King & Spalding has plans to launch an office in Singapore. Partner Philip R. Weems will lead the office. He has had much experience in managing an office as Weems also served as managing partner of King & Spalding’s Dubai, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. The Singapore office will be the firm’s eighth office outside of the US.

Source:  www.metrocorpcounsel.com

Norton Rose’s aim to boost business in Asia now has focus: Singapore. The firm has made a big move by transferring Peter Cash from Australia to the Singapore office. Cash has major experience in commericial dispute resolution.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com

Two partners have left Linklaters for its Indian friend firm, Talwar Thakore & Associates (TTA). Narayan Iyer, a project finance partner, joins from Singapore and corporate partner, Kunal Thakore, joins from Hong Kong.  They are both equity partners at their new firm.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com

Geoffrey Grice has taken a partner position with Freehills in Singapore.  Grice was most recently the deputy state solicitor in the State Solicitor’s office of Western Australia.  This is a big feat for Freehills as Grice has had more than 20 years of experience with projects and energy work.  

Source:  www.asia.legalbusinessonline.com

K&L Gates has just launched its office in Singapore with prior DLA Piper partner Kevin Murphy.  This will make the firm’s fifth office.  Soon enough, the office will be filled with 15 lawyers brought in from other K&L Gates offices.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com

White & Case has decided against its merger with Venture Law in Singapore. The two firms were previously in a formal alliance since 2003.  Before December 2008, the only way for a foreign firm to do business in Singapore was through such an alliance with a national firm.  The Singaporean Government announced last December that foreign firms are now allowed to practice on their own as long as they receive the Qualifying Foreign Law Practice license.  For this reason, many firms have ended their formal relationships with other Singaporean firms. The following firms have received their licenses: White & Case, Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith, Latham & Watkins and Norton Rose.

Source:  www.amlawdaily.typepad.com

Attorney Christopher Muessel has taken a position with firm Watson, Farley & Williams. Muessell will join the Singapore office from Duane Morris.  He focuses his practice on project financing. Muessell brings the number of Watson, Farley’s Singapore partners up to seven.

Source: www.asialegalbusinessonline.com

Eversheds has launched a new Singapore office.  The firm has taken on Desmond Ong, former managing partner of DLA Piper’s Singapore office.  Ong, a corporate and litigation lawyer, will head the office.     

Source:  www. legalweek.com

Lovells has expanded its Singapore office with the hire of Brad Roach. Roach, previously at White & Case, is the first partner in Singapore whose primary focus is that of energy. He has much experience in the Southeast Asian petroleum industry. This recent hire is just one of many Lovells has made in Singapore, having already added lawyers to various fields, including:” intellectual property, international arbitration, and corporate. With the addition of Roach, Lovells’ Singapore office has three partners.

Source: www.legalweek.com

Jai Pathak joined Gibson Dunn in February after 24 years at Jones Day. Gibson’s managing partner, Kenneth Doran, explains that although the idea of a Singapore office was being discussed, it was not the reason for Pathak’s lateral move. Though it does make for perfect timing. Pathak just so happens to have launched and led (for two years) Jones’ Singapore branch. More >>