Berwin Leighton Paisner’s (BLP) Singapore office has seen two key partner departures: Finance partner Tahirah Ara has joined Withers, while Southeast Asia managing partner Alistair Duffield has decided to retire from the partnership.

Duffield and Ara were both part of a six-lawyer group that moved to BLP from Holman Fenwick & Willan in 2010. “We can confirm that Alistair has decided to retire from the BLP partnership at the end of October,” BLP said in a statement. “Under Bob Charlton’s leadership of our Asia practice, including Singapore, we are in growth mode; we have made significant hires over the last year and will continue to recruit the very best talent.”

Ara specialises in commercial agreements, syndicated loans as well as cross-border banking and finance transactions. She is currently advising PT Bumi Resources Tbk and its subsidiaries on its over $3 billion global debt restructuring.

Two associates from BLP are also expected to eventually join Ara at Withers, which formed an alliance with Singapore-based firm KhattarWong last April. “The growth of the firm’s corporate team in Singapore is a priority task to us and Tahirah’s work with leading Asian families makes her especially well-suited to our practice,” said Withers managing director Margaret Robertson in a statement.