Withers and K&L Gates have each merged with Singapore law firms, granting both further reach into Asia.
Withers has combined with Singapore's KhattarWong following a three-year formal law alliance (FLA) with the local firm, creating a new entity called Withers KhattarWong.
The pair allied in 2015, with Withers absorbing all KhattarWong's partners at the time. The newly combined outfit now has 90 lawyers in the city-state.
Withers' chief executive Margaret Robertson said the merger underscores Withers' commitment to Singapore and the region, and its belief in the immense opportunities arising from the growing wealth and business environment in Asia-Pacific.
Withers KhattarWong will focus on private client, tax, restructuring and insolvency, dispute resolution, investment funds, real estate, and hotels and hospitality work.
Meanwhile, US firm K&L Gates has combined with Singapore law firm Straits Law Practice, after receiving regulatory approval for the merger last year.
The outfits have formed K&L Gates Straits Law, with the merger also completing yesterday (1 January). Straits consists of 17 legal directors, with the new entity giving K&L Gates 90 lawyers in the region.
Under the FLA regime, which has been in place since 2000, foreign firms are allowed to enter a best-friend relationship with a Singaporean law firm while both sides remain legally distinct; but only the Singaporean firm is allowed to advise on a range of restricted practice areas such as litigation and conveyancing.
The FLA structure has been favoured by many foreign firms as it grants access to Singaporean law practice, especially court proceedings, without a full financial merger. Other firms that operate in Singapore under an FLA licence include Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith Freehills, Ashurst, CMS, Reed Smith, Watson Farley & Williams, Stephenson Harwood and Holman Fenwick Willan.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
You Might Like
View All
Morgan Lewis to Relocate to Former Goldman Sachs UK Building in £6.6M Annual Deal
1 minute read
Australian Class Action to be Launched Against Google Over Display Advertising
4 minute read
Reed Smith Bolsters Corporate Team With Markets Partner Hire in London
2 minute read
Trinity International Expands With Singapore Office, Eyes Growth in Infrastructure and Energy
Trending Stories
- 1Wachtell Partner Leaves to Chair Latham's Liability Management Practice
- 2Morris Nichols Partners to Be Involved With PLI Program
- 3How I Made Practice Group Chair: 'Cultivating a Culture of Mutual Trust Is Essential,' Says Gina Piazza of Tarter Krinsky & Drogin
- 4People in the News—Feb. 3, 2025—Antheil Maslow, Kang Haggerty, Saxton & Stump
- 5Patent Pending ... and Pending ... and Pending? Brace Yourself for Longer Waits
Who Got The Work
J. Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit. The suit, accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products, was filed Dec. 18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc. and Graco Minnesota. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi, is 3:24-cv-11294, Graco Inc. et al v. Devco Corporation.
Who Got The Work
Rebecca Maller-Stein and Kent A. Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives, Lior Prosor and David Frankel, in a pending securities lawsuit. The action, filed on Dec. 24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell, Aron & Co. on behalf of Goldeneye Advisors, accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, is 1:24-cv-09918, Goldeneye Advisors, LLC v. Hanaco Venture Capital, Ltd. et al.
Who Got The Work
Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action. The suit, filed Dec. 11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld, accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, is 1:24-cv-09445, Gonzalez v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank et al.
Who Got The Work
Crown Castle International, a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure, has turned to Luke D. Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC, accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Susan K. Declercq, is 2:24-cv-13131, The Town Residences LLC v. T-Mobile US, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Wilfred P. Coronato and Daniel M. Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc. in a pending product liability lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern, alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack, is 2:24-cv-08204, Stern v. Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
Featured Firms
Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.
(470) 294-1674
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
(857) 444-6468
Smith & Hassler
(713) 739-1250
