean firm, to set up his own practice, Park Arbitration Chambers.

Park has been at Kim & Chang for over 25 years and prior to that served as a judge on the country’s district courts for two years. He was also a Judge Advocate at the South Korean Ministry of National Defence for four years until 1994. (from http://www.law.com)

4 July – King & Wood Mallesons (Melbourne, Australia)

Partners continue to depart Norton Rose Fulbright in Australian, with energy partner Jo Crew leaving to join King & Wood Mallesons.

Melbourne-based Crew was a senior partner and head of NRF’s Australian projects and construction team, and co-head of the firm’s Australian energy, infrastructure and resources sector team. (from http://www.law.com)

1 July – Clayton Utz (Canberra, Australia)

Australian law firm Clayton Utz added a digital, data and technology law specialist to its partnership with the hire of a lawyer from Ashurst.

Robert Dearn, who was previously an associate at Ashurst, joins Clayton Utz’s public-sector practice in Canberra. (from http://www.law.com)

1 July – Dentons Rodyk (Singapore, Singapore)

Singapore Big Five Law Firm Dentons Rodyk are today announcing the arrival of senior corporate lawyers Evelyn Ang and Emily Low. Together with six other lawyers, they join Dentons Rodyk from Big Four accounting firm EY’s Singapore law practice, Atlas Asia Law Corporation (AALC). The news follows Dentons’ recently launched combination with leading Vietnamese law firm LuatViet, as the Firm pursues its goal of being the leading pan-ASEAN law firm.

Dentons Rodyk is also delighted to welcome AALC’s former Director Glenda Lee as Partner, to the firm. Like Evelyn, Glenda begins her second chapter at Dentons Rodyk in the M&A practice, having left initially in 2018 for AALC. (from dentons.rodyk.com)