John Kang

Watson Farley & Williams recently moved to a bigger office in Hong Kong as the shipping specialist firm looks to grow in the maritime, energy and infrastructure sectors, as well as in the aviation space. John Kang speaks to office head Madeline Leong about the office’s expansion plans, where they’re looking to grow and how big they plan to be in the city.

K&L Gates has hired Eugene Chang as a partner in its global energy, infrastructure and resources practice from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, where he was senior counsel in its Tokyo office.

Slaughter and May has hired investigations and litigation lawyer Wynne Mok as a partner in Hong Kong from the city’s Securities and Futures Commission, where she was a director of enforcement.

Kirkland & Ellis has hired Ram Narayan as a corporate partner from Sullivan & Cromwell, where he was an associate.

Goodwin Procter has hired Bosco Yiu as a private equity partner in Hong Kong from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, where he was an associate.

Eversheds Sutherland has hired Dickson Ng as a corporate partner in Hong Kong from Taylor Wessing.

Alternative legal service providers (ALSPs), and, in particular, contract lawyer offerings, may have been around in Asia for about a decade, but they have started to really come into prominence in the past year as client demand spikes. And lawyers are beginning to embrace the alternative way as well.

For corporate counsel, work related to mergers and acquisitions can be equal parts challenging and incredibly rewarding. Two experienced GCs discuss the key roles they play in M&A transactions, and the skills that are required.

Clifford Chance has appointed Reiko Sakimura and Leng-Fong Lai as co-managing partners of its Tokyo office. The pair will take the reins from Eiichi Kanda, who had led the Tokyo office since 2012.

Hong Kong firm Tanner De Witt has hired Pádraig Walsh as a corporate partner from Bird & Bird.