Herbert Smith has grown its finance arm in Singapore with the relocation of partner Adrian Cheng from the firm's City office.

Cheng moved to the region earlier this month to join the banking and finance practice. He becomes the eighth partner in the firm's Singapore office and the third partner in the local practice.

Cheng specialises in advising banks and borrowers on project and energy finance transactions with a particular focus on oil and gas financings. His client portfolio includes BNP Paribas, the Royal Bank of Scotland, JP Morgan and Mizuho.

Global head of finance Malcolm Hitching said: "Continued internationalisation is a key part of our finance strategy and Adrian's relocation is more evidence of our commitment to build our Asian finance practice.

"There are many opportunities in the region, and the firm is now even better equipped to meet client demands in what is a fast-growing part of the world."

Cheng recently advised on a BNP Paribas and Standard Chartered Bank bridge facility for oil and gas exploration and production company Salamander Energy's acquisition of assets in Thailand.

Herbert Smith opened in Singapore in 1995 and its practice includes corporate, capital markets, finance, energy and projects transactions and dispute resolution.