Slaughter and May has made its second-ever external partner hire in Hong Kong, and its third-ever globally, as investigations and litigation lawyer Wynne Mok joins as a partner.

Mok arrives from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission – the equivalent of the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Chinese territory – where she was a director of enforcement. In that role, she managed complex litigation and helped shape the commission's regulatory policy.

Before taking on a role with law enforcement in 2016, Mok was a disputes partner with Norton Rose Fulbright where she handled SFC and Hong Kong Stock Exchange-related litigation and investigations for Hong Kong-listed Chinese companies. Earlier in her career, she practiced with Hong Kong firm Deacons and legacy Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (which merged with Clyde & Co in 2011).

At Slaughters, Mok will focus on regulatory inquiries and investigations, and work with the firm's London, Beijing and Brussels offices on multi-jurisdictional investigations.

Slaughters Hong Kong senior partner Peter Brien said: "Wynne Mok is a highly respected practitioner who brings a combination of regulatory experience at the highest level and an outstanding track record of advising clients on complex litigation and investigations. She will play a key role in continuing to build our long-established Asian practice."

Mok is the second lateral partner hire Slaughters has made in Hong Kong after taking on US securities law partner John Moore in 2014 from Morrison & Foerster. Moore had previously worked for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Goldman Sachs and Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF).

In 2017, the firm made its first London lateral when it hired HSF pensions head Daniel Schaffer.