K&L Gates Straits Law, the Singapore office of U.S. law firm K&L Gates, has strengthened its corporate capabilities in Singapore with the addition of partners David Kuo and Meraj Noor from rival DLA Piper.
With 20 years of experience, Kuo specialises in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and corporate finance across various sectors, particularly Asia-based clients pursuing opportunities in the United States. Kuo also advises on private equity transactions, emerging company representation, and corporate finance transactions for clients in the technology, life sciences, energy, and real estate sectors.
Kuo joined DLA in 2020 from Milbank. He was earlier a partner at the legacy Allen & Overy, and held associate roles at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Bingham McCutchen, and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.
Noor has 16 years of experience practicing in Dubai, India, and Singapore. His corporate practice focuses on matters related to South Asia, particularly India-related transactions. He has experience in cross-border corporate deals, focusing on capital market transactions. Notable recent work from him and Kuo includes advising India’s Hinduja Global Solutions on the $1.2 billion sale of its healthcare business to Baring Private Equity Asia.
Noor spent more than 16 years at DLA, with his most recent role being that of deputy chair of the firm’s India Group. He was an associate at the legacy Amarchand Mangaldas earlier in his career.
The move comes as Singapore increasingly becomes a hub for large corporates and a springboard for outbound investments. "David and Meraj bring both wide experience and deep understanding of the market and needs of Indian clients and clients throughout the Asia-Pacific region and beyond," said M Rajaram, chair of K&L Gates Straits Law, in a statement.
Kuo and Noor become K&L Gates Straits Law’s fourth and fifth lateral partner hires this year, following investment funds partner Jason Nelms from Morrison Foerster and aviation finance partners Samuel Kolehmainen and Duc Nguyen from Herbert Smith Freehills.
The Singapore office now has 17 partners.
