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International Edition

Ashurst nears key votes on leadership and full Aussie merger

Ashurst is set to begin voting on its new management line-up and full financial integration with its Australian arm at the end of September, amid speculation over a challenge to current senior partner Charlie Geffen. A vote on full financial integration with Blake Dawson, now known as Ashurst Australia, will take place on 26 September – ahead of the previous expectation of the end of October – with a 75% majority required for the combination to go ahead.
2 minute read

International Edition

Hong Kong opens second round of higher rights of audience applications

The Hong Kong Law Society is this month accepting the second round of applications from solicitors for higher rights of audience (HRA) following new legislation introduced last year allowing non-barristers to appear in court. Solicitors from local and international law firms have been given one month from 1 September to apply for advocacy rights, with most required to undergo a litigation training programme overseen by the College of Law.
3 minute read

International Edition

Singapore firm Selvam launches in Myanmar with 12-lawyer team

Singapore law firm Selvam & Partners has opened an office in Myanmar, making it the latest in a string of South East Asian outfits to set up in the country. The firm, which plans to focus on corporate, project finance, technology, media and telecoms, and regulatory work, has launched with a team of 12 lawyers in the commercial centre Yangon, to be led by the firm's managing director in Singapore Krishna Ramachandra.
3 minute read

International Edition

Cleary leads as Bank of America sells $1.5bn China Construction Bank stake

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has acted alongside Hong Kong's Deacons on Bank of America's sale of its remaining stake in China Construction Bank (CCB). The US bank is exiting from its Chinese investment by selling approximately two billion shares, the equivalent of 1% of the company's stock, estimated to be worth around $1.5bn (£963m).
2 minute read

International Edition

A novel approach – AIG on why expertise in risk is key to winning Asia panel roles

When he's not busy writing novels, Peter Gregoire is trying to come up with new ways to boost efficiency within AIG's Hong Kong legal team. As GC for the insurance giant there, the author of Article 109 – a legal thriller which reached number one on Dymocks' bestseller list earlier this year – manages AIG's legal affairs in Hong Kong and Macau, and makes suggestions for change to Pamela Yeo, AIG's regional GC based in Singapore.
9 minute read

International Edition

Hard work has just begun: SJB and KWM chiefs outline bold plans for merged firm

When counting down the days to a holiday, that 'to do' list can often seem a little daunting. But for most, pulling off an international merger deal is not one of the tasks on the agenda. SJ Berwin management duo Stephen Kon and Rob Day (pictured, top left and centre) have been enjoying a much-needed rest since signing an agreement to merge with Sino-Australian firm King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) at the tail end of July.
5 minute read

International Edition

A&O, Paul Hastings act as Shuanghui raises $4bn for Smithfield takeover

Allen & Overy (A&O) and Paul Hastings took lead roles as China's Shuanghui secured $4bn (£2.56bn) in debt finance for its takeover of the world's largest pork producer. The Hong Kong meat processing giant, which offered to buy Virginia-based Smithfield Foods for a price of $7.1bn (£4.7bn) earlier this year, said it had entered into a facilities agreement with a group of banks which would allow it to raise funds for the acquisition.
2 minute read

International Edition

DLA Piper's Hong Kong insurance head to leave private practice

The head of DLA Piper's insurance practice in Hong Kong is leaving the firm to pursue opportunities in legal consulting. Will Harrison, who joined DLA in 2007 as a senior associate from Clifford Chance in Hong Kong, is highly rated for contentious insurance work in the region.
3 minute read

International Edition

Hong Kong's top prosecutor calls for committee to regulate SFC

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong should be subject to internal checks and monitoring by a community-based committee, the city's top prosecutor said yesterday. Director of public prosecutions Kevin Zervos, who earlier called for the investigatory body to be stripped of its powers to prosecute, said that at the very least the SFC should be appropriately regulated, to ensure proper use of its powers and to prevent any internal misappropriation.
4 minute read

International Edition

Ex-K&L Gates Hong Kong partner sentenced to 12 years for fraud

A former K&L Gates partner in Hong Kong who committed fraud to repay his gambling debts has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Navin-kumar Aggarwal, who was previously a senior corporate partner at the US firm, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and one count of money laundering in the Court of First Instance.
3 minute read

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