Herbert Smith Freehills has hired Rod Howell, most recently the head of Allens Arthur Robinson’s Asian finance team, as a partner in the recently merged firm’s Singapore-based banking and finance practice.

With more than 20 years of experience advising on financings in Asia, Australia, UK and U.S., Howell is expected to leverage his existing network and experience to grow his new practice at Herbert Smith Freehills, and provide clients with specialist financing expertise. He was previously a partner with Clifford Chance, where he led the regional asset finance practice.

“Since the merger [between Herbert Smith and Freehills] in October, we have been working to build our banking and finance group to ensure we have the right network and expertise in place in Asia-Pacific to deliver our clients a seamless service for all of their financing needs,” said Patrick St John, Herbert Smith Freehills’ global head of practice – finance, in a statement. “Rod’s expertise and experience advising on some of the region’s most significant and challenging structured finance transactions will add to our already strong global banking and finance practice.”

Howell is joined in his move to Herbert Smith Freehills by former Allens senior associate Jeremy Chase.

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