Herbert Smith has overhauled its management structure in Asia with the creation of two new managing partner roles for China and South East Asia.

Corporate partner Andrew Tortoishell, currently head of the Hong Hong office, takes up an expanded role as Greater China managing partner. He will have responsibility for overseeing Herbert Smith's strategy in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai, where the firm collectively has around 20 partners and 110 fee earners.

Meanwhile, in Singapore, corporate partner Austin Sweeney takes up a new leadership role for Southeast Asia – heading the firm's development in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. His expanded brief comes around six months after he took up the leadership of the Singapore office in August last year – relocating from London to replace Veronica O'Shea in the role.

Tortoishell and Sweeney, whose terms will end in April 2011, will report to Herbert Smith's Hong Kong-based Asia head, Ashley Alder, and will be expected to work closely with regional and global practice area heads.

Alder said: "Cross-office collaboration across our Asia network on client and business development activities is increasing as we build pan-Asian relationships with the firm's multinational clients. Having in place an appropriate regional management structure will, among other benefits, support this collaboration, so these appointments mark an important step forward for us."

Herbert Smith has around 300 staff in Asia and 180 lawyers across its offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo and an associated office in Jakarta. In Tokyo the firm has a separate managing partner, Steve Lewis.

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