Goodwin Launches in Singapore

October 17, 2022
Goodwin opened its Singapore office in the city’s central business district. It is the firm’s second location in Asia and the 15th office globally. The Singapore office, which serves clients raising, deploying and lending capital in the region and around the world, is chaired by private investment funds partner Greg Barclay. He is joined by private equity partner Abhishek Krishnan, counsel Ananth Lakshman and a team of associates. Goodwin’s Hong Kong-based lawyers also support the new office and the firm’s clients in Singapore and the wider region. Private investment funds partner Elyn Xing will spend significant time in Singapore over the coming months. “Singapore is a key hub for the technology, life sciences, real estate, private equity and financial services industries for Southeast Asia and India. Our new office in Singapore is important to our strategy of working with investors and companies in these key sectors,” said Yash Rana, chair of Goodwin’s Asia practice and co-chair of the global Private Equity practice. The firm’s Hong Kong office opened in 2008 and today includes nearly 50 lawyers and global operations team professionals. The top-ranked practice is consistently recognized for excellence. The Hong Kong and Singapore offices will work together seamlessly to meet the needs of the firm’s clients. “Goodwin’s global platform is uniquely positioned to serve clients at the busy intersection of capital and innovation, and Singapore – a magnet for both start-ups and capital flows – is at the heart of this intersection. We are thrilled to launch the office and assist our clients with achieving their strategic objectives,” said Greg Barclay. The team brings with it decades of cross-border transaction experience. Barclay’s practice focuses on the formation of...

Milbank LLP Localises into Hong Kong Law Firm

October 4, 2022
International law firm Milbank LLP announced last September 30 that it has localised its practice into a Hong Kong law firm under the name “Milbank (Hong Kong) LLP”. Milbank LLP has practiced in Hong Kong for many years as a registered foreign law firm providing advice on English and New York laws. As a foreign firm, Milbank LLP will cease to practice in Hong Kong, and a new firm, “Milbank (Hong Kong) LLP”, will commence practice as a Hong Kong firm of solicitors. As a Hong Kong law firm, Milbank (Hong Kong) LLP will be able to broaden the scope of the services that it can offer to its clients, as it will not only be able to practice Hong Kong law, but will also continue to practice and advise on the laws of those other jurisdictions in which Milbank LLP currently practices. Founded in New York over 150 years ago, Milbank LLP provides innovative legal services to clients around the world. It has offices in Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, São Paulo, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, DC. Milbank’s lawyers collaborate across practices and offices to help the world’s leading commercial, financial and industrial enterprises, as well as institutions, individuals and governments, achieve their strategic...

A Conversation with Hong Kong Legal Walk Vice Chair Angel Wong

September 21, 2022
The Hong Kong Legal Walk (HKLW) for charity is inspired and endorsed by the phenomenally impactful London Legal Walk, which has raised over HKD 100M for charity since it was founded in 2003.  The HKLW is organised by an independent group of volunteers from across the industry in Hong Kong, the Steering Committee.  Directly benefiting four charities: the Hong Kong Cancer Fund; the Changing Young Lives Foundation; the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims and HELP for Domestic Workers. The goal of the initiative is to unite the Hong Kong legal profession in the causes of charity and service for our local communities.  Over 35 teams have registered to date with over HKD 190,000 having been raised for charity to date, working towards a fundraising goal of HKD 1M, from 7 major benefactors: Allen & Overy, Maples, Hill Dickinson, M.B. KEMP, CMS, Resolution Chambers, Lewis Silkin and Clyde & Co, along with lead sponsors, Lexology and Ashford Benjamin.  The complete list of sponsors, Major Benefactors and firms participating (which includes the 4 main Magic Circle firms in HK) can be found on the HKLW’s website (legalwalkhk.org). The Closing Ceremony will be held on 19th November at the Hong Kong club. Stay tuned via the Hong Kong Legal Walk LinkedIn Feed for the latest updates. Since publicly announcing the event in October 2021, various marquis organisations in Hong Kong, such as the HK Association of Corporate Counsel, Hong Kong Bar Association and HKIAC are all supporting the initiative, the latter of which have allocated a half day of Hong Kong Arbitration Week to host an exhibition walk, and...

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...

Withers appoints Wei Zhang as new Hong Kong Managing Director

July 21, 2022
  Withersworldwide has appointed private client and tax team partner Wei Zhang as managing director of its Hong Kong office, as of July 2022. With Wei’s appointment, the firm lives up to its track record in appointing women to leadership roles, with 45 percent of its global partnership and half of its partnership board made up of women.  She joins the ranks of a growing number of women leaders at the firm, alongside CEO Margaret Robertson in the UK, Chairperson Justine Markovitz in Switzerland, and Managing Partner Deborah Barker, SC in Singapore. Moreover, Wei’s appointment has made her the youngest Managing Director among Withers’ 17 global offices. Wei’s practice focused on sophisticated tax and wealth planning matters for high-net-worth individuals, their families and fiduciaries. She often advises individuals with residences, assets, as well as wealth planning vehicles in multiple jurisdictions, and she also advises individuals who are either migrating to, expatriating from or investing in the US, or looking to come into compliance with US tax and reporting obligations. “Businesses in Asia continue to expand, and we are seeing a marked surge in demand for high quality legal services. Hong Kong’s role as an international legal hub and its close integration with Greater China will embrace further opportunities. With strong foundations for this growth, I am confident that we can continue to build on our successes and drive our strategic vision forward to service our clients as they seek opportunities around the world,” Wei...