Linklaters has hired rated antitrust lawyer Clara Ingen-Housz from Baker & McKenzie for the magic circle's Hong Kong office.

Ingen-Housz, who is ranked band two by Chambers and Partners for China antitrust work, will join Linklaters in October in a boost for its pan-Asian practice.

The firm's existing China competition practice will continue to be led by Fay Zhou and Cheng Yuan in Beijing.

Linklaters Asia managing partner Stuart Salt said: "Given the increasing importance to our clients of Asia antitrust, developing a market-leading pan-Asian antitrust practice is a key part of the firm's commitment to its relationships with clients globally. We look forward to making further investment in this practice in the future."

Meanwhile, in Belgium, Linklaters has appointed Henk Vanhulle as its new managing partner, succeeding Francois De Bauw, who took on the role five years ago. Vanhulle specialises in domestic and international corporate tax, tax litigation and employee share schemes.

Vanhulle said: "Francois did a fantastic job throughout these five years. With a clear strategy in mind he took up the challenge to shape our Belgian practices in order to respond to the new market realities. We will build on his great contribution."

Last week (3 June) Linklaters announced it had appointed four new members to its international board in a reshuffle of the firm's senior governance body. In London, capital markets Paul Lewis has replaced financial regulation chief Michael Kent as the joint representative for the finance and projects group.

The three other board changes are in Europe, with Dusseldorf corporate partner Klaus Hoenig replacing Eva Reudelhuber, co-head of global M&A Jean-Pierre Blumberg is taking over from Francoise Lefevre in the Benelux region, while Moscow senior partner Dmitry Dobatkin has been formally appointed as international board member for the Emerging Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA) and Sweden region.