Herbert Smith Freehills has hired Allens partner Rod Howell in Singapore, in one of two recent partner departures from Linklaters' Australia alliance firm.

Howell, who joins Herbert Smith along with senior associate Jeremy Chase, has 20 years of experience advising on financings in Asia, Australia, the UK and the US.

He was previously head of Allens' Asian finance team specialising in asset and structured financings across aircraft, shipping, rolling stock and infrastructure sectors.