DLA Piper has hired a partner in Hong Kong specialising in litigation and regulatory matters.

Stephen Wong specialises in litigation and regulatory and white-collar criminal investigations related to the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). Wong joined from local firm Stevenson, Wong & Co, where he had been a partner since 2015. Earlier in his career, Wong spent eight years as an investigator with the SFC, responsible for market misconduct investigation, criminal prosecution and disciplinary proceedings.

Several international firms have recently beefed up SFC-related regulatory and litigation hires. Following increased new listings this and last year, regulatory lawyers anticipate growth in compliance work. Meanwhile, the SFC's focus on fewer but larger and more high-profile cases has given rise to demand for former regulator lawyers with high-stakes case experiences. Notably, Slaughter and May last year brought on former SFC enforcement director Wynne Mok as a Hong Kong partner – one of the very rare external hires the Magic Circle firm has ever made. Others, including Clifford Chance, have made similar hires.

The SFC itself is expecting leadership change in 2020. Current chief executive and former Herbert Smith Freehills partner Ashley Alder will retire from the agency in September 2020. During his tenure, Alder has been known for tough enforcement actions. The search for Alder's successor is ongoing, with his deputy and financial journalist-turned regulator Julia Leung named as a frontrunner.

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