Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has hired former Stephenson Harwood Beijing office head as a corporate partner in the Chinese capital.

Allen Shyu, who is a U.S. securities law specialist, advises mostly on mid-market Hong Kong listings. He also works on M&A transactions, particularly in the energy and natural resources sector.

Shyu leaves Stephenson Harwood only one year after joining the British firm from Troutman Sanders. The Atlanta-based firm closed its offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai last year, citing their Hong Kong securities and M&A work lacking alignment with the rest of the firm's practice focuses.

Allen Shyu, Akin Gump

Shyu took the entire legacy Beijing office of Troutman Sanders – with 11 fee-earners including two of counsel – when he joined Stephenson Harwood last year. A spokesperson for Akin Gump said he joins the U.S. firm on his own.

Akin Gump said Shyu will work closely with lawyers in the firm's Hong Kong office. A native of Taiwan, Shyu also advises Taiwanese companies on securities offers and venture capital and private equity transactions. Akin Gump had a Taipei office briefly between 2005 and 2008, specialising in patent work for Taiwanese clients.

Stephenson Harwood Hong Kong partner Voon Keat Lai, who oversees the firm's offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, said Shyu left on good terms. And the two ex-Troutman Sanders of counsel – Lin Chun Hui and Dennis Yeung – are both staying with the firm.

Corporate partner William Rosoff leads Akin Gump's Beijing office, which opened in 2007. Beijing-based counsel Jingli Jiang works on transactions in the technology sector, while associate Jason Zhao works on energy deals. Washington, D.C.-based partner Stephen Kho advises on China-related trade and policy matters.

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