Latham & Watkins joins other international firms that are establishing litigation practices in Asia. Simon Powell, a Hong Kong-qualified lawyer from Jones Day, has been appointed as a partner in Latham’s Hong Kong litigation department. 

“Simon is one of the most accomplished and multi-faceted litigators in the market,” managing partner of Latham & Watkins in Hong Kong, Michael Liu said. “His arrival marks the first step in developing a leading litigation capability in Hong Kong and Greater China.”

Powell’s practice spans numerous sectors including advising financial institutions and companies in commercial litigation and arbitration proceedings, contentious insolvencies, securities and competition regulation. Recently he was special counsel on Asia litigation for the Lehman Brothers estate, handling the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. 

 “Simon has a stellar reputation for handling in-region and multinational commercial disputes, international arbitration, government agency investigations and anti-trust matters. His experience and market knowledge make him well suited to lead the development of our litigation practice in the region,” global chair of Latham & Watkins’ litigation department, Peter Wald said. “The extension of our litigation practice in Hong Kong and Greater China further strengthens our global platform and our ability to manage large and complex cases across multiple jurisdictions.”

The firm has significantly expanded its presence in Asia over the last decade with new offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Latham now joins Skadden, Herbert Smith and Linklaters in strengthening or launching their litigation practices in Hong Kong, the region’s financial capital, during the downturn in 2008 and early 2009.

Asia is a growing market with an increasing number of Asian companies embroiled in US law suits, as well as a rising number of Latham’s own Asian clients seeking litigation advice locally. According to Powell, increased securities enforcement and greater regulatory scrutiny of companies involved in major transactions in Asia will lead to an increased demand for litigation advice. “I look forward to joining my new colleagues and to helping build a Greater China litigation capability,” Powell said.ALB