Clifford Chance and its Saudi partner Al-Jadaan have advised Saudi Arabia-based drink manufacturer Aujan on the sale of a stake worth $980 million to Coca-Cola, as the global beverage giant looks to challenge Pepsi’s dominance in the Middle East.

Fast-growing Indian firm Clasis Law has expanded its litigation practice with the twin hirings of Sumeet Lall as head of its litigation and dispute resolution team, and Sagar Divekar as partner.

Don’t count on Mori Hamada being the first Japanese firm with an office in Singapore. There’s every chance it might be Nishimura & Asahi which received permission from the local authorities on Dec. 9, and aims to have a fully operational office by January next year.

With Korean investor interest in Vietnam rapidly increasing of late, Indochine Counsel has opened a Korean desk in Ho Chi Minh City in association with APEX LLC.

Vinson & Elkins, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton are advising Iraq’s oil ministry in a $17.2 billion deal with Royal Dutch Shell and Mitsubishi to develop the infrastructure required to process natural gas in the southern part of the war-torn country.

Storied Mumbai firm Wadia Ghandy has announced that its Singapore office is now fully operational after two more partners received the necessary approvals from the island nation’s authorities.

Three years after opening its Dubai office, U.S. firm Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton has further expanded its reach in the Middle East after entering the Saudi Arabian market following an alliance with the Hani Qurashi Law Firm.

Watson Farley & Williams Asia Practice (WFWAP) has advised a syndicate of banks led by the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ as agent, and the Singapore branch of UniCredit Bank as security trustee, in relation to a $479,557,744 refinancing loan to a ship lease financing trust, a significant amount at a time when the global shipping industry is facing choppy waters.

Reed Smith has strengthened its UAE practice with two hires from Holland & Knight, including Donald Moore, former managing partner of the latter’s Abu Dhabi office, and associate Nijoe Joseph.

Herbert Smith has hired Philip Lee, a former international capital markets consultant in Allen & Overy's Singapore office, as a partner, in a move aimed at boosting its Asia finance practice.