Withers has lost private wealth partner Erik Wallance to Stephenson Harwood in Hong Kong as its Singapore alliance firm, Withers KhattarWong hired Mahesh Kumar as a partner from India's Nishith Desai Associates (NDA).

Based in its Singapore office, Kumar headed the international tax, private client and globalization practice for NDA. He has expertise in wealth planning, succession and corporate tax, and advises high net worth families on a range of planning and structuring issues. 

"Mahesh stands out as an energetic and innovative lawyer, who is passionate about finding creative solutions and new, more effective ways to deliver legal services to clients. His skills will be a great addition to our Singapore practice, which recently expanded significantly through our alliance with KhattarWong,” said Margaret Robertson, managing partner of Withers, in a statement.

Withers KhattarWong was formed through a formal law alliance between Withers' Singapore practice and KhattarWong last year.

Meanwhile Wallace, who joins Stephenson Harwood, specializes in taxation, trusts and estates and international probate. His practice focuses on advising high net worth families on U.S. taxation and estate planning. Previously Wallace, worked with law firms Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy and Cummings & Lockwood.

“Erik’s arrival is strategically important for the development of our international private wealth practice,” said James Quarmby, a partner in Stephenson Harwood’s private wealth team, in a statement.