Linklaters has bolstered its Asia disputes practice with the hire of a Goldman Sachs managing director in Hong Kong.

Andrew Chung, who will join Linklaters' Hong Kong office as a partner this August, focuses on disputes and regulatory matters across the Asia-Pacific region.

The hire marks a relatively rare lateral addition for the magic circle firm in Hong Kong, where it has about 25 partners working across a range of practices including corporate, banking, capital markets and disputes.

The last local partner hire for the firm was the 2014 addition of Gavin Lewis from Herbert Smith Freehills, where he was head of Asia-Pacific litigation.

Linklaters saw a number of departures from its Hong Kong office in 2015 and 2016, including corporate partner Christopher Kelly and private equity partner Peggy Wang to White & Case, and finance partner David Irvine to Kirkland & Ellis. But the firm recently announced that it is making up eight lawyers to its Asia partnership this year, including six in Hong Kong.

The promotions followed the appointment of the firm's new China chief in January, when Linklaters lifer William Liu was appointed as head of its China practice, succeeding Fang Jian, who is joining domestic firm Fangda Partners.

Linklaters global dispute resolution head Michael Bennett said: "With 18 years of experience, Andrew is very well known throughout the Hong Kong market as a commercially talented and deeply knowledgeable practitioner in Asian disputes and regulatory matters.

"His election supports our investment in our clients and will be a significant opportunity for the firm's dispute resolution practice in Asia."

In December, Goldman hired Sullivan & Cromwell partner Karen Seymour as its co-general counsel and partner. Seymour was with US firm Sullivan for 30 years, sitting on its management committee and practising as part of the firm's litigation department.