Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has continued its expansion in Hong Kong with the hire of two funds partners, John Fadely and Albert Cho, from Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Almost exactly a year ago, Gibson Dunn hired a four-partner team from Ropes & Gray’s Hong Kong office, including office head Paul Boltz. The office, which was opened in 2010, will have 23 lawyers, including 11 partners, when Cho and Fadely join.
Their departures from Weil, meanwhile, come at a time when that firm’s Hong Kong office is undergoing a leadership transition. Akiko Mikumo, who headed the office since it was first opened in 2007, stepped down at the beginning of the year, and the office has since been co-managed by Hong Kong partner Tim Gardner and Shanghai partner Charles Ching.
In a Q&A with ALB earlier this year, Mikumo said John Fadely, together with Albert Cho, “propelled [Weil’s] private funds formation group to become market leaders.”
After the exits of Fadely and Cho, Weil will have about 19 lawyers in Hong Kong, including five partners.
