Latest Posts

• China loses its lustre for Western firmsAugust 31, 2023
  Although Latham & Watkins’ announcement that the firm was shuttering their Shanghai office was maybe less earth-shattering that first appeared (the office has a single resident partner in Shanghai and the firm has stated it will consolidate operations in Beijing, relocating people as required) it is yet another episode in the unfolding narrative that western firms are retrenching in the PRC. Ropes & Gray confirmed it is “shifting” resources from Shanghai to Hong Kong, albeit they insist the firm will maintain an office in the city. Dentons and Dacheng have undergone a well-publicised split (albeit for reasons seemingly more imposed … Read more
• 5 tips for law graduates and young lawyersAugust 31, 2023
  Becoming a lawyer is tough; the pandemic has made the journey more difficult. Pat yourself on the back if you have completed the law degree or landed your first legal job during this unprecedented period, in the middle of lockdowns and worldwide recessions. When starting a legal practice career, whether working in private practice or in-house, young lawyers should be aware of a few things. We gather tips to help you prepare to survive and thrive in this ever-changing world.   Technology proficiency is fundamental The pandemic brought technology to the forefront of almost every part of our lives. Corporations, … Read more
• Seoul the heart of activity in AsiaJuly 31, 2023
  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 new Managing Partner in Seoul. Korea, China, and India saw significant growth in key recruitments in the first half of 2023. After a quiet 2022, China came back strong in 2023, having seeing 4 times more key recruitments compared to 2022, despite there being a 65% … Read more
• Legal Move Updates (Jul – Sep 2023)July 24, 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’ global projects group in Singapore, advises clients on infrastructure financing in the energy and natural resources sectors in the Asia-Pacific market, with a particular focus on power, oil and gas, renewables and digital infrastructure, Baker Botts’ said in a statement. (from http://www.legalbusinessonline.com) 20 Jul – Clyde … Read more
• Should a Lawyer be a Coder?June 30, 2023
  “Everybody should learn to program a computer because it teaches you how to think,” said Steve Jobs in 1995[1]. At that moment, programming seemed a foreign language for many industries, including the legal profession. However, after almost three decades, coding  is now accorded as a compulsory subject every school child must learn[2]. Should this also accompany legal studies? When we discuss whether lawyers should learn to code, we have to ask if coding is important in law or will benefit lawyers personally.   Is coding important in law? In an increasingly data and tech-driven legal industry, lawyers could consider becoming … Read more

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We were the first legal and compliance recruitment consultancy to target Asia, starting in 1985 in London. In 2016, we celebrated over 30 years in Asia Pacific. Hughes-Castell is a specialist recruitment agency that focuses solely on legal and compliance recruitment.

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