U.S. law firm White & Case has made its first partner hire in Asia this year, following a number of departures in the first half of 2023, with the addition of a disputes lawyer in Hong Kong from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
Wilfred Ho brings nearly fifteen years of experience representing companies and private equity funds on commercial litigation before Hong Kong courts and arbitration panels. He also has expertise working in the Greater China market, particularly on shareholder disputes, insolvency and restructuring matters and intellectual property disputes. Ho joined Skadden in 2010, and became a counsel in June 2020.
“Wilfred's arrival demonstrates our continued commitment to Asia-Pacific and ensuring we are our best placed to meet current and future client demand there," global executive member at White & Case Donald Baker said in a statement.
His arrival comes after White & Case saw several departures from its Asia offices this year. Partners Jon Bowden and Tabitha Saw left the firm in Singapore to join Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Morrison Foerster, respectively.
In April, a team led by former partner Keisuke Imon joined Watson Farley & Williams to open its Tokyo office. White & Case also saw Seoul local partner Sarah Park, a project finance specialist, join K&L Gates in Singapore the same month.
In Hong Kong, the firm’s former Greater China disputes leader, Melody Chan, took her practice to Allen & Overy in February.
Ho is White & Case’s first partner hire in Hong Kong since 2021 and brings the number of partners at the firm’s Hong Kong office to 15.
White & Case also said on Friday it is launching a financial restructuring and insolvency practice in Australia with the addition of two attorneys in Sydney from Clayton Utz, including the national practice leader of its restructuring and insolvency practice, Timothy Sackar.
