Quisumbing Torres has promoted Camille Bianca Gatmaitan Santos as a partner in its Dispute Resolution Practice Group. Her extensive experience in commercial and criminal litigation, arbitration and investigations involving bribery, corruption and employee misconduct make her a formidable asset to the firm’s dynamic team. Bianca is a key member of the firm’s Consumer Goods & Retail, and Technology, Media & Telecommunications Industry Groups. Through advising and representing various global technology giants, she possesses substantial knowledge specific to the sector. She has a strong track record in resolving disputes in courts, tribunals and administrative agencies. She is particularly adept at leading internal investigations, developing compliance programs, and providing anti-bribery and anti-corruption training. Beyond these, Bianca is highly regarded for her ability to understand and assess risks, and tailor advice to address the individual risk profile of each client. She excels in providing strategic legal solutions to manage various regulatory, criminal and legal policy considerations. Bianca currently serves as the Institute Treasurer of the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (PIARB). She is an accredited arbitrator of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She has also served as the Assistant National Secretary of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. Bianca is a graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, where she received her JD (Silver Medalist) in 2010 and BS Management (Honorable Mention) in 2006. She was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2011. “We are delighted to welcome Bianca as a partner at Quisumbing Torres. Her competence in handling complex legal matters, and dedication to developing a deep understanding of our clients’ needs and challenges, is aligned with our...

Baker McKenzie has further strengthened its Hong Kong bench with the addition of leading tax lawyer Stefano Mariani as tax disputes counsel. An experienced tax litigator in Hong Kong, Mariani is the only solicitor advocate with higher rights of audience who actively represents clients in tax appeals before the Inland Revenue Board of Review, the District Court, the High Court, the Court of Appeal in Hong Kong, and at all stages of civil proceedings. He brings with him extensive experience in advisory and contentious tax matters, ranging from corporate taxation and group reconstructions to personal taxation, stamp duties and property taxes. He advises on all matters of Hong Kong and international tax law, with a particular focus on dispute resolution. His experience includes cross-border tax planning and Double Taxation Treaty-driven tax structuring. He also advises on trust dispute resolution, including international trusts, estate planning and succession litigation, and...

Yoon & Yang has continued to strengthen its cross-border capabilities with the hire of two Senior Foreign Attorneys from Lee & Ko and Samsung Electronics. Elayne Heeseung Sung and Irene Y Kim have joined the firm’s Seoul office as Senior Foreign Attorneys. Elayne is a US-qualified attorney who joins from Lee & Ko, where she concentrated her practice in shipping finance from 2001 to 2022. She is expected to bring decades of transactional experience advising on cross-border transactions, with a focus on lease and transportation finance. During her 21 years at Lee & Ko, she has advised major financial institutions and Korean shipping companies on a broad range of transactions, including syndicated and bilateral credit facilities, sale and leasebacks, cross-border leases, off-shore financing and export-credit agency supported facilities. Her notable experience spans advising on cross-border tax leases, rehabilitation proceedings of Korean shipping companies, financing of new container boxes under KOBC container box lease program, JOLCO for a car carrier, newbuilding projects and advising Korean ECAs and Korean ECA covered lenders on restructuring of offshore drilling companies. Elayne looks forward to developing a strong Transportation financing team at Yoon & Yang with H K Helen Sohn, a leading aviation finance expert who also joined the firm as a partner from Lee & Ko last year. Her notable experience spans advising on cross-border tax leases, rehabilitation proceedings of Korean shipping companies, financing of new container boxes under KOBC container box lease program, JOLCO for a car carrier, newbuilding projects and advising Korean ECAs and Korean ECA covered lenders on restructuring of offshore drilling companies. Elayne looks forward to developing a strong...

Michael Gu, a renowned figure in the field of competition law in China, has made a significant move in his legal career. Gu has recently left AnJie Law Firm, where he was a founding partner, to join Hylands Law Firm. In doing so, he brings his wealth of expertise and experience to help establish a new antitrust practice. Having previously worked as a partner at leading firms including Linklaters, Allen & Overy and King & Wood Mallesons, Gu has established himself as a competition law pioneer in China. His comprehensive understanding of antitrust matters in China extends to merger filings, antitrust investigations, antitrust civil litigations, compliance audits, and training. Gu’s strategic advisory services help clients navigate potential antitrust risks related to distribution agreements, IP licensing, restrictive measures, exclusive dealings, marketing events, pricing, and bidding processes. He boasts an impressive track record of securing merger clearances from regulatory bodies across various industries such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, electronics, manufacturing, consumer products, telecommunications, transportation, energy, and financial services. Gu has also actively participated in the drafting process of the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law and its implementing rules, providing valuable input to legislative authorities. Over the years, Gu has been widely recognised for his contributions to the field. He has been named by In-House Community as a Commended External Counsel in 2017. Gu will lead Hylands new antitrust group, working with three other partners to leverage the firm’s strong corporate, M&A and IP practices and serve industry leaders on their competition...

Ashurst ADTLaw has appointed Chok Zheng Kai as an associate director in the corporate real estate practice, based in Singapore, to capitalise significant growth opportunities across sectors. Joining from Allen & Gledhill, Zheng Kai specialises in corporate real estate transactions, and is experienced in advising publicly-listed and private corporations, private equity property funds, asset and REIT managers, property developers and other entities in their real estate dealings in Singapore and the region. Qualified as an advocate and solicitor in Singapore, Zheng Kai advises on a wide range of real estate transactions, including acquisitions, divestments, sale and leasebacks, management, development and leasing of offices, malls, warehouses, industrial buildings, serviced apartments, hotels, mixed-use developments and other specialised facilities, such as hospitals and medical centres, aircraft hangars and data centres. “I am excited to join Ashurst ADTLaw, given the firm’s exceptionally strong global network. Ashurst ADTLaw is known for its collaborative culture and client-centric approach, and I look forward to bringing my skills and experience to further develop the firm’s practice in Asia,” said Zheng Kai. Frank Bi, co-head of Ashurst’s Asia corporate transactions, commented, “I am delighted to welcome Zheng Kai on board. He is experienced in handling a wide range of real estate transactions, and he will provide us invaluable industry insights that are vital to the success of a transaction. The appointment demonstrates our continuous investment to grow in the region. His market knowledge and industry expertise will add bench strength to our existing capabilities and enable us to better service our...