Simmons reconsiders opening Beijing arm
Simmons & Simmons is considering reviving its shelved plans to open in Beijing. The firm, which is particularly keen to tap into demand from clients in the energy sector, is reviewing a proposal to extend its mainland China presence beyond Shanghai, despite the economic crisis. The plans come after the firm brought in Asia head of projects, Brian Downie, from Minter Ellison in November 2008 and energy partner Tom Deegan from Denton Wilde Sapte in 2007 in Hong Kong.
February 18, 2009 at 11:18 PM
2 minute read
Simmons & Simmons is considering reviving its shelved plans to open in Beijing.
The firm, which is particularly keen to tap into demand from clients in the energy sector, is reviewing a proposal to extend its mainland China presence beyond Shanghai, despite the economic crisis.
The plans come after the firm brought in Asia head of projects, Brian Downie, from Minter Ellison in November 2008 and energy partner Tom Deegan from Denton Wilde Sapte in 2007 in Hong Kong.
Simmons originally applied for a Beijing licence in 2004, but deferred the project after it suffered a five-partner walkout from Hong Kong in 2006, when a team including former China managing partner Huen Wong quit for Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson. It will now have to resubmit a licence application, should it decide to push ahead with the launch.
Simmons' international practice has seen a number of losses in recent months, with the firm opting to close its Rotterdam office and demerge from its Portuguese arm since January alone. It also lost two of its Tokyo partners to Lovells in 2008, leaving the firm with only one partner in Japan, corporate partner Jason Daniel.
Hong Kong capital markets partner Paul Browne is covering the Tokyo finance practice in the wake of finance partner Philip Hyde's departure to Lovells.
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