UK firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC), which specialises in insurance, has beefed up its Singapore office, the firm’s first international office, with the relocation of legal director Jeremy Hewitt from London; more evidence of the continuously growing demand for legal services from insurer and reinsurer clients in the region.

DFDL, one of Asia’s few pan-regional law firms to specialise in emerging markets, has named Jack Sheehan as the regional director for its tax and customs group following the dramatic departures of Edwin Vanderbruggen, Sheehan’s predecessor, and tax partner Jean Loi over the weekend.

As Southeast Asia's biggest economy, Indonesia is attracting the attention of global investors because of its fast-growing, young middle class, and its abundant natural resources. Therefore, it’s no surprise that PE houses are lining up to raise funds targeting the country. But the immense potential of Indonesia also brings with it a host of potential risks, including longer deal timelines than investors are used to, complex tax regimes and restrictions on exit options, a lack of trustworthy partners, and rules that seem to be written in water. Mitigating some of the risks is crucial to success, writes Ranajit Dam

London-headquartered Olswang, which specialises in technology, media and telecom (TMT), has relocated partner Andrew Stott from London to its recently opened Asia office in Singapore. Stott’s arrival has taken the total number of partners at the Singapore office to four, and the total number of lawyers there to six.

Khaitan & Co recently acted for SIBUR, Eastern Europe's largest petrochemical company, in a $450 million joint venture with Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries (RIL) to form Reliance Sibur Elastomers Private Ltd. The new company is expected to be the first manufacturer of butyl rubber in India, and the fourth-largest supplier of butyl rubber in the world.

UK-headquartered law firm Withers, which specialises in servicing the private-client market, will be opening its Singapore office in May as it attempts to tap into the growth of wealth and wealth-related services in the region.

Squire Sanders, which is gearing up to open in Singapore, has enhanced its Asia presence with three high-profile hires from fellow U.S. firm Bryan Cave, including the managing partners of the latter’s Singapore and Hong Kong offices and another partner from Hong Kong.

Singapore has taken steps to ease the restrictions on foreign law firms in its hitherto fiercely regulated legal sector by proposing amendments to its Legal Profession Act. These amendments will allow foreign law firms to own stakes in domestic firms, share in the latter’s profits, and let foreign-qualified trial lawyers appear in local courts.

Clyde & Co has appointed Brian Nash, a marine and commercial disputes veteran, as managing partner of its Singapore office, as the firm continues to bolster its Asia team with a series of relocations, lateral hires and partner promotions across the region.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques has acted for Singapore’s Ascendas Group and global hospitality giant Accor Group on the acquisition of a 49.2 percent stake worth $327 million in Australia’s Mirvac Wholesale Hotel Fund, an example of the growing global interest in Australian real estate.