Indian law firm Clasis Law has added to its Mumbai team with the hiring of shipping expert Harsh Pratap as a partner from local firm PSP Law Office.

Latham & Watkins has advised energy and infrastructure company Dian Swastatika Sentosa (DSS) on the proposed sale of its 67 percent stake in Indonesia-listed Golden Energy Mines (GEMS) to United Fiber System (UFS) for S$1.55 billion ($1.24 billion), a deal that is expected to boost GEM’s profile as a regional coal company.

With the global financial outlook continuing to look uncertain, it is no surprise that the Singapore economy has been slow-moving as well. In the third quarter of 2011, the last quarter for which statistics are available, domestic economic activity rose modestly; at the same time, key industries like electronics continued to contract alongside global economic demand. As the Eurozone crisis simmers, and the U.S. economy seems stuck in second gear, Singapore can look ahead to slower growth amid a downturn in external demand. According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the country’s economic growth for 2012 is expected to be between one and three percent, with trade-related sectors likely to face significant headwinds over the next few quarters.

The Singapore office of UK law firm DAC Beachcroft has taken its total number of partners to two with the addition of Steven Dewhurst from Stephenson Harwood.

Pan-Asian law firm DFDL Mekong has promoted Myanmar expert James Finch from of counsel to regional partner, a move that reflects the growing importance of the country in the eyes of international investors as it continues to reach out to the West.

The Singapore office of Herbert Smith had advised the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), China’s largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas, in the sale of its 36.72 percent working interest in the Offshore Northwest Java Production Sharing Contract (ONWJ PSC) in Indonesia for $212 million to EMP International (BVI) Limited, an affiliate of the Indonesian mining company PT Energi Mega Persada.

Singapore Big Four firm WongPartnership has rung in 2012 by welcoming former Drew & Napier disputes expert Harpreet Singh Nehal to its Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group, apart from promoting 12 lawyers across various practice areas to partner.

It might be difficult to imagine this at present, but there was a time, not more than a few decades ago, that Myanmar was one of the wealthiest countries in Southeast Asia.

A looming currency crisis, biting economic sanctions, and years of Western cajoling have combined to bring resource-rich, geographically blessed Myanmar in from the cold. Investment prospects now seem set to lure in foreign companies, especially in areas such as mining and manufacturing, and law firms might soon follow suit, finds Ranajit Dam

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has snagged Ken Cheung, the head of Watson Farley Williams’ corporate practice in Asia, as it continues to expand its Singapore office.