Berwin Leighton Paisner has acquired asset financing boutique firm William KK Ho & Co in Hong Kong. The two partners of that five-lawyer outfit, William Ho and Jackson Chow, will join BLP as partners.

In March, seven BLP asset finance lawyers across Singapore and Hong Kong left to join Holman Fenwick Willan, including partners David Brotherton and Justin Sun.

With more than 24 years of experience, Ho has expertise in export credits, sovereign lending, tax leases and operating leases, and the sale and purchase of aircraft and large shipping vessels.

Chow, a specialist in asset financing, has experience in aviation-related matters, particularly cross-border financing transactions, asset-backed securitisations, Japanese operating leases and French tax leases. Prior to joining William KK Ho, Chow worked with Clifford Chance and Clayton Utz.

BLP’s asset finance team recently promoted Simon Spells to partner, and its Hong Kong and Beijing offices now have a total of 30 lawyers including 11 partners.

“These hires enhance our global finance capabilities and are wholly in alignment with a key part of the firm’s overall strategy to continue to develop our debt finance and corporate capabilities,” said Adam Dann, BLP’s head of finance, in a statement. He added, “William and his team will add best-in-class capabilities around our sector focuses with knowledge and expertise in shipping and rail which will enhance our existing capabilities.”