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)