News
King & Spalding to Close Moscow Office in Summer 2021
Law.com International (subscription required)
3/30/21
King & Spalding is closing its Moscow office this summer, the latest in a series of recent upheavals in the Russian capital’s international legal community.
Freshfields Lands Kirkland M&A Partner for Silicon Valley Office
Law.com International (subscription required)
3/23/21
The U.K.-based firm has been making a strong push in Silicon Valley.
McDermott Hires Squire Patton Singapore Co-Head Ahead of Office Launch
Law.com International (subscription required)
3/22/21
McDermott Will & Emery has hired Squire Patton Boggs Singapore co-managing partner, Ignatius Hwang, as a partner in London, following the firm’s decision to apply for a foreign law practice license in the city-state.
King & Wood Mallesons Continues China Expansion with New Chongqing Office
Law.com International (subscription required)
3/22/21
King & Wood Mallesons is expanding its geographical reach in the country the firm has identified as its main growth market. The Chongqing office is the firm’s second office opening in China in just over a year, after the firm opened in Hainan in the country’s south in late 2019.
Lateral Hires in Asia Already Surpassing All of 2020
Law.com International (subscription required)
3/22/21
Law firms in Asia are in the midst of a hiring frenzy. Major firms—both global and Asia-based—have been adding partners at a feverish pace, competing for talent across the region as they bolster their practices to meet the needs of global businesses emerging from the disruptions caused by COVID-19.
McDermott signals Asia reboot with hire of Squire Patton Boggs' Singapore co-head
Global Legal Post
3/22/21
McDermott Will & Emery has hired Squire Patton Boggs’ Singapore co-managing partner, Ignatius Hwang, as it prepares to relaunch in Asia with a Singapore office focusing on energy and infrastructure.
The move comes less than a year after the firm’s Shanghai joint venture office transferred to Chicago rival Winston & Strawn, ending its on-the-ground presence in Asia.
Exclusive: Texas law firm Vinson & Elkins on half a century in London
City A.M.
3/20/21
Texan law firm Vinson & Elkins just celebrated 50 years in London. When V&E first came to the capital, US law firms were still something of a novelty, says Jeffrey Eldredge, a Texas-born partner at the firm, who has worked for the company for more than three decades, mostly from the London office.
At the time, he says, there was not many international law firms in London, and even large English firms did not have much of a global reach.
Singapore's Arbitration Centre Opens Office in New York As Competition With Hong Kong Grows
Law.com International (subscription required)
3/19/21
For years, Singapore has been competing with Hong Kong to be Asia’s preferred arbitral seat. And the Singapore International Arbitration Centre’s new office in New York might just be the edge that will finally puts the Southeast Asian city-state over the top. Launched in December, the office, now in operation virtually due to the pandemic, has received overwhelmingly positive responses from U.S. firms and companies, said SIAC’s head of Americas Adriana Uson, who will eventually be leading a physical New York office. In 2020 alone, 545 U.S. parties have arbitrated under SIAC’s rules, representing an eightfold increase from 65 U.S. parties just the year before.
Clients Call The Shots On Geographic Expansion
Law.com International (subscription required)
3/18/21
Despite the shift to remote work, office openings have continued, one right after the other. Firms of various sizes have been popping up in new cities, and they’re putting down roots.
India's Khaitan to open first overseas office in Singapore
Legal Business Online
3/18/21
India’s second-largest firm, Khaitan & Co, is set to open an office in Singapore next month. Khaitan will operate as a licensed foreign law practice in Singapore, offering Indian law expertise including international commercial arbitration, as permitted by its licence.
Atsumi & Sakai Announces Establishment of New York Office
Law.com
3/17/21
Award-winning Japanese law firm Atsumi & Sakai is pleased to announce the establishment of an office in New York (Formal name: Atsumi & Sakai New York LLP), which will enable the firm to provide more convenient legal services in North and South America. The New York office will be led by Bonnie L. Dixon, a veteran partner of the firm and the first non-Japanese lawyer to be a partner of a Japanese law firm in the post-war era.
Global Law Firm Rimon PC expands international reach with opening of new London office
Rimonlaw.com
3/15/21
Rimon’s reach now includes a presence on five continents, with offices throughout the United States as well as in Paris, Berlin, Bogota, London, Moscow, Shenzhen, Sydney, Tel Aviv, and Warsaw.
Debevoise & Plimpton Closes Tokyo Office
Law.com (subscription required)
3/4/21
Debevoise & Plimpton has closed its Tokyo office after five years operating in the Japanese capital.
“After a careful business review, we made the decision to close our Japan office. We continue to serve the Japan market effectively from New York and other offices,” a representative for the firm said in a statement.
Legal services in Singapore: an interview with the British High CommissionerThe Law Society Gazette
2/24/21
We spoke with High Commissioner Kara Owen about the importance of legal services to Singapore’s economy and the opportunities available to UK firms.
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