Latham & Watkins' Singapore-based Asia head of technology, media and commercial, Luke Grubb, is to leave the firm to join Clifford Chance in the city-state.

Grubb, who also heads Latham's fintech practice in Asia, typically advises institutional clients and startups on technology and intellectual property aspects of transactions and contracts. Last year, he handled the tech aspects of Hong Kong telecoms giant HKBN's acquisition of local conglomerate New World Development's telecoms business.

Grubb will join CC later this year, when his arrival will boost the firm's existing transactional offering in the high-tech sector, according to Singapore managing partner Kai Schneider.

Earlier this year, CC represented Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) firm SenseTime Group on a $410m financing, which reportedly represented the largest ever single round investment into an AI company in the world.

Schneider said Grubb would bring additional experience advising leading businesses and fast-growing market innovators across a wide range of tech-driven strategic and commercial issues. "Integrating Luke into our broad-based practice will bring significant benefits for clients as they develop their business in light of new technologies and digital disruption," he added.

Grubb moved to Singapore from Latham in London in 2012 alongside corporate partner Rod Brown, to boost the firm's English law capability in the region. (Brown left Latham last year for Mayer Brown JSM.) Grubb initially joined Latham in London in 2003 from legacy Shaw Pittman, becoming a partner at Latham in 2008.