Watson Farley & Williams has hired dispute resolution partner Richard Wilmot from Holman Fenwick Willan to launch a Hong Kong litigation practice.

Wilmot (pictured), who also specialises in commercial law, brings with him a team of three associates from his previous firm, all of whom cover corporate, commercial and litigation.

At Holman Fenwick, where he worked for 12 years, Wilmot worked across litigation and arbitration, while also advising on determination and mediation. On the commercial side, he represents banks, buyers and trading companies on commodities and regulatory matters, with particular expertise in energy contracts.

He is the fourth partner to join Watson Farley's Hong Kong base, which opened in March this year in association with Lau Leong & Co.

"The recruitment of Richard and his team brings the complement in our office up to the level we had planned for the first year," said the firm's global managing partner Michael Greville.

"Covering corporate, finance and litigation work in the firm's key areas of shipping, natural resources and energy is consistent with our overall Asian practice, in Singapore and Bangkok, and it provides an excellent base for further development in Hong Kong and into China."

Watson Farley currently has three offices in Asia, covering Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong. The Singapore base was the firm's first in the region, launched in 1998 in a joint venture with Asia Practice.

Core practice areas for the firm include commercial, corporate, finance and dispute resolution, with specialities in sectors such as maritime, energy, transport and real estate.