Kirkland & Ellis has hired restructuring partner Damien Coles from Hogan Lovells to boost its restructuring practice in Hong Kong.

Coles specialises in special situations financing, cross-border transactions, restructuring and insolvency across Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. His clients include credit and private equity funds, banks, insolvency practitioners and turnaround professionals.

Coles recently advised creditor groups on the restructuring of Indonesian companies including Arpeni Pratama Ocean Line, Blue Ocean Resources, Berlian Laju Tanker and Bumi Resources.

Coles’ appointment closely follows Kirkland & Ellis’ hire of Neil McDonald, who was previously head of business restructuring and insolvency at Hogan Lovells in Hong Kong.