Mayer Brown is launching in Singapore with the relocation of Hong Kong projects partner Kevin Owen to head up the new office.

The new base will be Mayer Brown's eighth presence in Asia following its 2008 tie-up with Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM).

Mayer Brown JSM already operates offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Min City, Hanoi and Bangkok. The Singpore base will focus initially on asset finance, project finance, energy and international arbitration.

Construction and engineering chief Owen will lead the office, while Hong Kong banking partner Alastair MacAulay will also spend a significant amount of time in Singapore to help establish the practice, along with several associates.

MacAulay's practice focuses on advising on transportation projects and finance, particularly in the shipping industry, and on other asset finance structures for cross-border lending.

Mayer Brown chairman Herbert Krueger said: "Adding our new Singapore office will further enhance our ability to serve client needs in one of the world's key financial centres.

"We are pleased that our application for a foreign law practice licence has been approved by the Singapore Attorney General, and we anticipate that the office will be in full operation by the fourth quarter of this year."

Owen commented: "I welcome the opportunity to return to Singapore and play a key role in helping Mayer Brown further expand our ability to serve client needs in one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing business centres of the world."