Mayer Brown has transferred a senior corporate partner from London to Hong Kong, the first such move by the Anglo-American firm since its 2007 acquisition of leading Hong Kong practice Johnson Stokes & Master.

Corporate finance specialist Mark Uhrynuk will lead a new US corporate and securities practice, targeting Hong Kong and mainland China companies seeking to list abroad.

Uhrynuk's practice covers cross-border M&A, private equity financings, joint ventures and strategic alliances.

Mayer Brown Asia chair Elaine Lo said the move was a sign that the firm, which operates locally as Mayer Brown JSM, was committed to expanding its capabilities in the region despite the economic downturn.

"These may be quiet times for some industry sectors," she said in a statement. "While JSM is sensitive to current economic conditions, we still need to remain focused on our longer-term global strategy and increasing our capability to provide comprehensive, cutting-edge legal advice across jurisdictions."

Mayer Brown's surprise merger in December 2007 with Johnson Stokes, one of Hong Kong's largest and most respected local firms, gave it one of the largest Asian footprints of any foreign firm, with over 170 lawyers in Hong Kong and smaller offices in mainland China and throughout Southeast Asia.

Several other firms have also relocated partners from the US and Europe to Asia over the past year, though initial hopes that the region would avoid recession have proven misplaced.

Anthony Lin is Incisive Legal's chief Asia correspondent.