King & Spalding has hired Richard Nelson, former head of Herbert Smith Freehills’ Southeast Asia energy practice, as a partner in its Singapore office.

Nelson, who has worked in Asia for more than 10 years, has experience in mergers and acquisitions and development projects in the oil and gas, LNG and power sectors in countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. He has represented oil majors and independents, national oil companies, host governments and project sponsors and developers.

“Richard's a great catch. He's been on our radar for a long time,” said John Savage, managing partner of King & Spalding's Singapore office, in a statement. “He has a superb reputation in the market, and clients we have in common recommended him highly to us.”

Nelson’s arrival takes the number of energy transactions partners at King & Spalding's Singapore office to five. The office also has four partners in its international arbitration practice, which focuses on energy and infrastructure disputes.

Herbert Smith Freehills recently announced it would move energy partner David Clinch from Hong Kong to Singapore.