Slaughters makes first ever lateral partner hire to add US capability in Hong Kong
Slaughter and May has made its first ever lateral partner hire in Asia with the addition of Morrison & Foerster US capital markets partner John Moore in Hong Kong. The magic circle firm, which rarely makes lateral hires, has brought in Moore as part of a strategy to provide US law counsel in the region.
January 24, 2014 at 03:57 AM
3 minute read
Slaughter and May has made its first ever lateral partner hire with the addition of Morrison & Foerster US capital markets partner John Moore in Hong Kong.
The magic circle firm has broken with tradition by bringing in Moore as part of a strategy to provide US law counsel in the region.
Slaughters has been mulling adding US capability in Hong Kong since September 2012 in order to compete with an increasing number of US firms that have been setting up local practices in the city.
Those firms which have grown their local teams in recent years include: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy; Shearman & Sterling; and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.
Until recently, Slaughters had worked on Hong Kong capital markets deals with a US tranche by partnering with US outfits.
It first announced its intention to add US capability in 2012, saying it was mulling plans to make lateral partner hires and break from its traditional strategy of organic growth.
The other four magic circle firms already have US qualified lawyers in Hong Kong.
Moore is currently based in the Hong Kong office of MoFo, where he co-heads the capital markets practice for Greater China, whilst also handling some M&A and private equity transactions.
He joined the firm in 2011 from Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), where he was head of the US capital markets practice, based in Hong Kong.
Prior to HSF, Moore was an executive director and senior counsel at Goldman Sachs, with responsibility for legal issues relating to its investment banking division in Asia, excluding Japan.
He will move to Slaughter and May on 10 February, joining a group of eight Hong Kong-based partners – seven of whom cover corporate and finance work, one specialising in disputes.
He will work most closely with Hong Kong equity capital markets partner Benita Yu, who is top ranked by Chambers & Partners for her work on IPOs and other listings in the city.
Coinciding with Moore's appointment the firm has also promoted competition lawyer Natalie Yeung and corporate associate Clara Choi, bringing the total number of partners based in Hong Kong to 11. The firm also has one corporate partner in Beijing.
For more, see: Lateral thinking – why Slaughters has finally hired a partner after 125 years.
- Related event: Legal Week Global Independent Law Firms Forum 2014
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