Herbert Smith Freehills is the most prolific M&A firm in Australia, according to the latest league tables from Thomson Reuters.

Allen & Gledhill won a whopping 11 awards at the ALB Southeast Asia Law Awards 2013, on a night when Rachel Eng of WongPartnership became the first person in the event’s history to win the Managing Partner of the Year award twice.

A&G advises Auric Pacific Group and Courts Asia on their multicurrency MTN and debt issue programmes, AZB helps Tata Power land 40 percent stake in Adjaristqali Netherlands, and much more in this week’s Southeast Asia deals roundup.

Carter Newell has welcomed Matt Couper to the firm as special counsel in the corporate team.

King & Wood Mallesons Australia managing partner Tony O’Malley has stepped down from his role, effective immediately, and will retire as a partner of the firm on 31 December this year.

Piper Alderman has welcomed a new insolvency partner and his team in Brisbane this week.

Clifford Chance has advised The Carlyle Group on its purchase of a minority stake in Jordanian frozen and chilled food products company Al-Nabil Food Industries, which marks Carlyle’s first investment in that country.

Seats are selling fast for the 10th anniversary ALB Australasian Law Awards, to be held at Sydney Town Hall on May 30.

Jones Day has announced that projects expert Bill Napier has joined the firm in Sydney.

HopgoodGanim has welcomed senior Queensland lawyer Ian Hughes to the firm.