PRC law firm Haiwen & Partners has hired Hong Kong capital market veterans Tom Chau, Wang Zhong, and Isaac Chen as partners from Herbert Smith Freehills. The trio will split their time between Haiwen’s Beijing and Hong Kong offices.

Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung, the Indonesia association firm of Herbert Smith Freehills, has advised copper smelter Amman Mineral Internasional on its planned 12.94-trillion-rupiah ($881 million) IPO on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.

Thomson Geer is advising Japanese food and beverage maker Kirin Holdings on its A$1.8 billion ($1.2 billion) proposed acquisition of Australian vitamin manufacturer Blackmores, which is being advised by Herbert Smith Freehills.

Prolegis, Herbert Smith Freehills' Singapore alliance law firm, has recruited a four-lawyer team led by litigator Daniel Chia from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, where he was the head of the Asia disputes practice.

Over the past few years, law firms have witnessed high levels of employee attrition, putting them under intense pressure to attract and retain top talent. As a result, the roles of senior HR personnel –such as chief people officers – are growing in importance, helping firms finetune the talent strategies that will provide them with their competitive edge. 

Looming changes to rules governing international law firms in Saudi Arabia could help reshape the oil rich kingdom's legal market, with two global firms announcing this week that they are deepening or launching their presence there.

Herbert Smith Freehills is shutting its Seoul office after ten years in the East Asian country, and relocating partners Mike McClure and Dana Kim to London and Hong Kong, respectively.

Energy-focused firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has established an office in Seoul, South Korea, after hiring partners Eugene Chang and Philip Kim from K&L Gates and Herbert Smith Freehills, respectively.

Baker McKenzie has hired employment law expert Tess Lumsdaine as a partner in its Hong Kong office from Herbert Smith Freehills, where she was counsel.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Zhejiang T&C Law Firm have advised Lygend Resources & Technology on its $472 million initial public offering in Hong Kong, with Herbert Smith Freehills and Commerce & Finance Law Offices advising the sponsors.