Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has applied for a license to set up an office in Hong Kong, and has recruited Paul Jebely, the former global head of aviation finance at Clyde & Co. 

Jebely will head the firm’s transportation finance practice in Asia. He specialises in negotiating and executing international commercial and business aircraft and engine financing, as well as leasing and trading transactions involving all classes of commercial and business aircraft. He also handles enforcement and repossession issues.

At present, Pillsbury has two offices in China: Shanghai and Beijing, which opened in 2006 and 2014, respectively. Once established, the Hong Kong office will also focus on private client advisory and international disputes, including internal investigations and regulatory enforcement matters.

“Our long-term strategy has always been to grow in those areas where we have existing strengths, and this is a perfect example of the firm executing on that strategy,” said Firm Chair Jim Rishwain, Jr. in a statement.