Advisory
Asia fundraising: Size matters?
While a select group of GPs are able to raise large funds at short order in Asia, the small and mid-cap space is hollowing out. It is in parts cyclical and a function of broader changes in the post-financial crisis LP base
Alvarez & Marsal opens Korea office
Turnaround management and business advisory specialist Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has opened an office in Seoul and appointed Jay Kim as managing director to lead its business activities in South Korea.
Proskauer adds to Asia funds group
Global law firm Proskauer has appointed Lynn Chan as a consultant to the private investment funds group, working out of Hong Kong. She was previously a counsel in the investment funds practice at O’Melveny & Myers in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Duff & Phelps appoints new head of China investment banking
Financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps has appointed David Lu as managing director and head of its investment banking practice in China. Lu joins from Cowen Group, where he was head of Asia investment banking. He previously held...
Burden of compliance
Alternatives fund managers have a mountain to climb, but they are confident of reaching the summit. This, broadly speaking, is the conclusion drawn from State Street's recent global manager survey, in which the regulatory obstacles facing the industry...
A&M launches India transaction advisory practice, hires Vikram Utamsingh
Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), a consultancy specializing in performance improvement and turnarounds, has expanded its India business with the launch of a dedicated transaction advisory practice. The new practice will be led by Vikram Utamsingh, formerly of...
Proskauer boosts China fund formation capabilities
Global law firm Proskauer has recruited Yong Ren to its private investment funds group as a partner. He previously worked at Mayer Brown and, before that, at Ropes & Gray and Simpson Thacher.
Walkers adds to Hong Kong investment funds group
Walkers, a global law firm specializing in offshore services, has appointed Mark Cummings as counsel in its investment funds group in Hong Kong. Cummings, who joins the firm from Appleby, advises private equity and hedge fund managers on establishing...
Cogent adds to Shanghai team
Cogent Partners has appointed Dominik Woessner as a director in its Shanghai office. He has relocated from the secondary market-focused firm’s London office as part of ongoing efforts to develop its footprint in Asia.
Veronica John joins placement agent Diamond Dragon
Veronica John, previously a senior advisor to Vietnam-focused private equity firm Mekong Capital, has joined placement agent Diamond Dragon Advisors as a senior advisor based in Singapore.
Alvarez & Marsal appoints Asia forensic, disputes services head
Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), performance improvement, turnaround and business advisory services provider, has appointed Keith Williamson as Asia leader of its global forensic and dispute business in Hong Kong and China.
Orrick strengthens Japan M&A, PE practice
Orrick has appointed Edward S. Johnson as a partner in its M&A and private equity practice in Tokyo. He joins from Paul Hastings, where he previously served as managing partner of the Tokyo office.
King & Wood Mallesons merges with SJ Berwin
King & Wood Mallesons and London-based SJ Berwin will merge to form a single law firm valued at $1 billion. With over 2,700 lawyers in more than 30 countries, the combined entity is expected to be one of the 25 largest law firms in the world.
Kroll boosts China investigations practice
Kroll Advisory Solutions has hired Peter Glanville as an associate managing director in its Greater China investigations and disputes practice. He joins from Deloitte where he was a senior member of the forensic accounting team.
Rich man's game: The cost of fundraising in Asia
Asian GPs and fund lawyers are struggling with a demand-supply imbalance. LPs are negotiating more and conceding less - but for all that managers say fundraising costs are going up, lawyers say fees are going down
CITIC Capital's Yichen Zhang joins EMPEA board
Yichen Zhang, chairman and CEO of CITIC Capital, has joined the board of directors at the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA). He will also sit on the organization’s Asia Council.
Cambridge Associates to offer discretionary services in Singapore
Cambridge Associates has received a license to offer discretionary portfolio management services via its Singapore affiliate. The group has been operating in Asia since 2001, offering independent research and advisory services to institutional investors....
Sidley Austin adds PE lawyer to Singapore office
US law firm Sidley Austin has hired Gregory Salathé, a cross-border M&A specialist who represents PE and hedge funds, as a partner in its Singapore office. He will relocate from Tokyo, where he was previously co-managing partner of Morgan Lewis' office....
Ropes & Gray recruits new M&A lawyer to HK office
Global law firm Ropes & Gray has just recruited capital markets and M&A lawyer Victoria Lloyd to its Hong Kong office.
Q&A: Shearman & Sterling's Lorna Chen
For domestic private equity funds in China, regulation remains a clouded issue - it is unclear who should be responsible for the issue and how. Lorna Chen, a partner with Shearman & Sterling, explains where the difficulties lie
eFront launches Sydney office
Financial software provider eFront, a leading supplier to alternative investment managers, has opened an office in Sydney. This is the company’s first foray into Australia but its fifth base in Asia Pacific, complementing existing locations in Beijing,...
Kuwait-based Asiya launches Hong Kong operation
Kuwait’s Asiya Investments has opened a Hong Kong office, only its third service center globally, in response to rising demand from Arab investors for exposure to Asia.
NEPC forms alliance with Singapore's GFIA to boost Asia advisory business
NEPC has entered into a research agreement with a Singapore-based investment consultant GFIA to bolster its coverage of Asia-based managers and investment strategies.
Life sciences VC investor Domain creates China partnership
US-based venture capital firm Domain Associates has teamed up with Chinese financial advisor Elite Consulting to support Western healthcare companies entering China. Several global VC investors and related service providers have been bulking up their...