Allen & Overy has relocated London partner Gary McLean to Hong Kong to head the firm’s Asia-Pacific corporate practice.

In the newly created role, McLean will coordinate the firm’s expanded corporate presence across Asia– where in July the firm launched a Jakarta office – and Australia – where in March the firm landed Sydney and Perth offices. The total number of A&O offices in the region is now eight.

“The relocation underlines the firm’s commitment to its presence in Greater China. As we are expanding across the region, as witnessed by our new Australian platform, we needed someone to coordinate the effort across the region,” global corporate co-head Sietze Hepkema said. “We are seeing increasing interest clients, especially Chinese financial institutions, that are looking to expand overseas,” Hepkema said.

McLean, who has been with A&O since 1988 and a partner since 1996, has recently acted as US counsel to the international underwriters in the global offering of H shares by Agricultural Bank of China, the world’s largest IPO and one of the few dual listings on both the Shanghai and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges. McLean had previously worked at the A&O Hong Kong office as well as the Amsterdam office. His practice focuses on M&A, asset financing, outsourcing transactions, joint ventures and corporate recovery work. ALB

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