Slaughter and May Hong Kong partner Laurence Rudge has left to the firm to join Chinese supply chain company Li & Fung as deputy general counsel.

Rudge made partner at the magic circle firm in 2008 after re-locating from its London base six years before.

Li & Fung is one of the world's largest supply chain specialists with both trading and logisitics business arms. The company turned over $8.6bn (£6.0bn) in the first half of 2015.

Rudge's practice focused on M&A, capital markets, financing and financial regulation.

The firm now has 12 partners in its Hong Kong office which opened in 1974.

Slaughter and May opened a second Asia base in 2009, launching an office in Beijing.

In 2014 the firm made its first ever lateral partner hire, bringing in Morrison & Foerster US capital markets partner John Moore in Hong Kong.

Earlier this year (7 January 2016) Slaughters announced the election of M& A head Steve Cooke as the firm's new senior partner, replacing incumbent Chris Saul who will retire from the firm in April.

Cooke will continue with client work during his five year tenure in the role. Cooke's clients include Rolls-Royce, drinks company Diageo, and microchip maker ARM Holdings.

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