Chicago-headquartered McDermott Will & Emery (MWE) is set to return to Asia after receiving a license to open in Singapore, and also making partner hires from King & Spalding and Squire Patton Boggs.

Last July it seemed MWE’s Asia plans were over after it ended a 13-year relationship with Shanghai-based Yuanda China Law Firm. As it had closed its Seoul office in 2019, MWE no longer had a physical presence in the region.

However, Singapore appears to be the first stop in the firm’s return to the Asian region. In March this year, it hired Ignatius Hwang from Squire Patton Boggs. Hwang moved from the legacy Bryan Cave to what was then Squire Sanders in 2012, helping the latter firm open its Singapore branch.

The most recent addition is energy expert Merrick White, who was a partner at King & Spalding in Singapore.

White, who has nearly three decades of experience, advises oil and gas clients on the legal, commercial, business development and engineering aspects of the resources and LNG industries, particularly in Asia and Africa. Before his stint at King & Spalding, White was a partner at Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance.

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