Ropes & Gray has hired Jackie Kahng has a finance partner in its Hong Kong office from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, where she was an associate. The hire comes as the Hong Kong office witnessed the departure of eight partners last year.

Of the eight partners leaving Ropes’ Hong Kong office, part of a string of exits from the firm globally, four – including office head Paul Boltz – departed for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, two headed to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and one each ended up at Davis Polk & Wardwell and White & Case.

Despite the turnover, David Chapin, the firm’s managing partner, told ALB in June that he was unruffled and that the Hong Kong office remained a central part of the firm’s strategy. In November, Daniel Anderson, then co-head of its special situations practice, was appointed managing partner of the Hong Kong office, filling the position left vacant by the departure of Boltz in April.

Kahng’s practice focuses on borrower-side financing work, advising on private equity funds and their portfolio companies, as well as other corporate borrowers and issuers, on their financing needs across a range of jurisdictions, including China, Hong Kong, Australia, India, Singapore and South Korea.

“With her experience and strong track record, especially advising PE funds in leveraged transactions, she is a perfect fit for the firm and our clients,” said Anderson. “Her appointment reflects our commitment to meeting our clients’ needs in this important area of our global business and is a good illustration of our long-term commitment to grow Ropes & Gray’s presence in Hong Kong and Asia.”