Ashurst has hired a new project finance partner in Japan after the addition of White & Case partner Matthias Schemuth, who joined the City giant on Monday (4 February).

Schemuth becomes the third partner in Ashurst's Tokyo finance group. He spent seven years at White & Case, where he was a partner in the Hong Kong energy, infrastructure, project finance and asset finance group.

Schemuth, whose clients include banks, lending agencies and export credit agencies, focuses on the energy, mining and metals sectors.

As well as completing a spell at the US firm's City office, he also spent time on secondment with a major Japanese bank and the London branch of German lender Landesbank.

Commenting on the appointment, Ashurst senior partner Geoffrey Green said: "He is just the kind of experienced lawyer we are looking for to go to the Tokyo project finance practice, which has a substantial reputation in Asia. It is going well so we are looking to build."

He added: "We don't go for size – we want top-quality practitioners – but the [latest hire] shows we are keen to bolster our presence in Asia."

The firm's Asian project finance group includes two further partners based in Singapore, while the Tokyo office is home to two bengoshi practising domestic law.

The news comes after Ashurst last week announced the hire of Hengeler Mueller counsel Claudia Junker as a partner in its German corporate practice.

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