Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list.
MARCH 2020
30 March – Dentons (Melbourne, Australia)
Dentons has hired a commercial litigation partner from DLA Piper for its Melbourne, Australia, office to quickly meet client demand for recovery and restructuring advice.
25 March – Bowers (Hong Kong, China)
Disputes lawyer Kevin Bowers, a co-founder of the legacy Howse Williams Bowers and former partner of Reed Smith Richards Butler, will be setting up his own firm in Hong Kong called Bowers.
24 March – K&L Gates (Melbourne, Australia)
K&L Gates has hired capital markets partner Harry Kingsley and two other lawyers from an Australian firm as it continues to build its corporate practice in Australia.
23 March – Baker McKenzie.Wong & Partners (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Wong & Partners, member firm of Baker McKenzie International in Malaysia, has strengthened its Antitrust & Competition team by welcoming back Lydia Kong as a partner. The Firm has also expanded its China Outbound practice with the appointment of Addy Herg as a partner. Addy joins effective immediately, while Lydia returns on 6 April 2020.
17 March – Ashurst (Hong Kong, China)
Ashurst has recruited a corporate partner in Hong Kong from DLA Piper—part of an effort to expand its transactions capabilities and develop its brand in North Asia.
16 March – King & Wood Mallesons (Singapore, Singapore)
Global law firm KWM is expanding its offering in Singapore with the appointment of M&A partner, Jake Robson from Morrison & Foerster.
16 March – J. Sagar Associates (India)
J. Sagar Associates (JSA) has elected Arka Mookerjee, Probir Roy Choudhury and Tony Verghese to partnership with effect from April 1, 2020. The firm will now have 37 equity partners.
11 March – DWF (Melbourne, Australia)
U.K.-listed law business DWF has hired a team of three information technology and telecommunications lawyers, including a partner from a local Australian firm. Alex Ninis joins DWF’s Melbourne office as a principal lawyer, the firm’s equivalent of a partner, along with senior associate Marcus Hannah and solicitor Serpil Bilgic—all from mid-tier firm Macpherson Kelley.
11 March – White & Case (Singapore)
White & Case has hired banking specialist Charles McConnell as a local partner in Singapore from Linklaters, where he was a counsel.
11 March – Gall (Hong Kong, China)
Gall, a leading independent Hong Kong law firm focusing primarily on dispute resolution, announced today the promotion of Kenix Yuen from Consultant to Partner. The promotion takes place with immediate effect.
11 March – Hui Ye Law Firm (Shenzhen, China)
Shanghai-headquartered Hui Ye Law Firm has bolstered its Shenzhen office with the addition of three new partners. Deng Qing joins the firm from Tiantong & Partners’s Shenzhen office, where he specialised in dispute resolution, banking and finance. Wang Wenbing worked previously at Dentons’ Shenzhen office. He focuses on the disposal of non-performing assets, criminal defense and criminal compliance, advising companies on issues of cross-border finance, financial leases, real estate and shareholder disputes. Finally, Huang Zhipeng joins from Guangdong Fu Qun Law Firm and is an expert in intellectual property and commercial litigation. This development marks the further expansion of Hui Ye’s business in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
9 March – Johnson Winter & Slattery (Brisbane, Australia)
Peter Smith was formerly head of Herbert Smith Freehills’ Australian restructuring, turnaround and insolvency practice, and had been at HSF for two decades.
6 March – Bird & Bird(Singapore, Singapore)
Bird & Bird has brought in Jeremy Tan, the technology and communications practice head of CMS’ Formal Law Alliance Firm Holborn Law, as a partner in Singapore.
5 March – Twelve Tables Law Firm (Beijing, China)
Beijing-based boutique IP law firm Twelve Tables Law Firm has hired Yang Li and Tao Jiang as partners, both joining from another IP firm Lung Tin Law Firm. According to a press release, both Li and Jiang specialise in patent prosecution and litigation.
5 March – Hylands Law Firm (Beijing, China)
Beijing-based Hylands Law Firm has hired Xia Guorong and Zhu Weina as partners in its head office.
4 March – Bird & Bird (Singapore, Singapore)
Bird & Bird has brought in Jeremy Tan, the technology and communications practice head of CMS’ Formal Law Alliance Firm Holborn Law, as a partner in Singapore.
4 March – Helmsman (Singapore, Singapore)
Shipping-focused Singapore law firm Helmsman has recruited disputes expert Maureen Poh as a director from Ince, where she was a partner.
4 March – Watson Farley & Williams (Singapore, Singapore)
Corporate partner Damian Adams has left Simmons & Simmons to rejoin Watson Farley & Williams in Singapore.
4 March – HSA Advocates (Mumbai, India)
HSA adds its third lateral this year with Mumbai corporate hire.
4 March – Allen & Overy (Hong Kong)
International law firm Bird & Bird grows its Tech & Comms sector group with the appointment of technology lawyer Jeremy Tan as a partner in Singapore and Gigi Cheah as a senior consultant for the Asia Pacific region.
4 March – Boss & Young (Shanghai, China)
Shanghai-based law firm Boss & Young Attorneys At Law has hired six partners and their teams in its head office, aiming to strengthen the firm’s services in areas of maritime, criminal and commercial dispute resolution in the future. Li Feng and Luo Hongbin, both from local firm Sg & Co PRC Lawyers, join as international partner and dispute resolution partner, respectively. Jiang Zhihang and Wang Xian both join as criminal practice partners and they both came from local River Delta Law Firm. Meanwhile Fu Xia and Zhong Wei are joining as dispute resolution partners.
3 March – Kennedys (Singapore, Singapore)
We (Kennedys) are pleased to confirm that we have strengthened our Singapore litigation practice by hiring Glenn G. Cheng from K&L Gates Straits Law LLC.
3 March – Gadens (Sydney, Australia)
Gadens has appointed Mark Pistilli as the new Chief Executive Officer of its Melbourne and Sydney partnership. Mark joins Gadens from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he was a legal partner on PwC’s legal leadership team and practising across corporate and commercial matters including in M&A, strategic Boardroom advisory, major projects and litigation strategy. Mark was a founding (and a managing) partner of Clifford Chance in Australia and its predecessor firm Chang, Pistilli & Simmons. (from https://www.gadens.com)
February 2020
February – Chinese Law Firms (Beijing/Shanghai, China)
Boss & Young, Han Kun Law Offices, Haiwen & Partners, Hylands Law, and Jingtian & Gongcheng Firm have made a range of partner hires in recent weeks despite disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak. New partners join firms in Beijing and Shanghai from KPMG, Allen & Overy, and other domestic firms as lawyers in China gradually resume work.
27 February – Clifford Chance (Tokyo, Japan)
Leading international law firm Clifford Chance announced today that Michihiro Nishi will join its Corporate practice as a partner in Tokyo. Michihiro has extensive corporate experience advising private equity funds and public companies on investments, corporate governance, disclosure and stock exchange matters.
26 February – Bird & Bird (Singapore, Singapore)
International law firm Bird & Bird grows its Tech & Comms sector group with the appointment of technology lawyer Jeremy Tan as a partner in Singapore and Gigi Cheah as a senior consultant for the Asia Pacific region.
26 February – Duane Morris & Selvam (Singapore, Singapore)
Duane Morris & Selvam, the Singapore joint law venture of Duane Morris, has boosted its capital markets practice with the hire of Jonathan Crandall as a director from Clifford Chance’s London office.
26 February – HSA Advocates (Delhi, India)
India’s HSA Advocates has brought real estate expert Amaresh Kumar Singh on board as a partner in Delhi from L&L Partners, the most recent lateral partner hire in a 12-month blitz for the firm.
25 February – Experian India (Mumbai, India)
Ex-AZB’s Ami Parikh joins credit checkers Experian India as head legal and compliance.
25 February – Jones Day (Hong Kong, China)
The global firm Jones Day announces that Samuel Ngo has joined the Firm’s Global Disputes Practice as a partner in its Hong Kong Office.
25 February – Russell McVeagh (Auckland, New Zealand)
Kirsten spent her time overseas working at international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills in London, where she made partner 10 years ago. Before she moved to London in 2004, Kirsten was an associate in Russell McVeagh’s litigation team.
21 February – Company Giles (Sydney, Australia)
High profile litigator Rebekah Giles has left global law firm Kennedys to establish her own reputational risk and disputes practice.
20 February – Baker McKenzie (Seoul, Korea)
Baker McKenzie has recruited a former Orrick’s Of Counsel, Jae-Hyon Ahn as a project finance partner in Seoul, South Korea.
19 February – KPMG (Bangkok, Thailand)
KPMG has launched its end-to-end legal services arm in Thailand with a team of more than 50 legal staff, including 25 licensed lawyers with diverse industry experience.
19 February – Jingtian & Gongcheng (Guangzhou, China)
Jingtian & Gongcheng Launches Guangzhou Office With 6-Partner Team Hire. A team of 11 lawyers join from prominent shipping firm Wang Jing & Co. as well as Stephenson Harwood’s China affiliate firm.
19 February – Baker McKenzie (Melbourne, Australia)
Baker McKenzie Hires Melbourne Banking Lawyer From KWM. Charlie Detmold has represented banks, borrowers and sponsors. He joins the firm at a time of increasing client demand for banking and finance services in Australia.
19 February – BlackOak (Singapore, Singapore)
Singapore’s BlackOak has hired restructuring and insolvency specialist Debby Lim as a director from local firm Shook Lin & Bok, where she was an equity partner.
17 February – Hogan Lovells (Sydnesy, Australia)
Hogan Lovells announced today that Bryan Paisley will be joining the firm as a partner in the Finance practice later this month, based in the Sydney office. He will be joining from Baker McKenzie in Sydney where he has been a partner for 13 years. Prior to joining Bakers, Bryan worked at Lovells (as it then was) in the London office from 1997 to 2005 including a secondment in Frankfurt in 2000 following the Boesebeck Droste merger.
17 February – King & Wood Mallesons (Hong Kong)
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is pleased to announce the continued expansion of our capital markets practice in Hong Kong with the addition of Jason T. Kuo, who joins as counsel.
17 February – Hall & Wilcox (Sydney, Australia)
Leading independent business law firm Hall & Wilcox has expanded its technology and digital economy and corporate and commercial expertise with the appointment of partner John Gray to the firm’s Sydney office.
14 February – Norton Rose Fulbright (London, UK)
Norton Rose Fulbright has appointed London partner Peter Scott as the firm’s next managing partner for Europe, Middle East and Asia.
13 February – Watson Farley (Hong Kong, China)
Watson Farley & Williams has strengthened its finance practice in Hong Kong with the hire of Khin Voong as a partner from King and Wood Mallesons, where he was a counsel.
12 February – Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (Delhi, India)
Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM) has hired Platinum Partners lawyer Vijay Pratap Singh Chauhan as a partner in its competition team, based in Delhi, according to the firm’s press release.
12 February – Carey Olsen (Hong Kong, China)
Channel Islands-headquartered Carey Olsen has hired litigator Jeremy Lightfoot as a partner in Hong Kong from fellow offshore firm Campbells.
11 February – Ince (Hong Kong, China)
International legal and professional services firm Ince has today announced the appointment of Zhao Rong Ooi, a seasoned commercial litigator, as a new Partner in its Hong Kong office. This appointment highlights the firm’s commitment to further expand its dispute resolution practice across the region.
10 February – J Sagar Associates (Mumbai, India)
Shafaq Uraizee Sapre has joined J. Sagar Associates as a retained partner in the Mumbai office. Sapre will be part of Sandeep Mehta’s team in Mumbai.
10 February – Pinsent Masons (Beijing, China)
International law firm Pinsent Masons has hired Kanyi Lui into its Beijing office to expand the firm’s finance offering in China and across Asia.
9 February – Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited (Mumbai, China)
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (SAM) Mumbai capital markets partner Kaushik Mukherjee has joined Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited as president legal.
7 February – Clyde & Co (Melbourne, Australia)
Global law firm Clyde & Co has announced the hire of three partners from Norton Rose Fulbright. Nicole Wearne, Ganga Narayanan and Mark Attard will join the firm’s Melbourne office as partners. Their practice focuses on contentious and non-contentious insurance work in the areas of professional indemnity, Royal Commission and inquiries, class action defence and coverage claims work, D&O, life insurance, general liability, property, healthcare, personal injury, contentious regulatory response and risk advisory.
4 February – Haiwen & Partners (Shanghai, China)
Haiwen & Partners has hired Taoye Ye as international partner in its Shanghai office from Allen & Overy, where she was counsel.
4 February – Norton Rose Fulbright (Brisbane, Australia)
Ren Niemann will join as a major projects, construction and government partner in Brisbane in April 2020.
3 February – Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow (Singapore, Singapore)
Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow, the member firm of Baker McKenzie International in Singapore, is expanding its Competition practice with the strategic appointments of Harikumar (“Hari”) Sukumar Pillay as principal and Lip Hang Poh as competition economist.
January 2020
30 January – Harneys (Hong Kong & Singapore)
Offshore law firm Harneys has named Hong Kong partner Paula Kay as its head of litigation for Asia and named Lishi Fong as managing partner of its Singapore office.
28 January – Audent Chambers (Singapore, Singapore)
Former managing partner of Cavenagh Law and global partner of Clifford Chance, Senior Counsel Harpreet Singh Nehal, and counsel Jordan Tan, formerly also from Cavenagh Law and Clifford Chance, have launched their disputes practice Audent Chambers LLC and plan to attract young lawyers by introducing a work-anywhere, no-fixed-hours, no-dress-code, unlimited-leave work culture.
23 January – Mills Oakley (Sydney, Australia)
Australian firm Mills Oakley has hired real estate specialist Richard Cohen from Norton Rose Fulbright, where he will be a partner.
22 January – DLA Piper (Singapore, Singapore)
Anglo-American firm DLA Piper has added David Kuo as a partner in its Singapore office from Milbank.
16 January – Mayer Brown (Hong Kong, China)
Amita Kaur Haylock is a partner in the IP & TMT group of Mayer Brown in Hong Kong. Amita’s practice focuses on litigating intellectual property, competition and commercial disputes across a broad range of industries. Amita also advises on telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology matters.
16 January – Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (Hong Kong, China)
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce that Brian Gilchrist and Elaine Chen will join the firm’s Hong Kong office. They will focus on disputes, including high-end litigation in the Hong Kong courts, arbitration and contentious financial regulatory matters.
15 January – Eversheds Harry Elias (Singapore, Singapore)
Eversheds Harry Elias recruits former Baker McKenzie Partner in Singapore and has strengthened its disputes practice after hiring former Baker McKenzie partner Weiyi Tan.
13 January – Han Kun (Hong Kong, China)
Han Kun’s Hong Kong associated law firm has hired Angela Cui as partner from King & Wood Malleson’s Hong Kong office where she was counsel.
13 January – Paul Hastings (Hong Kong, China)
Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global lawShaun Wu firm, announced today that Shaun Wu has joined the firm’s Investigations and White Collar Defense practice as a partner in Asia.
13 January – DWF (Singapore, Singapore)
Manchester-headquartered law firm DWF has hired Indonesia specialist Joel Shen as a partner in Singapore from Stephenson Harwood, where he was a counsel.
10 January – CMS (Hong Kong, China)
International law firm CMS is continuing its Hong Kong expansion with the appointment of a 3-strong Intellectual Property (IP) team. Partner Jonathan Chu joins associated Hong Kong firm Lau, Horton & Wise LLP, together with senior associates Mengyi Chen and Candy Tong, strengthening CMS’ IP offering across Asia-Pacific. Jonathan and his team join from Stephenson Harwood.
9 January – Sidley Austin (Singapore, Singapore)
Sidley Austin has hired M&A lawyer Parthiv Rishi as a partner in Singapore from Linklaters, where he spent more than 15 years, and most recently led that firm’s private equity practice in Southeast Asia.
9 January – CNPLaw (Singapore, Singapore)
CNPLaw ushers in the new decade and grows to 18 partners with the addition of Ms Cinda Sim and Ms Wong Pei-Ling
8 January – Herbert Smith Freehills (Hong Kong, China)
Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed Asia managing partner Justin D’Agostino as its next chief executive officer based in Hong Kong.
8 January – Eversheds Sutherland (Hong Kong, China)
Eversheds Sutherland has added litigation and disputes lawyer Wesley Pang as a partner in Hong Kong from the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), where he was managing counsel.
7 January – Withers KhattarWong (Singapore, Singapore)
Withers KhattarWong LLP, the Singapore office of international law firm Withers, has boosted its Technology and Intellectual Property (IP) capabilities in Singapore with the hire of partner Jonathan Kok.
6 January – Hogan Lovells (Hong Kong, China)
Hogan Lovells announced today that Jonathan Leitch will join the firm’s Finance practice today, as a restructuring and insolvency partner in the Hong Kong office. Leitch is recognised as a leading practitioner in APME with a broad practice in advising all types of stakeholders in the restructuring and insolvency of financially challenged companies.
6 January – Dechert (Singapore, Singapore)
Dechert has hired Maria Tan Pedersen as a partner in its Singapore office, in a bid to expand and strengthen its corporate and securities practice in the region, its said on Monday.