Tight vacancy rates and escalating rents in Hong Kong’s central business district (CBD) have encouraged firms like Berwin Leighton Paisner and Ince & Co to look for alternative office spaces in the eastern half of the island.

Ince & Co has hires corporate specialist Tom Briggs as a partner in its Dubai office from London-headquartered firm Charles Russell Speechlys

Ince & Co has beefed up its capabilities in aviation, energy, insurance, international trade and shipping with the hire of banking and finance attorney Balbir Bindra as partner and corporate specialist Yeon Jin Seong as Of Counsel at its Hong Kong office.

Ince & Co's erstwhile Singapore managing partner Richard Lovell, and Mohan Subbaraman, head of its local alliance firm, have departed for Reed Smith, while its Asia-Pacific energy chief Martin David has headed to Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow.

Shearman & Sterling is representing a consortium involved in the development of the $1.5 billion CHP5 independent power producer (IPP) project, the first coal-fired IPP project in Mongolia, with Ince & Co advising Mongolia and White & Case representing the banks.

Ince & Co has promoted Khalid Hamed to its partnership in Dubai, one of three partner promotions globally.