Mayer Brown JSM is launching a trade finance practice in Singapore after hiring Angelia Chia and Ben Sandstad from Standard Chartered Bank. Chia was global head of legal for trade, while Sandstad helmed the legal team when it came to credit, lending and governance.

The new hires are expected to co-lead a pan-Asia team focusing on trade finance, structured finance and governance and advisory services. Both Chia and Sandstad have extensive experience in providing comprehensive advisory services in the Asia trade and debt finance market.

Previously, in-house counsel with Cargill and JPMorgan Chase, Chia advises on matters such as the sale and purchase of goods and services across industries, the provision of financing using a variety of financing products from traditional to open account, including supply chain finance techniques, and the distribution of risks arising from such sales.

Sandstad’s expertise encompasses the origination, governance and distribution of debt, particularly lending,open account trade finance (including supply chain finance) and structured finance. 

He is a Mayer Brown alumnus having been with the firm between 2010 and 2013, where he served as the head of structured finance in Asia.