Malaysian law firm Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership (RDS) has added two more partners to its growing roster, hiring Steven Perian (L) as head of the firm’s economic crimes, fraud and anti-money laundering practice, and Vinayak Sri Ram to its disputes practice.

Perian holds the unique distinction of being the first and only English King’s Counsel who has been admitted to the Malaysian Bar. He has been running his independent criminal law practice in London since 2019. He also served as Senior Crown Prosecutor from 1989 to 1995, according to his LinkedIn profile.

With significant experience in high-profile criminal trials in the UK, Perian has prosecuted individuals and corporations committing internet shopping fraud, conspiracy to defraud UK financial institutions of U.S. Treasury Bonds worth $2.3 trillion, and computer-related crimes, according to his profile on RDS’ website.

“This is a special moment for us at RDS Partnership as we are the first and only law firm in Malaysia having an English King’s Counsel as a partner of the firm. This occasion also starts the beginning of our firm working with Steven’s chambers in London, 2KBW,” RDS said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Sri Ram had been running his own namesake law firm in Kuala Lumpur since 2020, focusing on domestic and cross-border arbitration and litigation. Before setting out on his own, he has had stints at Drew & Napier in Singapore and Shearn Delamore & Co.

Sri Ram and Perian join RDS some weeks after the firm added corporate partner Falisa Abu Bakar in February. RDS now has 21 partners in total.

The firm also lost disputes partner Nur Syafinaz Vani to Zul Rafique & Partners earlier this year.