Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is set to relocate two senior dispute resolution partners to Hong Kong, as the firm looks to grow its litigation footprint in Asia.

Global arbitration co-head Lucy Reed will relocate from Freshfields' New York office to the Asia base in May this year, while global investigations co-head Geoff Nicholas is set to transfer from London to Hong Kong this summer.

Nicholas is also the firm's head of international commercial disputes. Both will continue in their global management roles.

The magic circle firm is also relocating a number of senior associates to the region with litigation lawyer John Warren moving from Washington DC to Hong Kong and arbitration associate Nicholas Lingard relocating to Tokyo from New York.

Freshfields' Asia disputes head Richard Chalk said: "Client demand in Asia for top-flight international arbitration, investigation and litigation services has grown steadily over the past five years and these moves will enhance our offering.

"Within the Asia market, Singapore has invested heavily in new arbitration infrastructure, Chinese banks and companies are facing new challenges as they develop their international footprint including into the US, and companies in many Asian countries including South Korea and Japan face similar new contentious regulatory challenges."

The news comes after Freshfields relocated two City partners to Asia last summer, with competition partner Jenny Connolly and corporate partner Simon Weller moving to the firm's Shanghai and Hong Kong offices respectively.

Freshfields is also currently gearing up for a relaunch in Singapore, almost five years after the firm shut down its former office in the region. The firm is planning to open the new arm this autumn, with the move understood to have been discussed at a meeting of its partnership council this month.