JD Journal » Singapore

Baker & McKenzie Announces Appointment of New Chief Operating Officer to Australia Offices

rebneely — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:42:51 +0000

Baker & McKenzie announced it has welcomed James Odell to its Australia offices as national Chief Operating Officer (COO). Odell transfers from Singapore; there he served COO of the firm’s South East Asia operations.

Before joining Baker & McKenzie, Odell was a member of Linklaters’ global Strategy & Planning team based in London and Hong Kong. He began his career as an aeronautical engineer with the UK Ministry of Defence, and possesses nearly two decades of experience in Asia.

Baker & McKenzie Managing Partner, Chris Freeland, was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Australia’s increasing connectedness with global markets, particularly in Asia Pacific, means the need for seamless legal advice, delivered efficiently across borders, has never been greater. In addition to a balance of strategic and operational experience, James brings a drive for efficiency born from his experience as an engineer. We are very pleased to have James on board to further strengthen the value of our offering.”

On his appointment, Odell highlighted Baker & McKenzie’s unparalleled global platform combined with a deep understanding of local markets, and was quoted as saying: “This has positioned us very well to advise investors looking to extend and protect interests in new markets. It’s exciting to be in Australia as it emerges as a key player on the world stage at a firm which has invested in its global offering for so many decades.”

Chris Freeland is National Managing Partner of Baker & McKenzie’s Australian offices and a member of its Asia Pacific Regional Council. Chris has had many years’ experience as a lawyer, strategy consultant and professional services manager in leading global and domestic organizations. He has lived and worked in New York, Beijing, Melbourne and Sydney.

Baker & McKenzie’s Australian lawyers have advised on many of the headline Australian transactions of the last four decades. These include the capital raising and listing for International Ferro Metals Limited, the first Australian company admitted to the FTSE 250; the A$4 billion KKR joint venture with the Seven Network; the groundbreaking A$1.85 billion Sims Group merger with the US company Metal Management Inc; and the A$1.2 billion acquisition of Schweppes Australia by Asahi Breweries.

The firm is a trusted advisor to leading Australian and multi-national corporations, State and Federal governments, Australian, international and multilateral institutions.

Baker & McKenzie continues to bring the experience of its global classroom to our clients in Australia through every transaction and every piece of advice. The firm actively ensures that it has harnessed the best legal solution as tested through its global platform. The firm’s ability to accomplish this is enabled by leadership in legal thinking, and by bringing experience across legal and regulatory boundaries to clients in their home markets.

Baker & McKenzie is an international law firm, founded in Chicago in 1949 by Russell Baker and John McKenzie. The firm employs over 3,800 lawyers in 70 offices in 42 different countries.

As a transnational operation, no single nationality dominates the firm, and over 80 percent of its lawyers practice outside the United States. The lawyers come from 60 countries and speak more than 75 languages, with English in common.

Winston & Strawn Adds Prominent Litigation Attorney to London Office

rebneely — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:13:15 +0000

Winston & Strawn LLP announced yesterday that Michael Madden has joined the firm as head of its commercial litigation practice in London.

The addition of Madden follows a succession of high profile appointments for Winston, both in London and globally. As part of its continuing strategy for expanding globally, prominent IP litigators, Richard Price and Gareth Morgan, joined the firm’s London office. In addition, other major hires include former managing partner/CEO of Howrey LLP, Robert Ruyak, and former head of the President’s national Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, Robb Adkins, to the firm’s Washington, D.C. and West Coast offices.

Madden is the former managing partner of Ashurst’s dispute resolution department. Not only does he have a strong track record in commercial litigation and arbitration, administrative law and judicial review, he has significant experience as the lead partner in disputes involving corporate acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures in various industries. He has also advised on disputes relating to international and domestic contracts, finance transactions, tax, defamation, professional negligence, insolvency issues and real estate.

Among Madden’s range of significant cases is a favorable decision before the House of Lords concerning directors’ duties which is a leading case on the use of “poison pill” and other takeover disputes. He has successfully handled many other major cases in the Court of Appeal and the High Court, including leading cases on injunctions, the exercise of public authority powers and on casino licensing.

Madden’s corporate clients represent a variety of sectors, including banks, private equity, financial services, retail, gaming and leisure, real estate and technology. He is consistently recommended for his strong client focus. He has been described, per the press release, in the leading directories as “someone you would always want on your side” and a “tough” litigator.

While serving as managing partner of the Ashurst dispute team, Madden oversaw the development of litigation and arbitration teams to service global clients, including the establishment of such practices in Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong, and with clients and lawyers in Beijing and other centres in China.

Winston’s managing partner, Thomas Fitzgerald was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We are delighted that Michael has chosen Winston to further develop his highly regarded disputes resolution practice. Michael’s experience and stature within the sector will immediately enhance our dispute resolution capabilities and undoubtedly attract the kind of talent we seek in growing our presence throughout Europe.”

Madden was quoted as saying: “Winston’s globally acclaimed disputes resolution team has an outstanding reputation and a premier list of clients. I am pleased to be joining the Winston London office at a time of growth and welcome the exciting new challenge of developing not only a London-based disputes resolution team but a truly global offering.”

Thomas Benz, managing partner of Winston’s London office was quoted as saying: “We are delighted that Michael is joining our London team, his strong management experience in developing a cohesive and highly successful disputes team and his track record of managing significant client relationships will be integral to broadening the scope of this practice area both here and globally.”

Founded in Chicago in 1853, Winston & Strawn LLP is an international law firm with over 900 attorneys in 13 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

King & Spalding Announces Plans to Open Office in Moscow; Hires Five Attorneys

rebneely — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:12:29 +0000

Today, King & Spalding announced it will open an office in Moscow, and the firm has hired, initially, five lawyers from Hogan Lovells and White & Case.

The Moscow office will be King & Spalding’s 17th worldwide and will work closely with the firm’s extensive transactions practices in London, the historic legal centre for transactions originating in Russia, as well as its highly regarded international arbitration practice in Paris, an important venue for Russian disputes.

The office will open in Moscow following receipt of government registration. The move has been much anticipated in the expansion of King & Spalding’s top-ranked international energy practice. The office will have close ties to the firm’s existing operations in the global energy centres of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Singapore, Houston, London and New York.

King & Spalding chairman Robert D. Hays, Jr. was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We see this as an opportunity to turn heads and achieve instant critical mass in Russia by bringing together five well-established Moscow-based lawyers from two respected firms. Moscow is another example of our focus on expanding our global footprint by investing in high-value practices where we are already strong and in markets where our clients are seeking our expertise.”

Garry Pegg, King & Spalding’s co-managing partner in London and a former partner at Hogan Lovells who has worked extensively in Russia was quoted as saying: “A strong presence in Moscow has long been considered a key element of our international growth strategy, particularly for transactions-related assignments. The team we have created is of the highest quality and a great fit personally and professionally. It also enhances our ability to serve clients in and from London and across all legal disciplines and market sectors, including energy and life sciences.”

King & Spalding has a long history of representing clients across the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Olga Kozyr, Alla Naglis and Sergey Komolov join the firm as partners, and Iliya Zotkin as counsel, all from Hogan Lovell. Jennifer Josefson joins as partner from White & Case.

Komolov will be the resident office managing partner in Moscow. Komolov practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, finance, restructuring and general corporate law and has represented some of Russia’s largest corporations and banks in connection with groundbreaking transactions and major cross-border disputes.

Kozyr practices in the areas of corporate and real estate law, international and Russian litigation and life sciences, and represents U.S. and European companies engaged in investments in Russian.

Naglis focuses on cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and telecommunications, media and entertainment law, and has extensive experience in antitrust and intellectual property matters.

Josefson has been based in Moscow since 2002 and is consistently ranked as one of the leading energy and natural resource lawyers in Russia.

King & Spalding is an international law firm with more than 800 lawyers, and represents half of the Fortune 100.

DLA Piper Open for Business in Australia

rebneely — Tue, 03 May 2011 10:57:57 +0000

Following the integration of DLA Phillips Fox (Australia) and DLA Piper, DLA Piper is now open for business in Australia.

DLA Piper in Australia is a full service business law firm with the ability to provide clients with a broad variety of services across five capital cities nationally, and 11 offices throughout Asia-Pacific.

In Asia-Pacific, DLA Piper has more than 700 lawyers operating out of offices located in Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Canberra, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Perth, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

Globally, DLA Piper now has 4,200 lawyers operating in 76 offices in 30 countries. The group also has alliances with firms in an additional 17 countries.

Managing Partner for Australia Tony Holland was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Our clients are at the centre of everything we do and we are dedicated to supporting them and helping them to do business. We believe this is a significant day for the Australian legal market. We are adding real value by offering a comprehensive range of legal services across a truly national and truly international footprint. Integration has already enhanced our ability to compete for work in the region. Our new positioning in the market has been welcomed by our clients and is attractive to prospective clients, as demonstrated by our recent appointment to the panel of a major international investment bank.”

DLA Piper represents more clients in a broader range of geographies and practice disciplines than virtually any other law firm in the world.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:26:26 +0000

Good morning everybody! Today is Thursday, November 18th. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

Lisa Murkowski won her bid to be returned to Washington as Alaska’s Senator…

Boies Schiller let three female associates go late last week…

Sidley Austin’s Matthew Sheridan was promoted to practice Co-Head…

Mintz Levin Co-Chairs will be the featured speakers at MIT Conference…

McGuire Woods finalized an agreement to combine operations with the Houston-based firm of Nickens Keeton Lawless Farrell & Flack LLP…

Hogan Lovells added two partners to its firm, one in Philadelphia, and one in Washington, D.C….

Sidley Austin’s Sheridan Promoted to Practice Co-Head

joshua — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:02:34 +0000

Sidley Austin corporate finance partner Matthew Sheridan is relocating from Hong Kong to the firm’s Singapore office, effective Jan. 1, where he will assume responsibilities as co-head of the firm’s Asia International Corporate Finance group. Sheridan will share those responsibilities with Tim Li, who will remain in Hong Kong.

Thomas W. Albrecht, the firm’s Managing Partner for the Asia Pacific region, commented on the move in a press release: “Matt and Tim have built a top-tier corporate finance reputation and a deep and talented bench in Hong Kong. We have experienced increased client demand in South East Asia and we expect that trend to continue, so now is the time to expand our geographic capabilities utilizing that deep bench.”

Sheridan, who has lived and worked in Asia since 1994, including in Singapore from 1995-2002, represents underwriters and issuers, including corporate enterprises, financial institutions, governments and governmental entities in connection with corporate financings through global offerings of debt and equity securities, as well as mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructurings.

“I am excited to take up this new challenge, which represents a natural progression in our Asian practice,” Sheridan said.

Sidley has had an established presence in the Asia Pacific region for more than 25 years, having opened its first office in the region in Singapore in 1982.

Milbank Readies For Expansion in Hong Kong

joshua — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:14:54 +0000

Milbank, Tweed Hadley & McCloy has added lateral partner Dieter Yih to launch a practice in Hong Kong in 2011, the firm said in a press release Tuesday. The move is being described as “a significant expansion of Milbank’s 35-year presence in Hong Kong.”

Dieter, whose practice focuses on corporate finance and M&A, will join Milbank’s U.S. partnership in 2011 and the firm’s Hong Kong partnership when it is established later that year. He is a former partner at Mallesons Stephen Jacques.

“We are expanding our capabilities in response to the sustained growth of international capital markets and M&A deal activity involving Hong Kong law,” said Mel Immergut, Milbank’s Chairman. “As one of Hong Kong’s leading corporate lawyers, Dieter will play a key role in meeting the growing needs of our corporate, private equity and investment banking clients.”

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP is headquartered in New York and has 11 offices worldwide, including Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:32:21 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, October 11th. Here’s a quick look back at Friday’s stories.

Bernstein Liebhard was named to the National Law Journal’s Plaintiffs’ Hot List for the eighth consecutive year…

Greenberg Traurig’s Galli will lead the Urban Land Institute Panel in Washington, D.C., on October 13-15…

Duane Morris is set to announce its joint venture with a leading Singapore firm Arfat Selvam Alliance…

Lemon law firm Kimmel & Silverman began offering services in four additional states…

Duane Morris Set to Announce Joint Venture with Leading Singapore Firm

joshua — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 21:16:52 +0000

Duane Morris L.L.P. is set to announce a joint venture with a leading Singapore firm it says will further open Asian markets to its U.S. clients, in addition to generating new business in the region.

The firm said it recently won approval from regulators in Singapore to form a joint venture with the 17-lawyer firm of Arfat Selvam Alliance. This would be the first such pairing of a Singapore firm with a U.S.-based law firm.

Duane Morris has a three-lawyer office in Singapore, headed by Eduardo Ramos Gomez, the former Mexican ambassador to Singapore. But its lawyers, though able to focus on transactional work in the region, are trained in U.S. law and cannot practice in Singapore courts.

According to today’s Philadelphia Inquirer article, John Soroko, chairman and chief executive officer of Duane Morris said the joint venture will connect clients from Duane Morris’ 24 offices in the United States, London, Vietnam, and Singapore with Arfat Selvam lawyers who have practices in Singapore and elsewhere in Asia.

Arfat Selvam has a substantial Islamic-law practice, helping clients ensure that transactions comply with requirements of the Quran, a key practice area for firms that seek to do business in Muslim regions of Southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf. In addition to its Islamic-law practice, Arfat Selvam focuses on mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, and other transactional matters.

Duane Morris LLP, a full-service law firm with more than 700 attorneys in 24 offices in the United States and internationally, offers innovative solutions to the legal and business challenges presented by today’s evolving global markets.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:54:47 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, September 22nd. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

King & Spalding opened an office in Singapore…

The Best Lawyers in America gave Jones & Walker high rankings for the fourth year in a row…

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe added two attorneys to its London office…

The American Lawyer, The Nationnew al Law Journal and Corporate Counsel will present the second annual “The Litigation Summit: The Business of Litigation” October 5-6, 2010…

O’Melveny & Myers formed a new integrated legal strategies practice…

King & Spalding Opens Singapore Office

joshua — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:38:25 +0000

King & Spalding announced Wednesday that it has opened an office in Singapore after having received the necessary approvals from the Singapore government. The office will serve as a hub for the firm’s work in energy and international arbitration throughout the Asia-Pacific region. This is King & Spalding’s eighth office outside the United States.

“Singapore’s establishment as a key international arbitration center, coupled with a steady increase in energy and infrastructure investment throughout the region, make it a compelling location for the continued expansion of our energy and arbitration practices–two of the firm’s particular strengths,” said Robert D. Hays, Jr., chairman of King & Spalding.

King & Spalding initiated its plans for establishing an office in Singapore this past August, when it announced the hiring of international arbitration partner John Savage, the former vice chair of international arbitration and head of the Asia disputes practice at Shearman & Sterling.

As previously announced, the new office will be managed by Philip R. Weems, who will also continue as co-head of King & Spalding’s global energy practice from his new Singapore base.
The Singapore team’s arbitration docket currently includes a large arbitration for a U.S. multinational corporation against a Middle Eastern partner, a dispute between a major oil company and an Asian state, an ad hoc arbitration in the shipping sector and an arbitration for a private equity house against Pakistani parties.

The new King & Spalding office is located at One Raffles Place in Singapore’s central business district.

King & Spalding is ranked among the leading international arbitration and energy practices in the world. The firm has more than 800 lawyers in Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dubai, Frankfurt, Houston, London, New York, Riyadh, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Singapore and Washington D.C.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:56:09 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, August 16th. Here’s a quick look back at Friday’s stories.

Baron & Budd, P.C. will represent Louisianans in upcoming case against BP…

A survey by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association revealed the number of Fortune 500 companies with female general counsels reached an all-time high this year…

King & Spalding applied for government permission to open an office in Singapore…

Skadden added a partner in its Washington, D.C. Office…

King & Spalding Set to Enter Singapore

joshua — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:03:56 +0000

King & Spalding this week said it has applied for government permission to open an office in Singapore that will serve as a regional hub for its energy and international arbitration practices.

The new office will be managed by Philip R. Weems, who will also continue to serve as head of King & Spalding’s global energy practice. Additionally, the firm has added partners John Savage, formerly the head of Shearman & Sterling’s Asia disputes practice; and Daniel R. Rogers, an international transactions lawyer with extensive experience on major projects in Asia.

Robert D. Hays Jr., King & Spalding’s chairman, explained the move into Singapore in a press release. “Singapore’s establishment as a key international arbitration center for commercial disputes in Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Australia, coupled with a steady increase in energy and infrastructure investment throughout the region, make it a compelling center for the continued expansion of our energy and arbitration practices,” Hays Jr. said.

Singapore will be the eighth office outside the United States opened by King & Spalding, which is consistently ranked among the top energy and arbitration practices in the world.

Former DLA Piper, Duane Morris Partner Convicted of Fraud

joshua — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:28:11 +0000

A former partner at DLA Piper and Duane Morris, Rudy Lim, was convicted of fraud and sentenced to two months in jail in Singapore Monday. Lim was convicted March 12 following a three-day trial for misrepresenting his annual salary when he moved from DLA Piper’s Singapore office to Duane Morris in January 2007.

According to The Straits Times, Lim inflated his monthly salary from $25,000 to $65,000 in order to get Duane Morris to match the amount. The forgery was discovered by his former colleagues at DLA Piper during a check of electronic records stored in the firm’s computer server.

When handing out the sentence, District Judge Jill Tan said Lim, given he was a lawyer, should have realized the consequences of making false documents and providing false information. According to The Straits Times, Lim is appealing the decision and remains free on $80,000 bail posted by his father.

White & Case Launches Arbitration Practice in Singapore

joshua — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:49:59 +0000

White & Case, one of six international firms awarded a license to practice in Singapore at the end of 2008, is launching an arbitration practice in its Singapore office. The practice will be headed up by Aloke Ray, who will relocate from London. Also joining the firm is Nandakumar Ponniya who comes on board as a partner from the local firm Rajah & Tann.

The arbitration practice group will cover all of Southeast Asia and reflects the firm’s belief that Singapore is poised to become a major arbitration center for the region.

Four UK firms and two from the US were awarded licenses to practice in Singapore at the end of 2008. Latham & Watkins along with White & Case make up the US contingent, while the UK is represented by Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith and Norton Rose. Under terms of the license, which are valid for five years, the six firms can practice all areas of local law except domestic litigation, criminal, family and administrative law.

Allen & Overy Partners Switch Firms

Erik Even — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:31:42 +0000

Allen & Overy attorney Michael Jahnke has lateraled to Howrey. He joins as a partner in the competition practice group. His practice focuses on tobacco, food, energy and telecommunications corporations.

Meanwhile, A&O Capital markets partner Srinivas Parthasarathy will leave A&O’s Singapore office to join Trilegal’s Mumbai office as a partner. He will head the capital markets group. The two firms have been affiliated since January 2008.

Founded in 1930, Allen & Overy has approximately 5,500 staff in 31 offices worldwide. It is part of the Magic Circle of London-based law firms.

K&L Gates Adds New Names to Roster

Erik Even — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:10:50 +0000

Raja Bose joins K&L Gates from Singapore office from the crosstown firm Watson Farley & Williams. He concentrates on cross-border litigation and arbitration matters, and serving the oil and gas industries in construction disputes.

Also, Stephen Crimmins joins from Mayer Brown, and will work in Washington DC in the securities enforcement practice. His JD is from Columbia Law.

K&L Gates LLP is a US law firm with over 1700 attorneys worldwide, and is ranked as the 10th largest law firm in the world.

Keystone Law Expands Disputes, Real Estate Practices

Erik Even — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:31:36 +0000

Singapore’s Keystone Law has hired Chan Yee Min as director and co-head of its real estate practice, and Leonard Koh Hun Peng as counsel and co-head for its disputes practice.

Chan was with Drew & Napier for 10 years. She specializes in real estate and property work.

Koh is admitted to practice in Singapore, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, and was formerly with Clifford Chance and Jones Day.

Keystone Law is a Singapore law corporation with an emphasis on information technology, telecommunications, intellectual property, dispute resolution, real estate and corporate/commercial law. It should not be confused with the UK’s Keystone Law.

Allen & Overy Hires Singapore Team

Erik Even — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:42:10 +0000

Allen & Overy has expanded its presence in Singapore, after hiring all ten lawyers at Venture Law.

The move gives Allen & Overy 44 lawyers in the island city-state, including nine partners.

Partners Lock Yin Mei, Venture Law’s managing director, and Kenny Kwan join Allen & Overy as capital markets partners. Until March, Venture Law was affiliated with White & Case.

Allen & Overy formerly had a long-standing relationship with Singapore’s Shook Lin & Bok, but ended the alliance last month.

Founded in 1930, Allen & Overy has approximately 5,500 staff in 31 offices worldwide. It is part of the Magic Circle of London-based law firms.

DLA Piper Lays Off 54 in Asia

Erik Even — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:38:31 +0000

DLA Piper announced today it is laying off 20 lawyers and 34 staff across its Asian offices, in response to the global economic meltdown.

DLA Piper has in recent years built up one of the largest Asia practices of any international law firm, with offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, and Bangkok.

The majority of the cuts were in the Hong Kong office, the firm’s largest in the region, with over 100 lawyers. The layoffs were primarily focused on transactional practices.

DLA Piper is one of several firms that built large practices in the area in anticipation of a continued stream of initial public offerings by emerging Chinese companies.

DLA Piper’s Asia restructuring comes weeks after DLA Piper announced sweeping layoffs in the United States, cutting its ranks by 80 associates and 100 staffers. The firm has also had layoffs in the United Kingdom.

White & Case Will Not Merge With Singapore Firm

Erik Even — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:03:22 +0000

White & Case, one of six international firms granted a license to practice Singapore law, has canceled plans to merge with local alliance partner Venture Law.

The firm declined to comment further, though a source briefed on the matter confirmed that White & Case’s plans no longer included a merger with the 10-lawyer Venture Law.

The two firms had been in a formal alliance since 2003. Until December, such alliances and joint ventures were the only means through which international firms could practice Singapore law. Prior to its arrangement with 10-lawyer Venture Law, White & Case had participated in a short-lived joint venture with another local firm, Colin Ng & Partners.

Other foreign firms, including Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Shearman & Sterling and Freshfields, also pulled out of Singapore joint ventures, and the Singapore government last year introduced its liberalized Qualified Foreign Law Practice regime partly in response to their complaints.

Along with White & Case, the other foreign firms who received QFLP licenses were Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith, Latham & Watkins and Norton Rose.

K&L Gates Launches Singapore Office

Erik Even — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:56:43 +0000

K&L Gates, Pittsburgh’s largest law firm, has opened a Singapore office, its 32nd location and its fifth in Asia.

New partner Kevin Murphy will lead the Singapore office. Murphy joins K&L Gates from the Singapore office of DLA Piper. He will be supported by additional members of the K&L Gates Asia practice group.

The firm has more than 70 professionals across the five Asia offices, as well as 200 lawyers firmwide in the Asia practice group.

K&L Gates is Pittsburgh’s ninth largest private company, as ranked by revenue, which was $959.4 million in 2008, up 27 percent over 2007. On March 1st, the firm completed its merger with Chicago-based Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP.

K&L Gates employs around 1,900 lawyers, including 232 in Pittsburgh.

Gibson Dunn Revenues Up, No Layoffs Planned

Erik Even — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:06:42 +0000

Am Law 100 firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher reports that gross revenue rose 5.4% to $957 million in 2008.

Gibson Dunn’s profits per partner declined 1.3% to $1.9 million, while revenue per lawyer dropped 4.3% to $1 million.

In May, Gibson Dunn announced the opening of an office in Singapore, bringing the firm’s office total to 15.

The Los Angeles-founded firm added 25 lateral partners, more than double the number of laterals it hired during any prior year. The 920-lawyer firm’s legal talent grew by 10%.

The firm intends to attract more laterals in 2009.

Founded in 1890, Gibson Dunn has almost 1000 attorneys and over 2000 staff located in 15 offices around the world.

Clifford Chance Creates Team of Key Partners

todd — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:55:57 +0000

Clifford Chance has garnered a team of key partners to direct its newly formed bond with Indian firm AZB & Partners.

Chance, a magic circle firm, has just appointed a number of partners in crucial jurisdictions; including London and New York, in an effort to insure that work is referred between the firms.

India Practice head and finance partner Chris Wyman said, “We’re coordinating the relationship to make sure it works efficiently. There are India focused teams in various offices with a number of partners involved.”

Wyman, along with London Partner Andrew Carnegie and Singapore partner Edward Bradley will be in charge of global management.

New York corporate partner Sarah Jones is on the US India team.

Key partners have been appointed in France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy and Spain.

DLA Piper’s Ong to Head Up Eversheds Singapore

Erik Even — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:09:52 +0000

London’s Eversheds is opening of a new office in Singapore, and beginning work on developing a presence in Hong Kong.

The firm has recruited DLA Piper’s former Singapore managing partner Desmond Ong to head up the new operation. Ong, a corporate and litigation lawyer, quit as DLA’s Singapore chief last November.

The Singapore office will be Eversheds’ second office in Asia, after Shanghai. It will serve the markets in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Last year Eversheds hired former DLA Piper and Heller Ehrman Asia head Nick Seddon to lead the Hong Kong initiative.

Eversheds LLP has 40 offices in major cities across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. It also has business groups specializing in the needs of international organizations doing business in Africa, India, Japan and North America. The firm provides legal and business advice to private and public sector businesses and the finance community worldwide.