Linklaters has hired Allen & Overy (A&O)  Hong Kong capital markets partner Amit Singh to its Singapore office.

He joined A&O's Hong Kong office in 2011 from Davis Polk & Wardwell, where he practised for six years in New York and London. Singh specialises in debt securities offers, especially deals related to India. Last year, he advised India's Axis Bank Ltd. on a $500m bond sale.

At Linklaters he will continue to focus on south and southeast Asia and India, where he will work with the firm's broader India practice led by Narayan Iyer. Singh will also work closely with the regional capital markets practice to support clients across the southeast Asia region.

Linklaters' Asia capital markets head William Liu said: "Amit's hire emphasises our commitment to achieving a market-leading position across all key markets in Asia. His stature as a leading practitioner in southeast Asia and India will create new synergies with our southeast Asia and broader India practice, as well as our leading capital markets practices across the region."

Singh's departure follows several from A&O's European offering, including two partners from its German office at the beginning of this month.

The magic circle firm is currently in merger discussions with US firm O'Melveny & Myers, with talks understood to be in the due diligence phase.