Ashurst has laterally hired Simmons & Simmons disputes lawyer Gareth Hughes to join the firm’s Hong Kong office with immediate effect. He will be Ashurst’s first litigation partner in Hong Kong and only the second disputes partner the firm has in the Asian region.

A litigator specializing in the banking and finance sector, Hughes has advised financial institutions and corporate clients in commercial disputes, international arbitrations, shareholder disputes and commercial fraud claims.

Hughes will spearhead the firm’s Hong Kong’s contentious practice – the first such practice that it has launched in Asia. “Ensuring that we provide financial institutional clients in Asia with a comprehensive service is a key part of our growth strategy in the region,” Ashurst head of Asia Geoffrey Green said.

Hughes's hire follows the recent appointment of finance partner Peter Kwon, (who joined Ashurst in March 2010) and the relocation of Mattias Schemuth from Ashurst’s Tokyo office in January 2010. 

Hughes will join a global disputes resolution team which comprises 20 partners worldwide, including Singapore-based arbitration specialist Ben Giaretta.ALB

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