The Board of SNR Denton Group (a Swiss Verein) announced today that it will add a new member firm in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong office, formerly affiliated with Hammonds LLP, will become associated with SNR Denton upon regulatory approval, and will include 20 professionals, including six partners. The office will initially be known as Brandt Chan & Partners.
“Since our combination, SNR Denton has executed a thoughtful and measured approach towards gaining additional scale in key regions, and today’s announcement is evidence of that priority,” said co-chief executive Elliott I. Portnoy. “With the addition of Hong Kong, we will be even better positioned to meet the ever growing cross-border needs of our clients. Our new colleagues have an unparalleled reputation in Hong Kong, and bring intimate knowledge of Chinese law, economics and culture,” added Portnoy.
“Opening in Hong Kong allows us to broaden and deepen the resources and expertise available to our clients,” added co-chief executive Howard Morris. “We are excited to add Hong Kong as it is a natural fit with our other locations in prominent business centers, such as New York and London, and offers our clients access to dynamic emerging economies.”
SNR Denton currently has an office in Singapore. The opening of an office in Hong Kong is a step towards better serving China and north Asia. SNR Denton anticipates opening an office in mainland China in 2011.
The Hong Kong office offers clients high quality, experienced, dual qualified Hong Kong and English partners and Hong Kong and mainland Chinese lawyers. The office will be led by Keith Brandt, a dispute resolution partner, and Anthony Chan, a corporate and projects partner. Brandt and Chan bring with them a highly talented and experienced team: Valda Chan (China M&A and Investments), Jeffrey Cheung (Private Equity), Julianne Doe (Public Equity, Capital Markets and Securities) and Mary Thomson (Maritime, Insurance and Dispute Resolution).
“We see this as a fantastic time to join a growing global firm, and we are excited to both continue that growth for our new firm in Asia, while together further deepening our regional presence,” said Brandt and Chan.
The core expertise of the office includes: domestic and international commercial dispute resolution and international arbitration; China inbound and outbound practice, mergers and acquisitions; construction and engineering; projects and project finance; energy and utilities; banking/trade and finance; private and public equity and securities; technology, media and telecommunications; and aviation/shipping. In addition, this office has within both Mandarin and Cantonese speaking lawyers specializing in a broad spectrum of China oriented work including retail, manufacturing, natural resources, construction and infrastructure, alternative energy, real estate, investment funds and private equity.
