White & Case has launched an international arbitration practice in Singapore with the relocation of a City partner and a local lateral hire.

International arbitration partner Aloke Ray has relocated to Singapore from London and will head up the new practice throughout Asia.

In addition, the US firm has hired new partner Nandakumar Ponniya from Singapore-based law firm Rajah & Tann.

In total, the Singapore arbitration team will initially be formed of four lawyers as the firm has also relocated a London associate and recruited an associate in the local market.

White & Case Singapore office head Doug Peel said: "Launching an international arbitration practice reflects our belief in the growing importance of Singapore as an arbitration centre for disputes involving Southeast Asia and India, and our commitment to building a full-service practice in Singapore.

The news comes after White & Case bulked up its Singapore office with several relocations last year, including M&A partner William Kirschner from Washington DC and project and asset finance partner Sebastian Buss and banking partner Kate Allchurch, who both moved from London. In addition, banking partner Guan Feng Chen joined the Singapore office from Hong Kong.

At the end of 2008, White & Case was one of six international law firms to also gain the right to practise local Singapore law in addition to international law as part of a trial scheme to boost law firm investment in the country.

White & Case on the Legal Week Wiki