London-headquartered employment specialist law firm Lewis Silkin has launched a local law practice in Hong Kong after hiring Catherine Leung from Baker McKenzie and Kenneth Leung from Clifford Chance as legal director (of counsel) and senior consultant, respectively.

Thai law firm Chandler MHM has hired veteran lawyer Chatchai Inthasuwan in Bangkok as a senior partner and head of its dispute resolution practice from DLA Piper, where he held a similar role.

Baker McKenzie has advised the Thai government on the 44.7 billion baht ($1.4 billion) initial public offering of the Thailand Future Fund Infrastructure Fund, with Linklaters representing the underwriters and the initial purchasers and Latham & Watkins advising the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT).

Baker McKenzie and its Jakarta member firm HHP Law Firm have advised LafargeHolcim, the world’s largest cement maker, on the sale of its Indonesian business to Semen Indonesia, which was represented by Latham & Watkins and Tjajo & Partners.

Baker McKenzie and Sullivan & Cromwell represented Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (MUTB) on its $2.9 billion (A$4.1 billion) acquisition of Colonial First State Global Asset Management from the Australian financial group Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA).

Sullivan & Cromwell and Hergüner Bilgen Özeke advised Taiwan Cement Corporation on its estimated $1.1 billion joint venture with Ordu Yardimlasma Kurumu (OYAK) (Turkey) which turned to Baker McKenzie for advise.

Withers has continued its Asia expansion after hiring commercial disputes specialists Soo Khim Keoy and Amarjit Kaur from Baker McKenzie and Morgan Lewis Stamford, respectively.

Singapore’s Essex Court Chambers Duxton has added yet another heavy-hitter to its stable in the form of Chan Leng Sun SC, Baker McKenzie’s global head of arbitration.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Lee & Li have advised a consortium led by KKR & Co on its $1.56 billion acquisition of Taipei-listed LCY Chemical Corp, which was represented by Baker McKenzie.

Baker McKenzie has announced that Hong Kong-based special counsel Eva Hucker will be the new director of its global corporate real estate practice.