Ashurst has announced that Blake Dawson alumnus Matthew Bubb has been appointed as managing partner of Asia, with effect from 1 May.

Bubb started his career with Blakes in 1999 and was with the firm for five years before joining Ashurst LLP. A partner since 2006, he has also held the role of managing partner of the Singapore office and is recognised as a leading practitioner in the development and financing of projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

This move follows Geoffrey Green's decision to retire as head of Ashurst  Asia and return to London where he will continue to assist with the integration of the legacy Ashurst LLP and Blake Dawson practices.  Australia managing partner John Carrington has told Fairfax media that the firm intends to bring full integration of the firms forward to the end of 2013, rather than the previously mooted 2014 date.  He added that he did not predict “any substantial change to the number of partners on a year-on-year basis,” although he declined to confirm or deny that some partners may lose their equity status.