Simmons & Simmons has appointed Kenneth Hui as Head of Hong Kong Regulatory, Greater China, effective July 2, 2024. With over 14 years of experience in the financial services industry, his addition marks a strategic enhancement of Simmons’ regulation advisory services in the Asia Pacific and Greater China region. Kenneth’s expertise spans a wide range of financial services regulatory issues, including fintech, digital assets and transaction structuring. His extensive background includes advisory roles for international and regional banks, broker dealers, non-bank lenders, payment companies, financial sponsors, asset managers and fintech companies. Based in the firm’s Hong Kong office, Kenneth will be working in the firm’s growing Asia financial markets practice. He joins from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he served as counsel in their financial services regulatory group, and brings close ties with industry bodies, such as the Asia Securities & Industry Financial Markets Association. “Kenneth’s deep knowledge of financial regulations and emerging technologies will significantly bolster our capabilities in Hong Kong. His expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital assets, particularly within the context of Hong Kong law, positions us to offer unparalleled service and regulatory advice to our clients,” says Jason Valoti, partner in Simmons’ Financial Markets group in Singapore. Kenneth Hui comments, “Joining Simmons offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the firm’s renowned expertise in financial services regulation. I look forward to leveraging my experience to help our clients navigate the complex regulatory landscape and capitalise on the opportunities in the digital assets and fintech sectors, delivering the outstanding quality of service the firm is already known for in Hong Kong and...

Atsumi & Sakai has established a new office in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam to help the firm expand its market-leading legal services in Southeast Asia. Located at Bitexco Financial Tower, 2 Hai Trieu Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, the new office is the firm’s first in Southeast Asia and its fifth overseas, following New York, London, Frankfurt and Brussels. It will provide clients with timely advice in line with current legal practices, through the firm’s Japanese lawyers well-versed in legal affairs in Vietnam and Southeast Asia and local practices, and a Vietnamese lawyer experienced in general corporate legal affairs and M&A in Vietnam. The representative of the Ho Chi Minh office is Mr Katsunori Irie, who is admitted in Japan (Tokyo Bar Association) and is a registered foreign lawyer in Vietnam. Other lawyers with him are Ms Thi Ngoc Anh Mai, who is admitted in Vietnam, and Mr Taisuke Oikawa, who is admitted in Japan and is a registered foreign lawyer in Vietnam. Since 2011, Atsumi & Sakai has operated an alliance with and continuously seconded Japanese lawyers to A-PAC International Law Firm (APAC), a law firm in Hanoi with experience in negotiations with Vietnamese government authorities. Through this alliance, Atsumi & Sakai has built up experience of the business environment in Vietnam, and been retained by and provided legal services to a large number of clients, mainly Japanese companies that have entered or are considering entering the Vietnamese...

Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra has elevated two partners and a counsel as new heads of three practice groups. Partner Kristine Torres is the new Head of the Project Finance and ESG Practice Group. She brings with her a wealth of experience and a proven track record in project finance and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters. Her expertise and dedication to excellence will be invaluable, as the firm continues to provide top-tier legal services to its clients in these critical areas. The new Head of the Intellectual Property Group is Partner Micaela Kristina Galvez. She brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished track record in intellectual property law, having successfully represented clients in complex cases and provided strategic counsel on a wide range of IP issues. Her leadership, expertise, and dedication to excellence make her an invaluable asset to the firm’s team and clients. Moreover, Counsel Mark Anthony C De Leon is the new Head of the Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Group. He has been an invaluable member of the firm’s team, demonstrating exceptional expertise and dedication in the field of financial rehabilitation and insolvency law. His deep understanding of the complexities in this area and his strategic approach have significantly contributed to the firm’s success and the favorable outcomes achieved for its...

Baker McKenzie has welcomed three new members to its Global India Practice Group’s Steering Committee. The steering committee includes partner representatives across the Firm’s global platform who actively work on India-related matters, with responsibility for developing and implementing the strategy for the Global India Practice Group. The new appointees are: Ash Tiwari, Corporate/M&A partner in the London office, specializing in domestic and cross-border private M&A, joint ventures, restructurings, reorganizations, listed company advice, and corporate governance Hani Naja, Corporate/M&A partner in the UAE offices, whose practice focuses on M&A, joint ventures, corporate reorganizations and post-acquisition integration, as well as corporate structuring, foreign direct investment and market entry in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the UAE and Qatar Joy Gallup, Corporate & Securities partner in the New York office, with extensive experience in a broad range of cross-border corporate finance transactions, including cross-border liability management transactions, distressed and high-yield debt, green bonds, project bond offerings, syndicated loans, and structured debt products (including securitizations and monetizations) Other members on the steering committee include Ashok Lalwani (chair), Aarthi Belani, Ashish Chugh, Adolfo Duranona, Emmanuel Hadjidakis, Samantha Mobley, Philippe Reich, Virusha Subban, Teresa Tovar, Peerapan Tungsuwan and Mini vandePol. This deep pool of legal talent is key to the Firm’s long-standing track record of successfully assisting Indian and international companies with their India outbound and inbound investments, which sees Baker McKenzie being regularly featured at industry awards and publications as the top foreign law firm for India-related...