Stephenson Harwood has made a double corporate partner hire in Greater China, including a partner from UK rival Bird & Bird.

Bird & Bird corporate partner Matthew Wong has joined the top 30 City firm in Hong Kong, while Baker & McKenzie special counsel ChunFai (CF) Lui has joined as a partner in Shanghai.

Wong has been at Bird & Bird since 2008 when he joined the firm from K&L Gates, where he was also a partner. His practice focuses on corporate finance, capital markets, private equity, venture capital, foreign direct investments and M&A. He also advises on Hong Kong commercial transactions and is qualified in Hong Kong, England and Wales and Australia.

Lui meanwhile focuses on all aspects of M&A transactions, joint ventures, private equity, venture capital, antitrust, regulatory and compliance. He has experience advising on regulatory risk issues in China and outbound investment in a range of sectors, including mining and resources, energy, chemicals, automotive, industrial, food and agriculture, healthcare, retail, hi-tech, financial services and logistics.

The hires take Stephenson Harwood's Greater China practice to 17 partners and 80 fee earners working across offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Twenty five of the lawyers focus on corporate and corporate finance.

Commenting on the hires, Stephenson Harwood's regional managing partner Voon Keat Lai said: "In the past few years, we have been working towards enhancing all out core practice areas. Their arrivals will further augment our Greater China corporate and corporate finance capability."

The news comes as Stephenson Harwood posted a 4% increase in fee income at the half year stage at the end of October, with its China practice a strong contributor.