Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has added a partner to its Hong Kong base with a corporate hire from US firm O'Melveny & Myers.

Mark Chan, who specialises in capital markets and M&A, is joining the office, which opened last summer, alongside senior resident partner David Robins, corporate partner Michael Tam and real estate partner Victoria Gardner.

Chan (pictured), who was a counsel at O'Melveny in Singapore and Hong Kong, will work closely with BLP's Singapore team to build links between the two offices as an increasing number of Chinese companies look to invest in Southeast Asia.

Key deals he has been involved in include advising SK E&S – one of the largest shareholders in China Gas Group – on its defence strategies in relation to the failed $2.2bn (£1.4bn) takeover attempt of China Gas by ENN Energy Holdings and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec). The deal, had it gone through, would have been the first hostile takeover in Hong Kong.

Robins said: "Mark's significant expertise, successful track record in capital markets and M&A and his cultural and language skills will allow us to offer enhanced capabilities in the areas of capital markets, regulatory and compliance, private equity and financing in Greater China."

BLP opened its Hong Kong base on 1 August last year, in association with Michael Tam & Co. The UK firm relocated Robins and Gardner to launch the new base, its second in Asia after Singapore.

In addition to corporate work, key practice areas for BLP in Hong Kong include real estate and the built environment, as well as infrastructure and natural resources, aviation and asset finance.

The firm also appointed energy and oil and gas specialist Tam as a partner in October last year, and more recently took on Linklaters counsel Raymond Chan.