Manchester-headquartered law firm DWF is set to open in Singapore after welcoming two partners from the legacy Eversheds office in the city-state: former managing partner Oommen Mathew and arbitration and construction specialist Iain Black.

DWF's SG office has also hired two lawyers from Eversheds Harry Elias, namely Charis Tan and Kate Lan.

Mathew is a disputes specialist who has experience representing clients in both domestic courts and international arbitrations. He started his career at Allen & Gledhill and worked at local dispute resolution boutiques Tan Peng Chin and Haq & Selvam before joining Eversheds in 2009.

Black, who headed Eversheds’ Asia construction, infrastructure and energy practice, has experience in litigation, arbitration, adjudication and mediation across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. His prior experience includes stints with the legacy Davies Arnold Cooper and the legacy Masons.