Mallesons Stephen Jaques, a leading law firm in the Asian region, has announced the appointment of two senior legal experts from international law firm, Simmons & Simmons, Hong Kong, adding further depth to Mallesons’ debt capital markets practice in the region.
Partner Sau-Wing Mak and consultant Kevin Tong will join Mallesons’ Hong Kong office as partners in October 2011, significantly enhancing the firm’s capability around Renminbi products.
Mallesons Chief Executive Partner elect, Stuart Fuller, said: “Sau-Wing and Kevin bring significant expertise and a depth of client relationships across the region, further reflecting Mallesons’ commitment to Asia and cementing our reputation as a leading law firm in the Asian region. These appointments, the appointment of our partners earlier in the year, and the appointment of four Counsel bolsters our presence in this busy market”.
Mallesons Banking partner Richard Mazzochi added: “We have a market leading derivatives, retail and wholesale structured products and securities regulation practice in Asia. Sau-Wing and Kevin are highly respected lawyers in this market and we’re delighted that we can add their skill set to our existing offering to clients.”
Mak has a strong reputation in the Renminbi business and is a market leader in the retailed structured products and derivatives field. Mak has been involved in the Renminbi bond market since it opened in 2007. She was also involved in the development of the retail structured products market in Hong Kong and the use of plain English prospectuses.
Tong has extensive experience in equity derivative and financial products, retail bonds, and capital markets.
Mak and Tong have worked on leading RMB deals including the “historic” McDonalds Renminbi bond, the recent Ministry of Finance of the People’s Republic of China’s Sovereign Renminbi bond issue and issues by large State Owned Enterprises, PRC policy and commercial banks and foreign banks.
In the last 12 months, Mallesons has also promoted partners Edmund Wan and Paul McBride, appointed lateral hire partners Denis Brock and Patrick Phua, and four counsel to its Hong Kong offices. The four counsel are: Jill Wong, Steve Woo, Fiona O”Neill and Lynia Lau.
