Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. November 24 Nov – Yulchon (Seoul, Korea) Big Six South Korean law firm Yulchon has further bolstered its dispute resolution practice with the double hire of Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office’s director prosecutors, Wook Jin Rha and Woo Young Choe. Rha and Cho are joining the private practice’sContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Oct to Dec 2023)”
Category Archives: Legal Moves
Seoul the heart of activity in Asia
While most of Asia Pacific’s legal markets are recovering, sustaining, and growing, Seoul seems to have stolen the spotlight in 2023 in terms of activity. Ashurst’s Korea JV was announced in May; DeHeng, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, and Watson Farley & Williams also expanded operations to Seoul. In addition, K&L Gates appointed a newContinue reading “Seoul the heart of activity in Asia”
Legal Move Updates (Jul – Sep 2023)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. July 24 Jul – Baker Botts (Singapore, Singapore) U.S. law firm Baker Botts has tapped Ashurst again for an energy-focused partner in Singapore, two months after it launched its office in the country with partner hires from the UK-based law firm. Andrew Roche, who joins Baker Botts’ globalContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Jul – Sep 2023)”
Legal Move Updates (Apr – Jun 2023)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. June 22 Jun – Hogan Lovells (Singapore, Singapore) Hogan Lovells has named corporate partner and India practice co-head Biswajit Chatterjee as managing partner of its Singapore office. From July 1 Chatterjee will succeed corporate and finance partner Alex Wong, who has been head of the firm’s Singapore officeContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Apr – Jun 2023)”
Singapore leads the growth with China on the track to coming back
Singapore has overtaken Hong Kong as the leading financial center in Asia and ranks third in the Global Financial Centre Index 2022, trailing only New York and London globally. Economic prosperity and a high-end quality if life continue to attract foreign law firms to launch or expand their Asia offerings. On the other hand, China’s legalContinue reading “Singapore leads the growth with China on the track to coming back”
India market finally opens but caution is the watchword
News of the liberalisation of the Indian legal market took almost every observer by surprise. Although rumours had circulated for years that it was on the agenda, that discussions were underway, watch this space, etc, when the announcement finally did come it was somewhat out of the blue. And despite some belated, general, non-specific noisesContinue reading “India market finally opens but caution is the watchword”
Legal Move Updates (Jan – Mar 2023)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. March 24 Mar – Mishcon de Reya (Singapore, Singapore) Mishcon de Reya has promoted eight of its lawyers to partner—fewer than half the number made up the previous year. The law firm has promoted a single lawyer, Singapore-based Hong Chong Yi, to equity partner—as well as seven lawyersContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Jan – Mar 2023)”
Recoveries vary across different countries, but overall rebound expected in 2023
After having their economies battered for over two years, in 2022 several countries were fighting to return to normal while China was clinging to Covid restrictions. China’s strict zero-Covid policy had a ripple effect on the economy and the legal industry. As a result, Australia has replaced China as the region’s top location for significantContinue reading “Recoveries vary across different countries, but overall rebound expected in 2023”
The Lion City awakens
Greater China, traditionally a major Asian powerhouse of lateral hires, witnessed a quiet 2022. On the other hand, Singapore had a strong Q3 and moved ahead of Hong Kong, China, and India as the joint busiest hiring market in Asian Pacific, alongside Australia. The lateral hiring markets in Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia grew stably inContinue reading “The Lion City awakens“
Legal Move Updates (Oct – Dec 2022)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. December 18 December – Cooley (Shanghai,China) Cooley has expanded its cross-border strategic investment advisory capabilities in Asia with the hire of corporate partner Ruomu Li from Morrison & Foerster for its Shanghai office. Li has a legal career spanning more than 15 years specializing in cross-border mergers andContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Oct – Dec 2022)”
Preparing for your lateral move
Making a lateral move is arguably the most significant part of a private practitioner’s career after making partner, so making this decision is contingent on a number of important factors including timing, cultural fit, business compatibility and long-term planning. Let us help you take the first step in your lateral move. Why a lateral move?Continue reading “Preparing for your lateral move”
Omicron-related social restrictions impair Asia Pacific Legal Recruitment Growth
When most of the Asia Pacific’s legal markets are recovering, sustaining, and growing, China witnessed a quiet first half of 2022 due to the spreading of Omicron. A strong lockdown has been adopted in Shanghai since March and has been extended into other Chinese cities, including Beijing. With the easing of social restrictions, we witnessedContinue reading “Omicron-related social restrictions impair Asia Pacific Legal Recruitment Growth”
Legal Move Updates (Jul – Sep 2022)
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,Continue reading “Legal Move Updates (Jul – Sep 2022)”
Omicron wave slows Asian legal markets’ recovery
In January, firms and lawyers were full of hope, expecting a lively 2022 fueled by global liquidity, recovery from the pandemic, and growing opportunities in the tech and biotech industries. However, the Omicron surge in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Korea slowed the recovery. Compared to Q1 2021, we witnessed a significant decline inContinue reading “Omicron wave slows Asian legal markets’ recovery”
Legal Move Updates (Apr – Jun 2022)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. June 30 June – Herbert Smith Freehills (Singapore, Singapore) Herbert Smith Freehills’ Singapore alliance firm Prolegis has added a new partner and head of projects from the Singapore formal law alliance unit of CMS. Adrian Wong advises equity sponsors, government authorities and others on energy, infrastructure and dataContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Apr – Jun 2022)”
Slowdown in recovery is real, but optimism is ahead
The ripple effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy and legal industry dominated 2021. We were happy to see legal hiring markets across the Asia Pacific rebound strongly in early 2021. However, the emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants saw a slowdown as we neared the end of the year. That being said,Continue reading “Slowdown in recovery is real, but optimism is ahead”
Legal Move Updates (Jan – Mar 2022)
Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list. March 2021 30 March – Midosuji LPC (Tokyo, Japan) Osaka-headquartered Midosuji LPC has hired intellectual property expert Kozo Yabe as a partner in Tokyo from Yuasa & Hara, where he worked for more than three decades. Besides intellectual property, Yabe focuses on risk management including scandal response, digitalContinue reading “Legal Move Updates (Jan – Mar 2022)”
Private Practice Round-up 2021
Welcome to the new year; same as the old year? The news in 2021 was dominated by something that was emerging as a mere curiosity this time two years ago. Those who had lived through the original SARS outbreak were confident (or at least hopeful) that the then-named Coronavirus would be eradicated in the warmerContinue reading “Private Practice Round-up 2021”
Now is the right time to consider changing jobs
When the Covid-19 pandemic erupted in the legal industry last year, many professionals felt blessed to retain their jobs even with the challenges of working remotely and coping with additional challenges like childcare, home schooling and health risks. These combined stresses prompted the “Great Resignation” (also known as the “Big Quit”). As a result, highContinue reading “Now is the right time to consider changing jobs”
Despite ongoing Covid-19 issues, legal markets are picking up across Asia Pacific
The Covid-19 challenge has been unprecedented and persists throughout 2021. However, we are happy to see legal markets across Asia Pacific are picking up so far this year. Compared to 2020, we witnessed growth of recruitment activities in India and Singapore. Both the Australian and Hong Kong legal markets remained relatively stable. After China’s strongContinue reading “Despite ongoing Covid-19 issues, legal markets are picking up across Asia Pacific”