Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list.
March 2021
31 Mar – Linklaters (Hong Kong, China)
Linklaters has appointed William Liu as its new Regional Managing Partner, Asia for a period of four years from 1 June 2021. William succeeds Nathalie Hobbs who has completed her term in the role and will work closely with William during a handover period. (from http://www.linklaters.com)
25 Mar – LAW Partnership (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Malaysian firm LAW Partnership, which specialises in IP and disputes, has strengthened its corporate offering after hiring Raphael Tay as the head of its corporate and commercial practice in Kuala Lumpur from Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill. Tay, who has more than three decades of experience, focuses on domestic and cross-border M&A and information and technology practice. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
24 Mar – Corrs Chambers Westgarth (Melbourne, Australia)
Australian corporate law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth has hired a former advisor to the government’s industrial relations minister and former industrial court judge as a partner. Graeme Watson, who will join the firm’s Melbourne office, was most recently an advisor to Attorney General and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter and previously vice president of the Fair Work Commission. (from http://www.law.com)
23 Mar – Bitmain Technologies (Hong Kong, China)
Shearman & Sterling’s Hong Kong corporate partner Max Hua has left the firm to join Bitmain Technologies. Beijing-based Bitmain designs integrated circuit chips for bitcoin mining. The company, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency mining equipment maker, has previously filed for initial public offerings both in Hong Kong and the U.S. but both attempts fell through. (from http://www.law.com)
22 Mar – Deacons (Hong Kong, China)
Deacons, Hong Kong’s largest local firm, has hired family law expert Sherlynn Chan as a partner in its litigation and disputes practice from city rival Stevenson, Wong & Co. Chan, who has been in the legal industry for more than two decades, focuses on matrimonial cases, family-related financial disputes, children’s custody and wardship proceedings. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
19 Mar – Dentons (Brisbane, Australia)
Dentons has hired an insolvency partner from a local Australian firm as the global law firm says it plans to expand further into Australia this year. Claire Petersen joins from local firm Lavan Legal, where she was a consultant, and will start in Dentons’ Brisbane office on May 4. (from http://www.law.com)
18 Mar – HBA Legal (Brisbane, Australia)
DWF’s former Australia managing partner Jamie McPherson has joined local firm HBA Legal to launch its occupational health and safety practice, the latest of several DWF lawyers likely to be seeking new jobs as the firm cuts back on its legal service offerings in Australia. DWF said it plans to scale back in Australia, discontinuing legal services in Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle and shedding 14 partners, leaving it with only four. (from http://www.law.com)
18 Mar – S&R Associates (Mumbai, India)
Capital markets lawyer Jitesh Shahani has joined India’s S&R Associates as a partner in Mumbai from L&L Partners. Shahani, who has more than a decade of experience in the industry, advises on equity and debt capital markets transactions. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
18 Mar – Merits & Tree (Beijing, China)
Merits & Tree has hired Li Bin partner in its Beijing office from Tian Tong Law Firm. Li’s practice area includes dispute resolution, government regulation and compliance, anti-monopoly and competition. Li also has extensive experience in legal artificial intelligence and data intelligence. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
15 Mar – Gadens (Melbourne, Australia)
Another principal lawyer has left global law firm DWF in the wake of the U.K.-listed firm’s announcement that it would shed the majority of its Australian partners. Planning and environment partner Andrea Towson leaves DWF’s Melbourne office to join national firm Gadens and will focus on planning, development and environment. She has extensive experience in running large and complex planning and environment litigation relating to development and regulatory approvals, the rezoning of land and compulsory acquisition, Gadens said. (from http://www.law.com)
15 Mar – Watson Farley & Williams (Sydney, Australia & Singapore)
There’s been a major shake-up in the Asia-Pacific hotel legal sector, with top lawyers Robert Williams, Kate Switajewski, Chris Greiner and Lada Shelkovnikova departing Withers Worldwide for one the globe’s most highly regarded firms, Watson Farley & Williams (WFW). (from http://www.hotelmanagement.com.au)
12 Mar – Linklaters (Hong Kong, China)
Linklaters bolsters Asia private equity capacity with 2 partner hires. M&A lawyer Xiaoxi Lin joins from Kirkland & Ellis, while finance partner Alessandro Nolet moves from White & Case’s Milan office. (from http://www.law.com)
11 Mar – Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (Hong Kong, China)
Cathay Pacific General Counsel, Paul Chow, jumps to Hong Kong Stock Exchange. He was a former partner at Davis Polk, Linklaters and Slaughter and May. (from http://www.law.com)
10 Mar – Allens (Hanoi, Vietnam)
Australian law firm Allens has added another partner to its Vietnam offices, with the appointment of M&A and energy partner Giles Cooper from U.S. firm Duane Morris. (from http://www.law.com)
10 Mar – Clifford Chance (Hong Kong, China)
Clifford Chance has strengthened its disputes practice in Hong Kong with the hire of two partners. Soo Khim Keoy and Jonathan Wong join from Withers and Freshfields, respectively. (from http://www.law.com)
10 Mar – Herbert Smith Freehills (Sydney, Australia)
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has elected seasoned corporate lawyer Rebecca Maslen-Stannage as the new chair of the global council and a senior partner at the firm. (from http://www.thelawyermag.com)
9 Mar – L&L Partners (Delhi, India)
India’s L&L Partners has hired Amrita Tonk, Sidhartha Barua, and Girish Rawat as partners in Delhi.
Joining the litigation practice is Barua, who has represented clients before the Supreme Court of India. He was a partner at both AZB & Partners and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas before establishing his own practice in 2017.
Joining the litigation practice is Tonk, who had worked with L&L as an associate in 2010. She served as a Metropolitan Magistrate in Delhi between 2013 and 2018, during which time she presided over 26,000 summary and summons triable matters.
Banking and finance specialist Rawat, who has more than a decade of experience, joins from Dhir & Dhir Associates. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
9 Mar – Squire Patton Boggs (Singapore, Singapore)
Squire Hires Eversheds’ head of public international law in Singapore. Eversheds Sutherland senior partner Rodman Bundy, a renowned international law expert, has joined Squire Patton Boggs in Singapore to bolster its dispute resolution practice as the firm continues its efforts to boost its presence in the city-state. (from http://www.law.com)
8 Mar – Withers (Singapore, Singapore)
Withers has added an M&A partner, Joel Shen, in Singapore to tap venture capital investment in Southeast Asia. (from http://www.law.com)
4 Mar – Clyde & Co (Australia & Hong Kong)
Clyde & Co has hired Norton Rose Fulbright insurance partner Jacques Jacobs in Sydney—the latest in a stream of partners to leave Norton Rose in Australia in recent months. (from http://www.law.com)
Clyde & Co had added aviation finance expert Stuart Miller as a partner in Hong Kong from Mayer Brown, where he spent nearly a decade. This is Clyde’s second partner hire in Hong Kong in a span of days following the addition of disputes expert Rachael Shek from Eversheds Sutherland. With more than 20 years of experience, Miller has expertise in cross-border aircraft finance, leasing and trading. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
4 Mar – Zico Insights Law (Singapore, Singapore)
Zico Insights Law, the ZICO Law network’s Singapore member firm, has hired corporate expert Jeremiah Huang as a director from RHTLaw, where he was a partner. With more than a decade’s experience, Huang focuses on capital markets, corporate finance, M&A, funds and post-IPO corporate governance and compliance issues. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
4 Mar – Christopher & Lee Ong (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Rajah & Tann Asia’s Malaysia member firm, Christopher & Lee Ong (CLO), has hired Chua See Hua as a partner and co-head of its restructuring and insolvency team. Chua, who commenced practice in 1986, 1986, earlier worked with law firms Skrine, Raslan Loong and the Hong Kong office of Simmons & Simmons. She was also previously a general counsel of Ernst & Young in Hong Kong. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
3 Mar – Ashurst (Sydney, Australia)
Ashurst expands consulting business with five-partner Big Four hiring spree in Australia. Ashurst has expanded its consulting business with the arrival of five new partners in Australia citing increased client demand for its legal-led consultancy services in areas such as tech and cyber risk since the unit launched in June last year. The new hires include Deloitte’s former global leader of cyber and strategic risk, Sid Maharaj, who will cover cyber, strategy and reputational risk in Sydney. He will be joined in Sydney by Tony Morris, Elena Lambros and Philip Hope and in Melbourne by Melina Sehr. (from http://www.globallegalpost.com)
3 Mar – Linklaters (Hong Kong, China)
Linklaters has appointed Hwang Hwa Sim as Global Practice Head – Capital Markets for a four year term. He will succeed Michael Voisin whose tenure in the role ends on the 30th of April this year. Hong Kong SAR-based Hwang Hwa was promoted as a capital markets partner with Linklaters in 2010. He advises issuers, underwriters and investors on the full range of debt, equity and equity-linked products in China and Asia. (from http://www.linklaters.com)
2 Mar – DLA Piper (Perth, Australia)
Global law firm DLA Piper announces that M&A and ECM Corporate specialist James Nicholls joins the firm’s Perth office, effective 3 March 2021. James joins DLA Piper as a lateral hire from international firm Allen & Overy, where he was a Special Counsel specialising in M&A and corporate law, ECM transactions and Head Office regulatory advice. James assists both domestic and foreign companies in successfully implementing inorganic value solutions, predominantly in the Energy & Resources sector. (from http://www.dlapiper.com)
2 Mar – King & Wood Mallesons (Singapore, Singapore)
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) has added a cross-border disputes partner, Amanda Lees, in Singapore, its fourth partner hire in the city in the last year and a half. (from http://www.law.com)
2 Mar – Cooley (Shanghai, China)
Cooley has recruited a new partner in Shanghai who focuses on biotech and life science deals. Yiming Liu is currently counsel with O’Melveny & Myers. He’s worked on several Hong Kong listings of Chinese biopharmaceutical companies in the past year. Most recently, he was part of a team that advised Jacobio Pharmaceuticals Co. on a $174 million Hong Kong initial public offering in December. In addition, he participated in at least four more Hong Kong listings of Chinese biotech companies in 2020. (from http://www.law.com)
2 Mar – Skrine (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Malaysian law firm Skrine has hired Islamic finance lawyers Sharifah Shafika Alsagoff and Hafidah Aman Hashim as partners in Kuala Lumpur from Mohamed Ridza & Co. Shafika, who will head the firm’s Islamic investments and capital markets practice, has more than 25 years of experience advising on retail and corporate Islamic finance, project bonds, restructurings, real estate and regulatory issues.
Hafidah, who also counsels on real estate and corporate advisory, predominantly focuses her practice on Islamic finance and capital markets and Shariah financing. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
1 Mar – Dentons (Perth, Australia)
Global law firm Dentons has hired one partner and four lawyers from a Perth-based practice for its recovery and restructuring team. Dentons has appointed John Park – who has over 20 years of experience in litigation, property development and construction – as a partner in its recovery and restructuring team in Perth. (from http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au)
1 Mar – EY (Sydney, Australia)
EY Law has bolstered its legal function, consulting and legal managed services capabilities in Australia with the hire of partner Jon Kenton, who joins from alternative legal services provider Elevate. (from http://www.law.com)
1 Mar – Trilegal (Mumbai, India)
Indian firm Trilegal has hired capital markets partner Richa Choudhary from AZB & Partners, one of India’s largest law firms. (from http://www.law.com)
1 Mar – DLA Piper (Hong Kong, China)
DLA Piper has hired a Hong Kong partner focusing on capital markets deals. Arthur Tso joins from Kirkland & Ellis where he was a partner advising Chinese companies on Hong Kong listings. (from http://www.law.com)
February 2021
26 Feb – Broad & Bright (Shanghai, China)
Broad & Bright has hired Louis Meng as a partner from Blank Rome, where he was a partner head of the Firm’s Greater China Practice, and chief representative of the Shanghai office. Meng has expertise in cross-border M&A, private equity, venture capital, IPO and reversed takeover, blockchain and issuance of securities, establishment of private funds in RMB or US dollar, FDI, transaction of non-performing assets or loans, real-estate finance, structure finance and other cross-border transactions. With 25-years’ experience practicing in China, Meng has advised a number of domestic and foreign companies and financial institutes. He has also assisted many Chinese enterprises to operate business in the USA and other regions across the world. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
25 Feb – Rajah & Tann (Singapore, Singapore)
Singapore Big Four firm Rajah & Tann has welcomed corporate specialist Raymond Tong as a partner from Clifford Chance, where he spent more than 10 years. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
25 Feb – David Cameron Law Office (Hong Kong, China)
David Cameron, a former partner at the U.S. law firm Dorsey & Whitney, has set up a boutique firm in Hong Kong called David Cameron Law Office. The boutique firm will advise on corporate matters and financial transactions across Asia. It will focus on practice areas such as general corporate services, capital raising, contract law and structuring transactions.(from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
24 Feb – Co-Effort Law Firm (Shanghai, China)
Shanghai-headquartered Co-Effort Law Firm has hired Yu Haoyun as a senior partner. Yu’s practice focuses on issuance of bonds, IPO, corporate reform, asset restructuring, investment and finance, as well as government and state-owned organizations’ legal affairs. She has advised a number of listed companies including SENCI, Zisun, PetroChina, Top Point and MicroID. (from china.legalbusinessonline.com)
23 Feb – RHTLaw (Singapore, Singapore)
Singapore’s RHTLaw has established a transportation and logistics industry group after hiring Piyush Gupta as a partner from Ince, where he was the firm’s aviation and competition head in the city-state. Gupta spent about six months at Ince, prior to which he was at Indian law firm Kochhar & Co for nearly eight years. At the latter firm, he launched the firm’s competition and aviation practices, and was the resident partner in its Singapore office for close to four years. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
22 Feb – HFW (Singapore, Singapore)
Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has continued to expand its market-leading energy & resources and commodities practices with the hire of partner Dan Perera in Singapore. Dan specialises in disputes and complex contractual arrangements in the energy and resources, commodities and international trade sectors, and joins HFW on 22 February 2021 from Reed Smith, subject to standard regulatory approval. (from http://www.hfw.com)
22 Feb – Davis Polk (Beijing, China)
Davis Polk makes rare China lateral hire with Freshfields Beijing partner. Hong Kong listing specialist Jason Xu is the first lateral partner the U.S. firm hired in Greater China in four years. (from http://www.law.com)
18 Feb – Sidley Austin (Hong Kong, China)
Former Kirkland & Ellis partner Dominic Tsun has finally landed himself a new role at Sidley Austin in Hong Kong, four years after resigning from his previous firm. (from http://www.law.com)
18 Feb – O’Melveny & Myers (Seoul, Korea)
O’Melveny has hired a new partner, Daniel S. Kim, and co-head of its Seoul office from Paul Hastings, the firm has announced. (from http://www.law.com)
18 Feb – DLA Piper (Sydney, Australia)
DLA Piper has hired the head of Minter Ellison’s technology practice, as the firm continues to ramp up its hiring in the region. Anthony Lloyd is set to join DLA Piper’s Sydney office imminently, according to a partner at the firm.(from http://www.law.com)
18 Feb – Link Legal (Delhi & Bengaluru, India)
Link Legal India Law Services has snapped up two partners from HSA Advocates. Aditya K Singh is now joining Link Legal in Delhi in its electricity regulatory practice, according to a press release from the firm. Singh had been promoted to associate partner at HSA a year ago, while Sahay had joined from Kochhar & Co in 2019 to re-build HSA’s then-recently-decimated Bangalore office. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
17 Feb – Squire Patton Boggs (Sydney, Australia)
Squire Patton Boggs adds Sydney employment team as global expansion continues. The team is led by partner Nicola Martin, who will be joined by director Erin Kidd and associate Elisa Blakers. Kidd was at McCabes for almost three years prior to its merger with Curwoods in 2018. She stepped up to special counsel after the merger, working alongside Martin in its employment practice. Prior to that she spent almost nine years at Australian firm Holding Redlich. (from http://www.globallegalpost.com)
17 Feb – HBA Legal (Brisbane, Australia)
U.K.-based law firm DWF has lost another partner in Australia, with workplace health and safety partner Damian Hegarty following the firm’s Australian chairman and managing partner out the door. (from http://www.law.com)
16 Feb – Ben McQuhae & Co (Hong Kong, China)
Ben McQuhae, a former partner at Jones Day, has set up a boutique firm called Ben McQuhae & Co in Hong Kong that focuses on ESG and technology. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
15 Feb – Thomson Geer (Sydney, Australia)
Australian law firm Thomson Geer has hired a commercial litigation partner from Dentons, six months after it poached 20 staff from Dentons in 2020. Emma Hodgman joins Thomson Geer’s Sydney office and will focus particularly on disputes in the banking and finance industries, the firm said in a statement. (from http://www.law.com)
9 Feb – HWL Ebsworth (Sydney, Australia)
Three more partners have left Australia’s HWL Ebsworth in the wake of its failed plan to float on the share market last year, bringing the number of partner departures to at least eight. David Ulbrick has left to join the Perth office of multinational law firm Pinsent Masons as an infrastructure partner; transport and trade partner Chris Sacré has joined local firm Hall & Wilcox; and Nina Morgan has left the firm to become head of regulatory response at fund management and investment company AMP, according to her LinkedIn profile. (from http://www.law.com)
9 Feb – Paul Hastings (Seoul, Korea)
Paul Hastings has bolstered its securities and capital markets practice in South Korea. Iksoo Kim joins from Greenberg Traurig where he had been a shareholder in the Seoul office for four years. A former investment banker at Lehman Brothers, Kim began his legal career as an associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. (from http://www.law.com)
9 Feb – Maples and Calder (Hong Kong, China)
Offshore firm Maples and Calder has expanded its global dispute resolution and insolvency practice after hiring Nick Stern and Quentin Cregan as partners in its Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands offices, respectively. Formerly a counsel at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Stern acts on multi-jurisdictional insolvency, restructuring-related and shareholder disputes and schemes of arrangement. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
9 Feb – HSA Advocates (Delhi, India)
Indian law firm HSA Advocates has hired Madhumita Kothari, formerly the managing partner of disputes boutique Juris International, as a partner in Delhi. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
8 Feb – Dentons (Hong Kong, China)
Dentons Hong Kong is pleased to announce that Norman Hui and Rachel Han have joined the firm as partners. Hui and Han, formerly with Eversheds Sutherland, will continue to practice in the areas of equity capital markets, corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. They join Dentons Hong Kong with of counsel Joyce Bao. (from hongkong.dentons.com)
4 Feb – K&L Gates (Singapore, Singapore)
K&L Gates has hired two lawyers in Singapore, making its office in the city-state the firm’s largest by head count in Asia, overtaking Hong Kong. Marius Toime joins K&L Gates as partner and advises multinational corporations and funds on corporate transactions and specializes in sustainable energy, natural resources and infrastructure projects across Southeast Asia. (from http://www.law.com)
3 Feb – CMS Holborn Asia (Singapore, Singapore)
CMS Holborn Asia, the Singapore foreign law alliance (FLA) of CMS, has hired Daniel Tan as the head of its banking and finance practice. Tan was earlier a counsel at Clifford Chance. Tan, who had been with Clifford Chance since 2006, advises on transactional and regulatory matters across multiple areas of finance, including leveraged and general syndicated finance, asset finance, trade finance and project finance. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
3 Feb – O’Melveny & Myers (Hong Kong, China)
O’Melveny & Myers has appointed Nima Amini as the managing partner of its Hong Kong office in place of James Ford, who moved to Allen & Overy. Amini, who has been with the O’Melveny for 14 years, advises on private equity and multi-jurisdictional public and private M&A matters. He was named Young Lawyer of the Year at the ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2016. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
3 Feb – Fieldfisher (Shanghai, China)
Fieldfisher has recently hired Xiaoli Shi, an expert in tax and bond capital market, as a partner in its Shanghai office from Shanghai Kewei Law Firm. Shi holds law practice certificates in China and Pennsylvania, U.S. She also has bonds and securities practice qualifications. Shi has extensive experience in bond capital market, with expertise in bond-related dispute resolution and litigation in such area. She has also advised a number of companies on related legal matters. (from http://www.sohu.com)
2 Feb – Herbert Smith Freehills (Sydney, Australia)
Herbert Smith Freehills has added to its global competition, regulation and trade practice with the appointment of Clayton Utz longtime partner Linda Evans in Sydney. Evans, who was a partner at Clayton Utz for 20 years, will advise clients on all aspects of trade practices and competition law. She started at the firm Feb. 2. (from http://www.law.com)
2 Jan – Ashurst (Singapore, Singapore)
Ashurst has added a project finance partner in Singapore from Latham & Watkins. He represents lenders, sponsors, and governments on projects in the oil and gas, petrochemicals, power, mining and infrastructure sectors. In 2017, he advised the sponsors on a $1.74 billion financing of the Cirebon coal-fired power plant expansion project in Indonesia. He’s also worked on deals in Bangladesh, Philippines, Malaysia and across Southeast Asia. (from http://www.law.com)
2 Feb – CNPLaw (Singapore, Singapore)
Singapore law firm CNPLaw has hired corporate lawyer Low Wee Siong as a partner from local rival Wong Tan & Molly Lim. A director at his prior firm, Low advises clients on corporate finance and governance, takeovers, M&A, banking and finance and capital markets. He was also formerly an investment banker and auditor. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
2 Feb – Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (Hong Kong, China)
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) has grown its real estate offering in Hong Kong with the hire of Wayne Ma as a partner from DLA Piper. Ma, who had been a partner at DLA Piper’s Shanghai office since 2016, advises on real estate transactions including acquisitions and dispositions of various types of property, joint ventures and private equity. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
2 Feb – Khaitan & Co. (Mumbai, India)
India’s Khaitan & Co. has strengthened its technology, media and telecoms practice with the hire of Tanu Banerjee as a partner in Mumbai from IndusLaw. Banerjee represents media platforms and production houses on commercialisation of intellectual property, content production and partnerships. She also advises on corporate and commercial laws. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
2 Feb – Lantai Partners (Beijing, China)
Lantai Partners has hired commercial compliance expert Fu Qianming as a senior partner in its Beijing office from Beijing Fangzheng Law Office. With experience in judicial departments and as corporate legal counsel, Fu has expertise in both complex non-litigation and litigation cases. He has been focusing on ecological and environmental protection legal services over the last decade. As one of the few lawyers in this area in China, Fu has extensive experience in environmental resources and energy, construction engineering and infrastructure, green finance, commercial compliance and environmental litigation. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
1 Feb – Clyde & Co (Sydney, Australia)
Global law firm Clyde & Co has hired its third partner in Australia this year, with the addition of digital law, data protection and privacy lawyer Alec Christie. Christie will join Clyde & Co’s resilience practice in Sydney and will work with the cyber risk practice, the firm said. He has a national and cross-border Asia Pacific practice that emphasizes data privacy, cybersecurity, privacy compliance, digital transformations and blockchain, smart contracts and cryptocurrency. He has expertise in pre-incident support and helping clients enhance their privacy and cyber resilience. (from http://www.law.com)
1 Feb – Pennington Manches Cooper (Singapore, Singapore)
U.K. firm Pennington Manches Cooper has hired its first corporate partner for the Singapore office. Nick Dingemans joins Pennington Manches from Watson Farley & Williams, where he was a partner in the oil & gas practice. Dingemans advises on M&A, joint ventures and broader commercial matters with a particular focus on energy, natural resources, commodities, technology and financial services sectors. (from http://www.law.com)
1 Feb – Hogan Lovells DNFP (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Hogan Lovells has hired a new partner for its Jakarta office, Hogan Lovells DNFP. Mochamad Kasmali joins the firm from local Indonesian firm Soemadipradja & Taher, where he had practiced for over a decade. Kasmali specializes in the mining and oil and gas sectors, and advises on corporate and employment matters in relation to major infrastructure and energy projects in the region. (from http://www.law.com)
1 Feb – Allen & Overy (Hong Kong, China)
Allen & Overy has hired O’Melveny & Myers’ former head of investment funds James Ford, following failed merger talks between the two global firms in 2019. He is based in Hong Kong. Ford, who was also the U.S. firm’s managing partner in Hong Kong, advises private equity firms and other investors on fund formation and investment transactions. He’s represented Asia-based sponsors on raising funds for various strategies as well as on acquisitions, disposals and on capital markets listings. (from http://www.law.com)
1 Feb – Global Law Office (Shanghai & Shenzhen, China)
Global Law Office has added corporate and M&A experts Philip Zhang and Tony Zhang as partners in its Shanghai office, with capital market lawyer Haojia Zhuang joining the Shenzhen office as a partner.
Philip Zhang’s main practice areas include corporate and M&A, business operators’ declaration of anti-monopoly, domestic and foreign bonds issuing, private funds and equity investments. He has advised a number of well-known multinational companies and domestic enterprises since 2006, involving various industries like manufacturing, real estate, retailing, energy and education. Prior to joining GLO, Philip Zhang was a partner at AllBright Law Offices.
Tony Zhang has expertise in corporate and M&A, business operators’ declaration of anti-monopoly, domestic and foreign bonds issuing and labour law. He has advised a number of multinational companies and domestic enterprises. Tony Zhang also has experience in restructuring and liquidation, compliance and commercial agreements. Prior to joining GLO, Tony Zhang practiced in AllBright.
Haojia Zhuang’s practice areas include capital market, M&A, private equity investment, involving industries like biomedicine, medical equipment, IoT, real estate and new energy. Zhuang has extensive experience in domestic and foreign IPO, corporate M&A, investment and finance, asset restructuring. Zhuang previously was a partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm. (from http://www.sohu.com)
January 2021
29 Jan – Lang Yue (Beijing, China)
Disputes partner Melody Wang leads the team and will head up Lang Yue’s litigation practice. Leading the group is partner Melody Wang, who formerly led the Beijing office disputes practice for Fangda. Wang will now be litigation head for Lang Yue, a Chinese firm that jointly operates with Allen & Overy in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone. (from http://www.law.com)
28 Jan – Jingtian & Gocheng (Beijing, China)
Jingtian & Gongcheng has hired Zhao Bojia, Zhao Yulai and Li Xinqian as partners in its Beijing office. (from http://www.china.legalbusinessonline.com)
28 Jan – Clyde & Co (Sydney, Australia)
Clyde & Co has hired a Sydney-based partner, Patrick Boardman, to bolster its Australian and international insurance practice—its second hire in Australia this month. Patrick Boardman, who joins from local Wotton + Kearney, focuses on financial lines insurance, primarily in directors and officers and financial institutions PI insurance. (from http://www.law.com)
28 Jan – Clifford Chance (Sydney, Australia)
Magic circle law firm Clifford Chance is strengthening its Australian and global leveraged finance practice with the hire of partner Elizabeth Hundt Russell. She will join the firm’s Sydney office in late March from Australian-Chinese firm King & Wood Mallesons. (from http://www.law.com)
28 Jan – RPC (Hong Kong, China)
RPC continues to rebuild its Asia disputes team with the hiring of employment lawyer Andrea Randall from Gall. Randall acts on high profile and complex contentious and non-contentious employment matters. She also advises on regulatory issues, representing clients who are the subject of investigations by external regulators including the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission. (from http://www.law.com)
27 Jan – Hai Run Law Firm (Beijing, China)
Hai Run Law Firm has hired Wu Huizhong and Yang Liu respectively as senior partner and partner in its Beijing office. (from http://www.china.legalbusinessonline.com)
27 Jan – Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (Mumbai, India)
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, India’s third-largest law firm, has expanded in Mumbai with the hire of partners Lalan Gupta from Dhruve Lildhar & Co. and Amruta Kelkar from Economic Laws Practice.
Gupta specialises in dispute resolution, with a focus on litigation on both the original and appellate jurisdictions and domestic arbitrations, mediation and conciliation.
Kelkar primarily handles domestic and cross-border private equity and M&A for real estate, healthcare, hospitality, financial services and education sectors. (from http://www.au.legalbusinessonline.com)
26 Jan – Trilegal (Bengaluru, India)
Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas real estate partner Mridul Kumbalath has left the firm to join rival Trilegal as a partner in Bengaluru. Kumbalath, who started his career at the legacy Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co in 2008, advises developers, real estate financers and funds. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
25 Jan – Reed Smith (Singapore, Singapore)
Reed Smith raids 6-lawyer team From Bryan Cave in Singapore. Reed Smith has hired two new Singapore partners Manoj Purushothaman and Simon Spells to lead the team. (from http://www.law.com)
22 Jan – Broad & Bright (Beijing, China)
Broad & Bright has hired intellectual property (IP) law expert Yu Wenzhu as a partner in its Beijing office from LexField Law Offices where Yu was a partner. Yu has expertise in IP law, with extensive experience in both litigation and non-litigation business. She is good at handling cases involving trademark, copyright, domain name, appearance design and anti-unfair competition. Yu had also practiced in Baker & McKenzie’s Beijing office. (from http://www.china.legalbusinessonline.com)
21 Jan – Withers (Singapore, Singapore)
UK firm Withers has grown its family law practice in Singapore with the additions of partner Ivan Cheong and senior associate Shaun Ho. Both join from local firm Harry Elias Partnership. Cheong’s practice focuses on family law, divorce proceedings, custody disputes, and pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
21 Jan – K&L Gates (Sydney, Australia)
An energy partner has left the Australian arm of Norton Rose Fulbright to join K&L Gates, the latest in a string of lawyers to leave the firm. The departure of Kelly Davies, who joins K&L Gates’ Sydney office, comes after 15 partners left Norton Rose Fulbright’s Australian offices last year. (from http://www.law.com)
21 Jan – Trilegal (Bangalore, India)
Delhi-based Trilegal has hired Mridul Kumbalath, a new partner for its real estate practice, from Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, where he was a partner. Kumbalath will be based in the firm’s Bangalore office. (from http://www.law.com)
21 Jan – Kirkland & Ellis (Hong Kong, China)
Kirkland & Ellis has hired capital markets partner Mengyu Lu from Sidley Austin, getting a major boost in Hong Kong listings work. Kirkland confirmed that Lu will soon return to the firm with additional members of her team. She joined Sidley in 2015 from Kirkland where she had practiced since 2011 and became a partner in 2014. Earlier in her career, she practiced with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. (from http://www.law.com)
20 Jan – JunHe (Beijing, China)
JunHe has hired Dr. Zhang Ke as a partner in its Beijing office. Dr. Zhang, whose practice focuses on capital markets, corporate and M&A, was a partner in the Corporate Group of Reed Smith before joining JunHe. (from http://www.china.legalbusinessonline.com)
20 Jan – HSA Advocates (Delhi, India)
Indian law firm HSA Advocates has grown its corporate practice with the hire of Sumit P as a partner in Delhi from Kochhar & Company. Sumit’s practice covers PE funding, FDI and exit of foreign investors, project finance transactions, FEMA, data protection and corporate compliances. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
20 Jan – Clyde & Co (Sydney, Australia)
Clyde & Co has hired partner Damian Watkin to join its projects and construction team in Sydney. Watkin specializes in major projects and is an international dispute resolution specialist, primarily in the energy, construction, infrastructure and natural resources sectors, the firm said. He will run a multi-jurisdictional practice, conducting high-stakes international arbitrations and cross-border litigations throughout the APAC and Middle East regions. (from http://www.law.com)
20 Jan – Stephenson Harwood (Hong Kong, China)
Stephenson Harwood has hired a new partner in Hong Kong focusing on real estate transactions. Janice Yau Garton joins from DLA Piper where she had practiced since 2015 and most recently as of counsel. Garton advises on commercial real estate transactions in Hong Kong. (from http://www.law.com)
20 Jan – IndusLaw (Delhi, India)
India’s IndusLaw has hired yet another partner in Delhi, with the addition of corporate specialist Pratyush Khurana from Link Legal India Law Services, where he was an associate partner. Since the start of the year, IndusLaw has hired two other partners in its office in the Indian capital – Unnati Agarwal and Shashi Mathews. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
20 Jan – AZB & Partners (Delhi, India)
India’s AZB & Partners has welcomed infrastructure lawyer Anuja Tiwari as a partner in Delhi from DSK Legal. Tiwari, who has more than 10 years of experience, handles entry- and exit-level transaction structuring, pre-dispute strategy and projects arbitration, due diligence, regulatory, negotiations and project financing. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
19 Jan – Hunton Andrews Kurth (Bangkok, Thailand)
Mayer Brown closes Bangkok office, Lead Partner, Maythawee Sarathai, joins Hunton Andrews Kurth. Sarathai joins Hunton Andrews Kurth after more than two decades at Mayer Brown. He advises on M&A and corporate restructuring transactions and has acted for both local and international clients on distressed-asset sales and acquisitions. Sarathai’s practice also includes advising clients on distressed debt situations. Hunton Andrews Kurth has 34 lawyers including five partners in its Bangkok office. (from http://www.law.com)
18 Jan – Cooley (Singapore, Singapore)
Cooley bolsters Singapore office with Fund Formation Partner, Sean Murphy. Cooley has hired a new partner for its global fund formation practice. Sean Murphy joins the firm’s Singapore office, launched earlier last year, from Shearman & Sterling, where he was counsel based in Hong Kong. Murphy advises on private fund structuring and formation, limited partner investments in private funds, and investments in private equity sponsors across Asia and the U.S. He regularly acts for sponsors and investors and advises clients on venture capital, growth capital, private equity, infrastructure, credit and hedge strategies. (from http://www.law.com)
18 Jan – Bird & Bird (Hong Kong, China)
Bird & Bird Hong Kong hires local Litigation Head, David Chu, from Proskauer. David Chu was most recently a partner with Proskauer Rose where he led the firm’s litigation practice in Hong Kong and China. Chu specializes in internal and government investigations, and has experiences advising on securities litigation before Hong Kong courts. He’s qualified to practice in Hong Kong, the U.S. and Canada. (from http://www.law.com)
18 Jan – KPMG Law (Sydney, Australia)
KPMG Law has hired a partner, Jason McQuillen, from Big Four rival PwC to lead its Legal Operations Transformation Services in Australia. The new hire will head the firm’s Legal Operations Transformation Service, which aims to help in-house teams digitize and automate their departments in the wake of COVID-19. (from http://www.law.com)
18 Jan – HFW (Singapore, Singapore)
Reed Smith’s Singapore managing partner Peter Zaman has left the firm to join HFW. Zaman advises on structured products and derivatives, financial regulation and environmental issues including climate change, carbon trading and finance. He has substantial experience in acting on China-related transactions, with a particular focus on and offshore commodity derivatives, including regulatory aspects. (from http://www.law.com)
14 Jan – Simmons & Simmons (Hong Kong, China)
Simmons & Simmons has hired disputes expert Gary Yin as a partner in Hong Kong from PRC firm Jingtian & Gongcheng, where he led the disputes and investigations practice. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
14 Jan – Dahui Lawyers (Shanghai, China)
DaHui Lawyers has added two partners to its Corporate/M&A practice group, Jacky Zhu and Yingyuan Xue, bringing with them a combined two decades of prior work with PRC and international firms. (from http://www.china.legalbusinessonline.com)
14 Jan – HSA Advocates (Mumbai, India)
Indian law firm HSA Advocates has hired corporate specialist Saurya Bhattacharya as a partner in Mumbai from Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. He advises on domestic and cross border corporate transactions, and advisory matters across industries such as education, food and agriculture, consumer, and healthcare and pharmaceuticals. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
14 Jan – IndusLaw (Delhi, India)
India’s IndusLaw has grown its competition practice with the hire of Unnati Agarwal as a partner in Delhi from J. Sagar Associates, where she was an associate principal. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
13 Jan – DLA Piper (Tokyo, Japan)
Former Quinn Emanuel Tokyo Partner, Tony Andriotis, heads for DLA Piper After brief stint. Tony Andriotis will lead an international arbitration practice in Japan. (from http://www.law.com)
12 Jan – IndusLaw (Delhi, India)
India’s IndusLaw has hired tax disputes expert Shashi Mathews as a partner in Delhi from PDS Legal, where he was a director. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
11 Jan – Lewis Silkin (Hong Kong, China)
Lewis Silkin today announces the appointment of David Swain as partner and Head of Intellectual Property in the firm’s Hong Kong office, where he will spearhead the Asia launch of the firm’s marketing-leading Intellectual Property practice. David will oversee a significant expansion of the firm’s offering in Hong Kong, which until now has been focused on employment and immigration services, by inaugurating Lewis Silkin’s IP practice group in the Asia-Pacific market. He will sit on Lewis Silkin’s China Desk alongside colleagues in the UK, Ireland and Hong Kong, and also work closely with employment partners Kathryn Weaver (Head of the Hong Kong office) and Catherine Leung to further enhance the firm’s stature across the Asia-Pacific region. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
7 Jan – Wong & Partners (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Wong & Partners, a member of the Baker McKenzie network, has hired Ai Leen Tang as a partner in Kuala Lumpur from local competitor Zul Rafique & Partners, where she headed the corporate real estate practice group. With two decades of experience, including more than 17 years at Zul Rafique, Tang’s practice focuses on real estate project and end financing, advising local and multinational property developers, investors and REITs. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
7 Jan – Khaitan & Co. (Delhi, India)
India’s Khaitan & Co. has added Akshay Malhotra and Sudipta Bhattacharjee as partners in Delhi. While Malhotra was formerly with HSA Advocates, Bhattacharjee joins from Advaita Legal. With more than 10 years of experience, Malhotra advises on project development, financing, M&A and dispute resolution with emphasis on public-private partnerships. Bhattacharjee, who has more than 15 years of experience in the industry, represents clients on matters pertaining to advisory and litigation support, indirect tax and allied commercial issues. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
7 Jan – White & Case (Singapore, Singapore)
White & Case has hired Tim Fourteau and Jamie Franklin as partners in Singapore from Latham & Watkins, where they were both counsel. Fourteau focuses on project development and finance, M&A and private equity transactions. And Franklin advises on project development and finance transactions related to M&A and private equity in the energy sector. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com)
5 Jan – Simone Intellectual Property Services (Hong Kong, China)
China trademark veteran Christopher Smith has joined SIPS as a partner effective January 1, 2021. Chris brings decades of experience in handling PRC trademark prosecution matters for multinationals. Prior to joining SIPS, Chris worked in Beijing and Hong Kong for 25 years, during which time he helped develop the Beijing IP practice of a major international law firm. (from http://www.sips.asia)
5 Jan – Han Kun Law Offices (Beijing, China)
China’s Han Kun Law Offices has hired a new private equity and mergers and acquisitions partner in Beijing. Shaolin Luo was most recently general counsel of YunFeng Capital, a Shanghai-based private equity firm cofounded by Alibaba chair Jack Ma. He’s advised on public and private cross-border transactions in and out of China. (from http://www.law.com)
4 Jan – Watson Farley & Williams (Hong Kong, China)
Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is delighted to announce the hire of BCLP’s aviation team in Hong Kong, led by William Ho and Jackson Chow. The team are considered leaders in the Chinese aviation finance and leasing market. (from http://www.wfw.com)
4 Jan – Squire Patton Boggs (Singapore, Singapore)
Squire Patton Boggs hires a Singapore-based partner, Kate Sherrard, from Clifford Chance focusing on financing work of offshore energy projects. Kate Sherrard moves as the U.S. firm continues to develop the newly launched shipping practice. (from http://www.law.com)
4 Jan – Latham & Watkins (Tokyo, Japan)
Latham & Watkins continues Japan expansion with a hire of a local law partner, Hiroaki Takagi. He joins from Nishimura & Asahi where he’d been a partner since 2015 advising securities and corporate transactions. (from http://www.law.com)
4 Jan – King & Wood Mallesons (Hong Kong, China)
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is delighted to announce the continued expansion of the firm’s debt capital markets (DCM) practice with the addition of Yue Song to the Hong Kong partnership. Song will be joining the Hong Kong office on 4 January 2021. (from http://www.kwm.com)
4 Jan – Harry Elias Partnership (Singapore, Singapore)
Harry Elias Partnership has today formally announced the appointment of three new partners, Pearl Lim and Chan Wai Chong to its Banking and Finance practice group and Thian Wen Yi to its Family and Divorce practice group. Harry Elias Partnership has also promoted Wen Yi to Partner in our Family and Divorce practice group. (from http://www.harryelias.com)
4 Jan – Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (Mumbai, India)
Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, India’s largest firm, has boosted its funds practice with the hire of Vivaik Sharma as a partner in Mumbai from AZB & Partners, where he was a counsel. (from http://www.legallyindia.com)
2 Jan – Ashurst (Melbourne, Australia)
Ashurst expands consulting business with five-partner Big Four hiring spree in Australia. Ashurst has expanded its consulting business with the arrival of five new partners in Australia citing increased client demand for its legal-led consultancy services in areas such as tech and cyber risk since the unit launched in June last year. The new hires include Deloitte’s former global leader of cyber and strategic risk, Sid Maharaj, who will cover cyber, strategy and reputational risk in Sydney. He will be joined in Sydney by Tony Morris, Elena Lambros and Philip Hope and in Melbourne by Melina Sehr. (from http://www.globallegalpost.com)