Birds to launch Tokyo office targeting Japanese outbound M&A
UK-headquartered Bird & Bird has announced plans to launch a Tokyo office to be led by newly hired corporate partner Hiro Iwamura. Iwamura joins from Ashurst, where he headed the firm’s UK/European-Japanese practice.
MIDDLE EAST: ‘My biggest enemy is time’
Nadim Elias El Haj, chief legal officer of Abu Dhabi National Hotels, brings a wealth of experience from his tenure in legal leadership across the hospitality and tourism sectors, including tenures at Bloom Properties, Lakhraim Business Group, and Millennium Hotels and Resorts.
MIDDLE EAST: IPO Oasis
The Middle East’s regional IPO markets are flourishing despite a global slowdown and geopolitical instability owing to the region’s long-term structural and regulatory reforms, a maturing diversified market and strong investor confidence.
JSA adds 2 more partners as Bengaluru market stays hot
Indian law firm J. Sagar Associates has continued its aggressive expansion with the addition of real estate partner Brijita Prakash and corporate partner Santosh Vijay in Bengaluru, making it six partner hires in just over a month for the firm.
Nishimura continues SEA growth with energy partner
Japanese Big Six law firm Nishimura & Asahi has continued the planned expansion of its Southeast Asia offerings with the addition of energy-focused finance and M&A partner Sean Conaty.
Weil HK managing partner takes GC role at PAG
Investment management company PAG has hired private equity expert Tim Gardner as its group general counsel from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, where he was the Hong Kong managing partner and co-head of its Asia PE practice.
HK: Stevenson, Wong employment head moves to Hastings & Co
Disputes lawyer Milly Yuk Kwan Hung has joined Hong Kong law firm Hastings & Co. as a partner and head of its employment practice. She was most recently at Stevenson, Wong & Co, where she held a similar role.
ALB CONVERSATIONS: Audrey Shum, Managing Director and General Counsel, Christie’s Asia Pacific
Audrey Shum, managing director and general counsel of Christie’s Asia Pacific, talks about why the in-house legal team is particularly important as a business enters unknown territory, how having a culture of mutual respect and inclusiveness is particularly important to her, and why it is critical that colleagues feel they are learning and growing and are part of a collaborative team.
Yulchon continues 2024 hiring spree with IP pro
South Korean Big Six firm Yulchon has continued its hot partner hiring streak in 2024 with the addition of former Lee & Ko media and entertainment practice head Chunghwan Choi to its Seoul-based intellectual property and technology practice.
HK: Loeb & Loeb doubles down on cap markets with hires from CMS
U.S. law firm Loeb & Loeb has expanded its capital markets team in Hong Kong by hiring Shirley Lau and Polly Liu as partners from Lau Horton & Wise, the Hong Kong association firm of CMS that was founded by Lau.