Global law firm Hogan Lovells has expanded its Asia presence with three more hires from Dechert, with partners Siew Kam Boon (L), Timothy Goh, and Thomas Kim set to join the firm’s private equity and funds practice in Singapore in January. 

This move follows Hogan Lovells' recent expansion in Hong Kong, where it hired partners Maria Sit and Michael Wong, along with three associates, from Dechert in October. The firm also added international arbitration expert Rob Palmer as a partner in Singapore from Ashurst last month.

Boon, who is co-head of Dechert's private equity group, will assume the role of head of private equity for the APAC region at Hogan Lovells. With expertise in M&A, private equity, secondaries, emerging growth, and venture capital, Boon joined Dechert in 2017 from K&L Gates, following earlier stints at O'Melveny & Myers, White & Case, and Allen & Gledhill.

Goh, who became a partner at Dechert in 2022 after joining the firm in 2017, specialises in cross-border corporate and commercial matters, including M&A, private equity, and venture capital transactions. His career includes positions at Jones Day, White & Case, Trowers & Hamlins, and Allen & Gledhill.

Kim joined Dechert in 2019 and was promoted to partner in 2023. He focuses on private equity, venture capital, and private credit funds, and advises on mergers and acquisitions of fund management businesses, secondary transactions, and ESG-related matters. Kim started his career at Skadden Arps.

“The addition of this group is a key part of our vision to grow our transactional practice in Singapore and Southeast Asia more broadly. Their unique experiences and capabilities will allow us to expand our scope of work and the types of clients we can service in this important region,” said James Doyle, practice group leader for corporate & finance at Hogan Lovells, in a statement.

Added Lloyd Parker, regional managing partner for Asia-Pacific at Hogan Lovells: “The addition of these three partners comes on the heels of our recent expansion in Hong Kong and our hiring of Rob Palmer in Singapore. These moves underscore our increased capabilities in Singapore as well as our ongoing commitment to the APAC region, and we expect this trend to continue.”

Dechert, which announced earlier this year it would close its Beijing and Hong Kong offices, will be left with just three partners in its Singapore office following these departures.

Meanwhile Hogan Lovells will boost its partner ranks in Singapore to 10 following the arrival of the trio. The office recently lost partners Stephanie Keen and Sylvia Taslim to O’Melveny.