Barlow Lyde & Gilbert has bulked up its Asia partnership with the promotion of dispute resolution associate Gary Yin in Hong Kong.

Yin has been made up to partner as of 20 September this year, a move which takes the firm's partner headcount in Hong Kong to seven, of which five sit in disputes. He specialises in China-related litigation with a focus on commercial and shipping matters.

Barlows now has 12 partners in Asia across its offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai.

The firm moved to significantly strengthen its partnership in May this year, with nine new partner promotions after making just one in the equivalent round last year.

The round included one non-lawyer, with Dene Rowe promoted from operations director in Manchester to office managing partner, while the firm also added one apiece in Hong Kong and Singapore.

The news comes as Barlows prepares to complete its merger with Clyde & Co on 1 November. Both firm's Asia bases are located in the same three regions, with the offices set to combine over the coming months.

Barlows' Shanghai office is likely to move into Clydes' local base following the relocation of Clydes' China office to new premises last month.

The firm has also moved its Dubai and London offices, with the City premises now located in the St Botolph offices next door to Barlows.