Four of the best: Singapore’s new senior counsel
K&L Gates – the fastest growing law firm in Asia for 2010?
The foreign contingent
FEATURE | ALB Hot 100 >>
Name: Vassili Moussis Title: Foreign lawyer Firm: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune Location: Japan
Name: Steve Jacobs Title: Foreign lawyer Firm: Indochine Counsel Location: Vietnam
Why hot: The multi-lingual Moussis was one of a number of foreign lawyers to join the ranks of Japanese and Korean firms over the past year. Moussis, who specializes in EU legal advisory, is a member of the firm’s anti trust & competition practice.
Why hot: Jacobs joined Indochine late last year to boost the firms capabilities in M&A and equityrelated transactions. US-qualified, Jacobs’ input will prove crucial as the US government steps up trade relief against the Vietnam. Jacobs will also no doubt play a role in educating and helping to cultivate the firm’s younger lawyers.
Name: Michael Pollen Title: Partner Firm: K & L Gates Location: Singapore
Name: Christopher Tung Title: Partner Firm: K&L Gates Location: Hong Kong
Name: Ben Hughes Title: Co-chair of International disputes group Firm: Shin & Kim Location: Korea Why hot: Shin & Kim poached Hughes late last year from US giant Shearman & Sterling to launch its international dispute resolution group along with the firm’s chairman, Kim Beomsu. Since launching the group, the firm has eaten away at the market share of other large firms in the country.
Name: Rajah Bose Title: Partner Firm: K&L Gates Location: Singapore
Name: Sundaresh Menon Title: Managing partner Firm: Rajah & Tan Location: Singapore
Name: Kay-Ian Ng Title: Hong Kong managing partner Firm: Freshfields Location: Hong Kong
Why hot: Menon will step down from the top post at Rajah & Tan later this year to take up a different kind of top post, as Singapore’s attorney general. Menon replaces Walter Woon who leaves to rejoin the faculty of Law at the National University of Singapore.
Why hot: Capital markets partner Ng was elevated to the Hong Kong office head position earlier this year following the retirement of Clive Rough from Freshfields’ partnership. Ng, who is also global co-head of the firm’s capital markets practice, will be eager to position the firm as counsel of choice on Hong Kong listings in the year ahead.
Name: Paul de Cordover Title: Partner Firm: K&L Gates Location: Middle East
Name: Royce Miller Title: Partner Firm: Freshfields Location: Hong Kong
Why hot: Few international law firms have been able to keep up with K&L Gates this year. The firm has made more lateral hires across its Asia offices than any other international law firm, but it’s not just about the quantity. A look at who the firm has brought on board reveals that quality is the most important factor. Chris Tung, widely regarded as one of Mallesons brightest stars, came on board in the firm’s Hong Kong office while fellow dispute resolution lawyer Michael Pollen joined the firm’s Singapore office from DLA Piper. The astute Rajah Bose also joined in Singapore from Watson Farley Williams. In Paul De Cordover the firm not only secured the services of a practitioner who has both an intimate understanding of the Gulf legal services market and extremely deep connections, but also someone who has been through the process of building a presence in the Middle East from scratch. De Cordover was formerly the head of Ashursts’ practice in Dubai and is widely credited with spearheading that firm’s launch in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Name: Stanley Lai Tze Chang Title: Partner Firm: Allen & Gledhill Location: Singapore
Name: Jennifer Marie Company: Singapore Attorney Generals Chambers Location: Singapore
Name: George Lim Teong Jin Title: Partner Firm: Wee Tay & Lim Location: Singapore
Name: Andre Francis Maniam Title: Partner Firm: WongPartnership Location: Singapore
Why hot: The commencement of a new legal year brought with it the appointment of four new senior counsel in Singapore. Singapore first introduced the senior counsel scheme in 1997 to recognise the country’s best advocates. Since its introduction, 58 senior counsels have been appointed and another five hold this appointment ex officio. Senior counsels are chosen by the Senior Counsel Selection Committee, comprising Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong, the Attorney-General Professor Walter Woon and the Judges of Appeal, and are chosen on the basis of their ability, standing at the bar or special knowledge or experience in law. They are required to demonstrate contributions to the law in the form of academic teaching, writing and research, and to the institutions of continuing legal education.
Image: Singapore Academy of Law
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Why hot: After over 15 years working in-house for Citigroup (including time as the managing director and general counsel of its Asia-Pacific Institutional clients group) Miller was successfully lured by Freshfields’ corporate practice.
Name: Michelle Taylor Title: Head of China practice Firm: Orrick Location: Hong Kong Why hot: Regarded as one of the most astute structured finance practitioners in Asia, Taylor was named head of the US firm’s China practice earlier this year. She replaced James Tervo in the top post after he relocated to the firm’s San Francisco office. In her leadership role, Taylor will oversee close to 100 lawyers across three Greater China offices.
Asian Legal Business ISSUE 10.9