Davis Polk & Wardwell has appointed new leaders for its Asia practice and Hong Kong office, replacing capital markets partner William Barron, who held both roles and has been based in Hong Kong since 1993.

Hong Kong-based litigation partner Martin Rogers will chair the Wall Street firm's Asia practice, while the Hong Kong office will be led by corporate partners Miranda So and Li He.

Rogers, who specialises in disputes and regulatory issues related to financial services and government bodies, joined Davis Polk in 2013 to launch a Hong Kong litigation practice for the U.S. firm. He joined from Clifford Chance, where he was a partner for more than 11 years and led the Magic Circle firm's Asia-Pacific disputes practice. Previously, Rogers was a partner at legacy Herbert Smith, where he served briefly as Asia managing partner.

So specialises in mergers and acquisitions as well as private equity matters. In 2016, she advised U.S. ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies Inc. on a $35 billion merger of its Chinese operations with local rival Didi Chuxing Technology Co. She joined Davis Polk in 2003 and made partner in 2011.

U.S.-qualified Li He focuses on initial public offerings related to Chinese companies in the technology, health care, education and financial services sectors. Last year, he and Hong Kong partner James Lin advised the underwriters on a $2.25 billion IPO on Nasdaq of Chinese video streaming site iQiyi Inc. He also joined Davis Polk in 2003 and made partner in 2011.

Meanwhile, Barron has spent more than 30 years with Davis Polk in New York, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong. He has been based in Hong Kong since 1993, when the firm opened an office in the city. He made partner two years later.

Davis Polk's Hong Kong office has 65 lawyers, including 11 partners, making it the firm's largest office outside the U.S. After six years without a Hong Kong partner promotion, the firm has been promoting a lawyer per year to partner since 2017: corporate lawyer Yang Chu this year, securities lawyer Gerhard Radtke last year and financial services disputes and regulatory specialist Karen Chan in 2017.

In June, M&A partner Paul Chow left to move in-house as group general counsel of Hong Kong's flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. Earlier this year, at least three counsels left to join the partnership of other major firms: litigation lawyers Kevin So and Maria Sit to local firm Howse Williams and Dechert, respectively; and debt capital markets specialist Margie Chan to join Norton Rose Fulbright.

The firm has two additional Asia offices in Beijing and Tokyo.

|

Related Stories:

Davis Polk Launches Hong Kong Litigation Practice with Clifford Chance Hires