Legal Industry News & Trends: Sep Week 3

1. People Moves

i. Singapore and Malaysia: Oon & Bazul and D&P

Oon & Bazul: Singapore law firm Oon & Bazul hired Rajah & Tann’s restructuring and insolvency expert, Lye Yu Min, as a partner. Lye is experienced in contentious and non-contentious insolvency matters. He previously worked at Allen & Gledhill. This marks Oon & Bazul’s first notable partnership addition since mid-2023.

D&P: David Lim, co-founder of D&P Law Group, launched a new legal practice called Sheng & Co with Shaun Paulian. The firm will focus on energy project advisory, particularly in solar power, and on serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in Malaysia, which is often neglected by traditional law firms. The launch comes at a period of rapid growth in Malaysia’s startup ecosystem driven by government initiatives for digitalisation and innovation. Lim’s background includes experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&As), joint ventures and corporate transactions across industries like renewable energy, aviation, and healthcare.

Read the full article about Lye’s appointment at Oon & Bazul.

ii. Hong Kong & China: Linklaters, Jingtian Gongcheng and DOCVIT

Linklaters: Restructuring and insolvency veteran Mark Fairbairn is set to join Linklaters’ Hong Kong office as a senior consultant. Fairbairn has over 30 years of experience and is currently self-employed. He previously led the Asian restructuring practice at DLA Piper and has held positions at O’Melveny, White & Case, and Deacons. Fairbairn specialises in financial restructuring and distressed investments in Asia and is currently involved in advising on significant cases, including the liquidation of China Properties Group and the winding-up of Kaisa Group Holdings.

Jingtian & Gongcheng: Jingtian & Gongcheng added two new partners, Qin Zhen and Fang Jianyan, to its Shanghai office.

• Qin has over 20 years of experience and specialises in corporate law, M&As, and dispute resolution. She previously worked at AllBright Law Offices.
• Fang specialises in corporate M&As, private equity, venture capital, foreign direct investment and general corporate law. She joins from a listed biopharmaceutical company.

DOCVIT: DOCVIT Law Firm added Liu Xin as a partner to its Jinan office. Liu specialises in civil and commercial litigation, arbitration, and corporate legal counsel, and is expected to bolster the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution capabilities.

Read the full article about Linklaters’ restructuring veteran from Fairbairn.

Read the full article about Jingtian & Gongcheng’s Shanghai partners.

iii. Japan and Korea: DLA and Dentons Lee

DLA: Lawrence Carter has returned to DLA Piper as co-chair of its employment practice in Tokyo after previously retiring from his role as the head of practice in 2022. Carter, who has over 25 years of experience in Japan, specialises in contentious and non-contentious labour and employment law issues and is experienced in managing complex multijurisdictional cases. He will co-lead the practice with Keiji Nasuda. Concurrently, DLA Piper is relocating Ed Sheremeta, the head of real estate in Hong Kong, to co-lead the same practice to address the increasing client demand in Japan.

Dentons Lee: Dentons Lee, the South Korean member firm of Dentons, added Eunjee Kim to its labour and employment practice. Kim, a former partner at Bae, Kim & Lee, is experienced in managing labour relations with individual employees and labour unions. She has worked with various multinational corporations and domestic companies and has held in-house roles at Kellogg, Pernod Ricard, Bain & Company and E-land.

Read the full article about Carter’s return to DLA.

Read the full article about Dentons’s partner from Bae.

iv. UAE: Baker McKenzie and Hadef & Partners

Baker McKenzie: Baker McKenzie made two appointments.

• Dino Wilkinson was named the head of its Middle East data, cyber, and technology practice. Wilkinson has over 12 years of experience. He previously led Clyde & Co’s technology, media, and telecommunications practice and is experienced in advising blue-chip corporate and government clients on TMT, data protection compliance, and cybersecurity affairs. He has also worked with regional governments and regulatory authorities on key legislative and regulatory developments.
• Baker McKenzie also welcomed arbitration expert Sally Kotb back as a partner for its dispute resolution practice in Dubai. Kotb was the head of arbitration at Habib Al Mulla & Partners until 2022 and specialised in local and international commercial arbitration across sectors like construction, real estate, and energy. She also serves as an arbitrator in various Middle Eastern arbitration centres.

Hadef & Partners: Hadef & Partners added Scott Hutton as the head of engineering & construction in Dubai. Hutton is experienced in dispute-related matters and was previously a partner at EKP Legal Counsel (now BLK Partners). He has also worked at Squire Patton Boggs and Habib Al Mulla and Partners in Dubai. He is the second partner to be added to the firm’s engineering and construction practice, following the recruitment of Humayun Ahmad earlier this year. He joins alongside associate Karim Haider.

2. Business Moves

i. UK Firm DACB Launches Hong Kong Office

DAC Beachcroft (DACB), a London-based law firm focused on insurance, has expanded into Hong Kong in association with local firm CK Lee & Co. The Hong Kong office will be led by experienced partners Ross Risby and Wai Yue Loh.

• Risby focuses on advising on professional liability and financial lines insurance risks. He has practised in the London insurance market for over 30 years before moving to Hong Kong.
• Loh specialises in shipping, trade, commodities and insurance law, and is experienced in advising Chinese clients.

Takeaway: The move is aimed at strengthening the firm’s foothold in the Asian market while building on its long-standing presence in Singapore.

Read the full article about DACB’s Hong Kong office.

ii. Tahota Launches Harbin Office

Tahota Law Firm opened a new office in Harbin, which is their 26th branch in China. Zhang Chunguang leads the Harbin office, which also consists of 40 lawyers. It will focus on legal services pertaining to cross-border trade, dispute resolution, banking and finance, construction, engineering, culture and tourism, intellectual property, restructuring, digital economy, agricultural economy, energy economy, health and medical care, and M&A.

Takeaway: Tahota’s expansion into Harbin strengthens its presence in Northeast Asia while enabling it to serve Russia and support the region’s economic development.

Read the full article about Tahota’s regional office in Harbin.

iii. Yingke Launches London Office

Beijing-headquartered Yingke Law Firm, the largest law firm by headcount globally, has opened a new office in London. The move is part of its plan to establish 100 international offices by 2026. The London office will focus on corporate and M&A, banking and finance, intellectual property, private client, trust and treasury-related matters. It will be led by Qi Shu, who is experienced in cross-border M&A, international dispute resolution, private wealth, major asset restructuring, cross-border investment, financing and compliance. Qi previously served at Dacheng Law Offices, ZhongLun Law Firm, GCL Solicitors LLP, and Gateley PLC, the first UK firm listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Takeaway: This move follows the firm’s expansion into several European countries and a recent office opening in Tokyo.

Read the full article about Yingke’s London office.

iv. Freshfield to Rebrand in October

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is rebranding by shortening its name to Freshfields and introducing a new wordmark, which will be officially launched in October.

Takeaway: Freshfields’ rebranding signals its focus on future growth, modernisation, and alignment with market perception, while still honouring its 280-year legacy.

Read the full article about Freshfields’ rebranding efforts.

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