Singapore’s Drew strengthens India offering with new disputes director

BY Nimitt Dixit |

Singapore heavyweight Drew & Napier has bolstered its India-focused disputes practice with the addition of international arbitration specialist Abhinav Bhushan as a director in Singapore.

CRS gets arbitration capability in SG with hire from K&S

BY Sarah Wong |

Private client specialist firm Charles Russell Speechlys has hired international arbitration and investigations expert Peter Brabant as a partner in its recently opened Singapore office from King & Spalding, where he was a counsel.

Singapore’s RHT hires corp partner from SH alliance firm

BY Nimitt Dixit |

Singapore law firm RHTLaw Asia has bolstered its corporate and capital markets capabilities with the addition of partner Parikhit Sarma from Stephenson Harwood’s local alliance firm, Virtus Law.

Rajah & Tann disputes partner joins SG boutique Covenant

BY Nimitt Dixit |

Khelvin Xu, most recently a disputes partner at Rajah & Tann Singapore, has left the firm to join local boutique Covenant Chambers as a director.

Skadden, Hogan Lovells guide $1 bln TDCX take-private deal

BY Nimitt Dixit |

U.S. law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom has advised billionaire Laurent Junique, the founder and CEO of TDCX, in his move to take the company private at an equity valuation of approximately $1.037 billion.

SG: Dentons Rodyk targets Chinese HNWIs with partner hire from Taxise

BY Sarah Wong |

Dentons Rodyk has made its first partner hire of the year after welcoming aboard private wealth expert Linda Bai Lu from local outfit Taxise Asia, where she headed the China private client practice.

SG: Greenberg lures over KWM South/Southeast Asia M&A head

BY Nimitt Dixit |

U.S. law firm Greenberg Traurig has added another shareholder to its recently launched Singapore office after hiring Jake Robson to co-lead the office and head its South and Southeast Asia M&A practice. Robson joins from King & Wood Mallesons, where he held a similar role.

Indian disputes boutique Singularity launches in Singapore

BY Nimitt Dixit |

Indian cross-border arbitration boutique Singularity Legal has established its second international office in under a year, with a new outpost in Singapore.

SG: Pinsents hires veteran energy lawyer from Shearman

BY Mari Iwata |

Pinsent Masons MPillay, the Singapore office of UK law firm Pinsent Masons, has recruited senior energy and infrastructure expert David Clinch as a partner in Singapore from Shearman & Sterling, where he was an of counsel.

Simmons grows SG, HK offices with laterals, relocation

BY Mari Iwata |

UK law firm Simmons & Simmons has beefed up its partner strength in Asia by hiring Terence Seah in Singapore from Stephenson Harwood and Jeffrey Friedenberg as the head of its private funds practice in Hong Kong, and also relocating disputes partner Steven Kaye to Singapore from London.

RANKING: ALB Singapore Firms to Watch 2024

BY Asian Legal Business《亚洲法律杂志》, Mari Iwata |

Singapore’s dynamic legal landscape is witnessing a surge in boutique firms that have distinguished themselves from the pack. These firms are challenging traditional models by offering specialised expertise, personalised service, and innovative approaches to legal challenges, making them ones to watch in the years to come. Like in previous years, ALB continues to highlight impactful boutique firms that have carved their own niches and made waves in the market. The list is in alphabetical order and some firms have been profiled.

BRIEFS: SE Asia poised for robust M&A year as tech, energy sectors drive dealmaking

BY Sarah Wong |

With global businesses and investors growing weary of China's anaemic economic rebound and geopolitical upheaval, Southeast Asia has continued to solidify its standing as a key regional destination for dealmaking. While 2023 didn't match the highs of 2022, either in terms of deal value ($129.8 billion versus $90.6 billion) or volume (1,278 versus 933) – as per research from Mergermarket, White & Case, and ION Analytics) – last year dwarfed 2021 in terms of number of deals, and beat both 2019 and 2020 in terms of total amount.