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.

This becomes the firm’s fifth office in Asia after Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Hanoi. In a release, WFW said that the new office would “offer services across the firm’s core sectors with a particular focus on maritime, aviation, energy and disputes work… Having a dedicated office in South Korea will also enable the firm to develop its existing South Korean-based relationships and will provide an excellent launchpad for establishing a strong presence in the country.”

Experienced in both conventional and renewable energy, Chang advises South Korean developers, sponsors and financiers of energy projects such as Korea Development Bank, KEXIM Bank, KEPCO, POSCO, SK, Hanwha, and Hyundai Heavy Industry on cross-border energy and infrastructure project developments, project and structured finance and M&A. He will split his time between WFW’s Seoul and New York offices.

Meanwhile, Kim has expertise in disputes, particularly arbitration, advising clients including shareholders and corporations in the energy, insurance and technology sectors. He joined Herbert Smith Freehills in 2016 from Reed Smith in London.