DLA's Singapore ally, JCO, has been taken over by 21-lawyer rival Ang & Partners with the combined firm becoming the new local member of the national giant's international alliance.

The deal saw JCO's four partners, Azman Jaafar, Nicholas Narayanan, Tan Joo Seng and Sean Say, transfer to 12-partner Ang & Partners on 16 February, when the combined firm officially became the Singapore member of DLA Group.

Ang & Partners, which was formed in 1985, specialises in shipping and arbitration and retains Francis Reynolds QC, of London set 7 King's Bench Walk, as a consultant on English law.