Clyde & Co has bulked up its Hong Kong arm with the hire of a construction partner from Stephenson Harwood.

Gilbert Kwok joined the firm this month after one year in Stephenson Harwood's Hong Kong litigation group.

Prior to joining Stephenson Harwood he was at local outfit Li & Partners, where he founded and headed the firm's construction group.

He specialises in advising developers and contractors on both contract drafting and dispute resolution work.

Clydes regional head of construction Ian Cocking, said: "As the Chinese
Government continues to implement its 'going global' strategy of encouraging Chinese companies to invest abroad, we are seeing an increasing number of Chinese and Asian contractors investing in infrastructure and construction projects around the world.

"We work with many Chinese contractors on their investments and disputes overseas and Gilbert's arrival, as one of the most senior Chinese construction lawyers based in Hong Kong, gives us a significant advantage in servicing the needs of these clients."

The news follows additional investment in Asia for Clydes over the last 12 months. Cocking joined from Minter Ellison in December 2010, while former Insurance Australia group GC Michael Cripps joined the firm's Shanghai office in February this year.

Clydes also announced this month that it will relocate London insurance partner Roderic McLauchlan from merger partner Barlow Lyde & Gilbert to its new Canadian arm later this year, as the firms gear up for their merger to go live on 1 November.