Norton Rose has gained one partner in Asia and lost another, including hiring a new head of asset finance in Hong Kong.

Energy partner Stephen Begley rejoins Norton Rose from City rival Lovells, where he was of counsel, and will lead the firm's Hong Kong asset finance group.

Begley, who previously worked at Norton Rose before leaving in 2005, specialises in energy-related project finance.

Meanwhile, Singapore-based corporate finance partner Chris Moore is leaving Norton Rose to return to Allen & Overy, which he left in 1999. He joins the magic circle firm as a partner at its Singapore arm.

Norton Rose operates a number of offices in the Asian region, having announced plans late last year to open a new office in Tokyo.

The Japanese branch will initially be staffed by eight lawyers, headed by corporate finance partner Chris Viner, who previously led the firm's English-law practice in Moscow. The firm is also to transfer banking partner Jeremy Gibb from its London headquarters.

The Tokyo office becomes the seventh operated by Norton Rose in the region alongside further outposts in Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai and Jakarta.

At the end of last year Norton Rose secured an alliance with Saudi Arabian practice Abdulaziz Al-Assaf in a move designed to boost the top 10 City law firm's profile in the Middle East.

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