Legal Industry News & Trends: Dec Week 3

Legal Industry News & Trends: Dec Week 3

Legal Industry News & Trends: Dec Week 3

1. People Moves

i. Singapore: Supreme Court

Three distinguished international judges have been appointed to the Supreme Court of Singapore for a two-year term starting January 5, 2025. The appointments, made by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, are:

  • Justice Mary Arden (UK): Arden is renowned for company law reform, and her expertise also spans international relations law, civil law, human rights law, constitutional and administrative law, human rights law, and water law.
  • Justice Anthony Besanko (Australia): Besanko’s expertise spans commercial law, company law, public and administrative law, IP, bankruptcy, and company liquidations.
  • Justice Anthony Meagher (Australia): Meagher’s expertise includes general civil and criminal law and commercial law.

Takeaway: Their appointments bring the total bench strength of Singapore’s Supreme Court to 35 judges and 24 international judges. It is expected to enhance SICC’s capacity to handle complex transnational disputes and bolster its global stature.

 

i. Hong Kong: DCLO

Boutique Hong Kong firm David Cameron Law Office (DCLO) added Matthew Love as its newest partner, marking its second senior hire in two months.

  • Experience: Love is a seasoned corporate lawyer with over 15 years of experience across international firms like Baker McKenzie and White & Case.
  • Expertise: He specialises in M&A, joint ventures, exits, restructurings, and related corporate matters.

His appointment follows the recent addition of employment and family law expert Aoife Griffin. DCLO, founded in 2021 by ex-Dorsey & Whitney partner David Cameron, now comprises three partners.

 

iii. China: KWM

King & Wood Mallesons appointed Jerry Liu as an international partner to strengthen its global IP practice. Liu will operate from Silicon Valley and Shanghai.

  • Expertise: Liu is qualified in both China and the US and specialises in patents, copyright, anti-piracy, and anti-counterfeiting, particularly in the media, tech, and digital sectors.
  • Experience: He has significant experience in cross-border agreements for Silicon Valley tech firms. He also has an extensive academic background, having held leadership roles at the University of San Francisco and the University of New Hampshire School of Law. He is currently a fellow at Stanford Law School’s Centre for Internet and Society.

 

iv. Middle East: Ashurst

Ashurst added private capital expert Maha Osman to its corporate practice in Dubai. Osman joins from Freshfield, where she was a senior associate. This move aligns with Ashurst’s strategy to expand its private capital capabilities in the Middle East and international markets.

  • Experience: Maha is experienced in private equity and sovereign wealth fund transactions, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
  • Expertise: Complex investments across emerging markets as a key asset for driving growth and meeting client demand.

This move aligns with Ashurst’s strategy to expand its private capital capabilities in the Middle East and international markets. It follows a similar hire of corporate partner Vasi Papadopoulos earlier this year.

 

2. Business Moves

i. DeHeng Partners ARKO for New Office

DeHeng Law Offices partnered with Indonesian firm ARKO Law to establish DeHeng ARKO Law Offices in Indonesia, marking DeHeng’s 59th global office and third in Southeast Asia (SEA).

  • Team: The new office will be co-led by DeHeng’s Harrison Jia and ARKO’s Eva Djauhari and will comprise lawyers qualified to practise in Indonesia, China, and the US.
  • Expertise: Investment, trade, and cross-border matters.

Takeaway: The move follows its recent expansion into the Middle East and is aimed at targeting the growing influx of Chinese businesses into Indonesia, SEA’s largest economy. The partnership includes joint branding, marketing, training, and resource-sharing initiatives. It also integrates DeHeng’s Belt and Road-focused projects in Jakarta, which include mediation and service platforms for cross-border dispute resolution and professional service coordination.

 

ii. Guantao Opens New Offices in Taiyuan and Ningbo

Beijing-based Guantao Law Firm expanded its presence with new offices in Ningbo and Taiyuan, bringing its total to 30 offices worldwide.

Ningbo Office:

  • Team: Led by Zhang Shuaijun and comprises 60 lawyers.
  • Expertise: Criminal defence, finance, securities IP, M&A, construction, real estate, bankruptcy and liquidation, internet law, corporate governance, compliance, funds, taxation, culture & media, and dispute resolution. This move strengthens the firm’s footprint in the Yangtze River Delta region.

Taiyuan Office:

  • Team: Led by director Cui Jian and comprises 30 lawyers.
  • Expertise: Engineering, real estate, infrastructure, banking, finance, capital markets, M&A, and dispute resolution, aiming to support the legal development of Shanxi province and beyond.

 

iii. Pillsbury Launches Riyadh Office

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman is set to establish a Riyadh office in partnership with AlArfaj & Partners, pending approval from the Saudi Ministry of Justice.

  • Team: Khalid AlArfaj, managing partner of AlArfaj & Partners and a former Pillsbury lawyer, will rejoin as a partner.
  • Expertise: M&A, corporate structuring, restructuring and governance, IPOs, capital markets, private equity, and venture capital transactions.

 

iv. RWC Merges with Two Local Firms

Richard Wee Chambers (RWC), a Malaysian law firm and member of China’s Grandall Law Firm network, merged with Penelope G and Desmond Ho & Associates:

Penelope G:

  • Team: Penelope G is led by Penelope Gan, who joins as a partner.
  • Expertise: Gan specialises in real estate, finance, banking, and estate planning.

Desmond Ho & Associates:

  • Team: The merger with Desmond Ho brings four partners to RWC, including:
    • Ho, a former chairperson of the Malacca Bar Committee, will manage the energy law team and co-lead the international arbitration and dispute resolution team in Kuala Lumpur. Ho specialises in dispute resolution and corporate and commercial matters, including energy and real estate.
    • Leong Zhi Hong specialises in commercial and cross-border matters with a focus on China.
    • Lim Tse Hwei specialises in litigation, property transactions, and tax law.
    • Desiree Teh specialises in dispute resolution and property transactions.

RWC now has 10 partners after the mergers.

 

Discover More Industry Trends with JC

For the latest industry trends or to explore new career opportunities, connect with our legal recruitment consultants for a chat. With executive search firms in Singapore and China and operations in key business hubs like Hong Kong, you can count on our team for timely access to regional insights that can create synergy for your career and operations.

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Image Credits:

  • Prime Minister’s Office
  • Asian Legal Business
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