Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has hired Kirkland & Ellis' Asia head of government enforcement and investigations, Samuel Williamson, to launch its office in Shanghai.

The base will be the litigation firm's third in Asia, where it already has offices in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Litigation partner Williamson, who speaks both Mandarin and Japanese, joined Kirkland after spending six years at the US Department of Justice.

Quinn Emanuel is waiting for regulatory approval to open its planned Shanghai base with Williamson as the office's managing partner and up to five junior lawyers.

Managing partner John Quinn said the Chinese market was important to the firm because it had "become a major focus of US regulatory enforcement efforts".

He added: "We felt we needed a white collar presence on the ground in Asia. As the only former US prosecutor who is fluent in Mandarin and is on the ground in Asia, we have found the right man for the job."

Williamson said that although he enjoyed working at Kirkland the opportunity to "work with friends in an all-litigation, relatively conflict-free environment was too attractive to turn down".

The office opening will be the firm's second this year, following its launch in Seattle in January.

Meanwhile, King & Wood Mallesons has opened its office in Singapore, relocating three partners for the launch.

The opening follows the firm being granted a licence in February.

Funds partner John Sullivan has relocated from Australia alongside energy, resources and projects specialist Michael Lawson.

The two are joined by M&A partner Huang Xuhua who has moved from Hong Kong.

The firm will initially focus on the international funds, energy and resources sectors and China inbound and outbound investment work.