Elizabeth Broomhall In Hong Kong

November 12, 2013 | International Edition

Singapore law firm WongPartnership has formed an alliance with Malaysian boutique outfit Foong & Partners with a view to boosting its presence in South East Asia. The firm, which earlier this year decided against a merger with King & Wood Mallesons, wants to ramp up its capabilities in the Asean region due to the vast potential for mandates relating to projects, real estate, inbound and outbound investment and private equity.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

2 minute read

November 11, 2013 | International Edition

DLA Piper in Australia has shaken up its management teams for banking and projects following the exit of two senior partners in the region. The UK firm has appointed Melbourne-based partner John Gallagher as its new head of projects and finance in Australia, whilst Sydney partner Onno Bakker will now lead the banking and finance group in Asia Pacific.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

2 minute read

November 08, 2013 | International Edition

Norton Rose Fulbright's former Beijing office head Peter Burrows has left the firm to join Chinese start up DaHui Lawyers. Burrows, who came to China in 2008 to manage and build the profile of the Beijing and Shanghai offices, joined the PRC outfit as a consultant last week with a view to boosting international standards at the firm.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

3 minute read

November 07, 2013 | International Edition

Hong Kong's decision to review the laws around third-party funding for arbitration has re-ignited debate among the city's lawyers. The Law Reform Commission (LRC) has established a committee to look into legislation governing arbitration funding and make recommendations if necessary.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

3 minute read

November 07, 2013 | International Edition

Law firms practising in Hong Kong could be permitted to establish limited liability partnerships (LLPs) from next year under new rules being drawn up by the Law Society of Hong Kong. A law bringing local liability regulations in line with international frameworks is expected to come into force in the next 12 months after additional legislation is approved by Hong Kong's Legislative Council (Legco), the city's solicitor-general Frank Poon has indicated.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

3 minute read

November 06, 2013 | International Edition

Australian outfit HWL Ebsworth has expanded its insurance practice in Sydney with the hire of three partners and twenty lawyers from DLA Piper. Jenne Tzavaras, Joanna Apostolopoulos, Ivan Medak and their teams specialise in statutory workers' compensation insurance, and bring the total number of partners at HWL in Sydney to 73.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

2 minute read

November 03, 2013 | International Edition

Addleshaw Goddard (AG) has added to its teams in Dubai and Singapore with the hire of two lawyers from Clyde & Co and DLA Piper. M&A expert Ben Gillespie joins the firm as a partner in Dubai from Clyde & Co's Middle East group, whilst shipping lawyer Mike Melwood-Smith joins as a consultant in Singapore from DLA Piper.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

2 minute read

November 03, 2013 | International Edition

Ropes & Gray has relocated its co-head of global M&A James Lidbury to Hong Kong in a bid to meet increasing demand from its private equity clients in Asia. The US firm, which counts Blackstone, Bain and TPG among its clientbase, is also seeking to enhance its regional M&A offering following the launch of its Seoul office last year.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

3 minute read

November 01, 2013 | International Edition

King & Wood Mallesons has appointed global practice co-ordinators and a new management committee following the merger of the Sino-Australian giant and UK firm SJ Berwin, which goes live today. The appointments include three partners from each legacy firm will head up nine newly-identified key practice areas. From the SJ Berwin side, these include Jonathan Blake, who will lead the global funds team, Simon Holmes, who will head the antitrust and regulatory department, and Bryan Pickup, who will lead the real estate group.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

4 minute read

November 01, 2013 | International Edition

Latham & Watkins has boosted its US practice in Hong Kong with the hire of two corporate lawyers this month. Senior associate Ben Carale has recently been hired as counsel from Sidley Austin, where he was responsible for building the firm's Philippines practice and working on US corporate finance and securities transactions.

By Elizabeth Broomhall in Hong Kong

7 minute read