Ashurst Morris Crisp has boosted it Singapore office with the appointment of a new energy, transport and infrastructure partner.

Susan O'Rourke joins the firm from Australian firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques.

O'Rourke specialises in project finance and privatisations of energy and infrastructure assets. She has advised on all recent major pipeline developments in Australia and her appointment follows the creation of a new energy, transport and infrastructure department at Ashursts.

Ashursts now has two partners based in Singapore and works on energy and infrastructure projects through its Singapore and Tokyo offices and its associated office in New Delhi.

The firm has not secured a joint venture in the region which most rival firms -including Linklaters, Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Lovells – have attained.

The joint venture licences awarded last year by the Singapore Attorney General allow foreign firms to advise directly on local law.

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