Simmons & Simmons has recruited a new Asia projects head with the hire of a partner from Australian firm Minter Ellison.

Brian Downie, who joined Simmons' Hong Kong office earlier this month (13 November), has spent ten years in the region and advises on issues including acquisitions, divestments, projects development, environmental issues and dispute resolution.

He said: "The strength of the team in this region and internationally was the key factor in my decision to join Simmons. They have a great client base and very highly regarded lawyers."

Downie's move marks Simmons's second hire from Minter Ellison in Hong Kong this year, after partner Damien Bailey joined the firm's technology and telecoms group in April.

The news of the new hire comes as Simmons receives the all-clear to relaunch its Tokyo joint venture (JV) after a one-month delay in registering new Tokyo head Jason Daniel as a foreign lawyer in the country.

Daniel has now relocated from London to Tokyo to become the partner responsible for the JV with 200-lawyer Japanese firm TMI Associates, an arrangement which has been in place since 2001.

Simmons' previous registered partner, Rika Beppu, joined Lovells last month (11 October) after the firm had held her to a six-month notice period in order to retain the JV.

Simmons senior partner David Dickinson commented: "Jason, who is fluent in Japanese, previously spent over three years on secondment at TMI Associates and his move will ensure that our JV continues to lead the market."

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