Stephenson Harwood has hired corporate lawyer Tom Platts as a partner in Singapore from Herbert Smith Freehills.

Singaporean powerhouse Allen & Gledhill has launched an associate firm in Myanmar. The firm, named Allen & Gledhill (Myanmar), is located in Yangon and headed by partner Minn Naing Oo.

Rajah & Tann has announced a tie-up with Vietnamese law firm LCT Lawyers to create Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers, a 25-lawyer firm that will have a presence in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang.

Baker & McKenzie has opened an office in Yangon, Myanmar. This is the firm's 16th in the Asia-Pacific region, and the sixth office opening in the past two years.

Singapore law firm RHTLaw Taylor Wessing has entered into a joint venture with Vietnamese outfit PBC Partners, a 22-lawyer firm that has offices Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. The joint venture will be called PBC Partners & RHTLaw.

Rockwell Olivier has appointed Hamilton Blackstone Lawyers founder and managing director Cristean Yazbeck as the head of its financial services at its Sydney office.

Stephenson Harwood has announced its intention to enter the South Korean market with the hire of Michael Kim as a partner in the marine and international trade practice from DLA Piper, where he was the chief representative of it’s Seoul office.

DLA Piper has moved partner Trevor Butcher from London to Dubai and named him its new head of finance and projects in the Middle East.

Simmons & Simmons has hired corporate lawyer Tom Butcher as a partner in Abu Dhabi from Allen & Overy.

Dentons has hired energy specialist Jonathan Nash as a partner at its Abu Dhabi office from Vinson & Elkins, where he was managing partner of its Abu Dhabi office.