Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has bulked up its Singapore arm with the hire of Watson Farley & Williams local corporate head Ken Cheung.

Cheung is set to join the firm in the New Year after 11 years at Watson Farley, seven of which were spent as a partner.

He specialises in corporate and commercial transactions, M&A, disposals and corporate restructuring, with a focus on the transport, energy and media sectors.
He will take the total number of partners in BLP's local office to six.

BLP Singapore managing partner Alistair Duffield said: "It is an exciting time for BLP in South East Asia and we are delighted to be able to attract someone with Ken's expertise to our Singapore office.

"His experience in corporate transactions across Asia, combined with his renewables and private equity expertise, mean he is particularly well placed to help us expand in these areas."

The news follows the hire of Addleshaw Goddard London-based litigation partner Kent Phillips for BLP's Singapore base, who joined to head the firm's Asian arbitration practice.

Phillips was due to launch Addleshaws' Singapore office at the close of 2011, with the firm intending to push ahead with plans to open a local base focused on international arbitration despite the departure.

In August this year BLP  launched an office in Hong Kong, marking its second presence in the region. The base will focus on real estate and built environment work, as well as infrastructure and natural resources, aviation and asset finance.