Baker McKenzie adds Karyn McLean as Director of Business Development, Marketing and Communications

September 8, 2022
  Karyn McLean took up appointment as Baker McKenzie’s Asia Pacific Head of Business Development, Marketing and Communications on 22 August 2022, based in Hong Kong. McLean will be responsible for Baker McKenzie’s business development and marketing strategy and execution across its 17 offices in Asia Pacific. She will also support senior management and industry and practice leads with new business generation, client relationship management, change management, branding, and other key strategic initiatives. McLean is a senior marketing, business development, brand and communications executive with 15 years of experience working in international firms. Her past legal sector experience includes leading the Asia regional BDMC team for DLA Piper and managing the client relationship program for Allen & Overy’s top Asia billing clients. Most recently, she was the regional marketing and communications head of the CFA Institute, where she was also a member of the Asia Pacific Executive Management team and Global MarCom & Client Experience Management team. McLean is a CFA Charterholder and has an MBA from the University of Toronto. She has a passion for mentoring young women to support them in their early career development, and has contributed to programs such as the FT Women in Business Asia Forum, Women in Finance Asia and Young Women in Investment, India. She also serves on the Board of the American Women’s Association and the Advisory Board of the Mission for Migrant Workers. Chris Freeland, Managing Director of Baker McKenzie Asia Pacific commented, “We are delighted to welcome Karyn to the Firm, as she brings with her a wealth of experience in business development and marketing in the legal and professional services industry. We...

Baker McKenzie appoints three new group leaders for Asia Pacific

July 21, 2022
Baker McKenzie has appointed Derek Poon, Stephen Crosswell and Celeste Ang as new leaders for its Asia Pacific practice and industry groups, effective July 1, 2022.  Private Equity/ M&A Partner Derek Poon (Hong Kong) takes over from Kelvin Poa (Singapore) as Asia Pacific chair of the Private Equity Practice. Derek has extensive experience in the Pan-Asia region representing private equity firms, investment banks and major corporations on a wide variety of corporate matters, including public and private M&A, private equity, joint ventures, real estate private equity and distressed M&A transactions.   Antitrust Partner Stephen Crosswell (Hong Kong) also takes over from Adrian Lawrence (Sydney) as Asia Pacific chair of the Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Industry Group, on top of being the Asia Pacific chair of the Antitrust & Competition Practice. Stephen has more than 20 years of experience advising on a broad range of telecommunications regulatory and competition law issues in Mainland China, Hong Kong and throughout the Asia Pacific. He also regularly advises on competition policy matters, including regulated industry negotiations with governments and regulators, deregulation, privatization and state-owned enterprises reform.  Dispute Resolution and Employment Practice Principal Celeste Ang (Singapore) has taken over from Michael Michalandos (Sydney) as Asia Pacific chair of the Employment & Compensation Practice. Celeste has significant experience acting for global clients in cross-border disputes, and advising on compliance and regulatory issues in cross-border investigations. She also advises on a wide range of employment and employment-related issues, with a focus on contentious or potentially contentious issues. “I am delighted to welcome our new practice and industry group leaders to the leadership team. These appointments attest to our commitment in building our practices...