Advisory
Nomura appoints head of Asia investment banking
Nomura has promoted Mark Williams to head of investment banking for Asia ex-Japan, to replace Patrick Schmitz-Morkramer. The news follows other recent departures at senior management level in the Japanese investment firm.
O'Melveny to open office in South Korea
O'Melveny & Myers is going to open an office in Seoul, South Korea, in a move to deepen their services for Korea-based clients. It will be the seventh Asia office of the legal firm, alongside locations in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo,...
Deloitte expands SE Asia debt advisory, restructuring practice
Deloitte has hired three executives from Rothschild for its Southeast Asia debt advisory and restructuring practice. Robert Schmitz, Richmond Ang and NK Naginlal Modi all performed similar functions at Rothschild.
Australian businesses don't trust PE – PwC survey
Only 5% of small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Australia that are currently seeking funding would consider private equity as a source of capital, according to a survey published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Paul Weiss hires Spencer Park for Asia PE, M&A practice
Paul Weiss has appointed Spencer Park as counsel to its private equity and M&A practice in Asia. Based in Hong Kong, he will work on private equity, credit and real estate transactions across the region.
Innovative intermediaries: China's boutique advisors
Boutique corporate financial advisors are expanding in China, taking advantage of deals that lie beyond the reach of global investment banks. In the absence of pre-IPO deals, future success relies on differentiation
Cooley hires two in Shanghai office
US-based Cooley announced on Wednesday the additions to its Shanghai office of Christina Zhang and Benjamin Qiu as partner and associate respectively, in a move to expand the law firm’s footprint into China.
Jie Huang to join Cadwalader's Beijing office
Cadwalader has hired Jie Huang as special counsel in its Beijing office. Huang joins from Telstra Corp, where she was general counsel to the Australian company's China business unit.
Kobre & Kim to advise Chinese financial firms from BVI office
Kobre & Kim, the conflict-free litigation boutique focusing solely on cross-border disputes, has announced the opening of an office in the British Virgin Islands.China is expected to be a key focus for the practice.
Paul Wang joins Dechert as corporate partner in Beijing
International law firm Dechert has announced that Paul Weidong Wang has joined the firm’s corporate practice as a partner in Beijing.
Cadwalader poaches three lawyers from Jones Day
Cadwalader's Hong Kong office has poached three lawyers - Joseph Lee, Jeffrey Maddox and David Neuville – directly from rival Jones Day.
Vistra launches umbrella fund structure
Vistra Fund Services has launched an umbrella fund structure through which clients can establish segregated portfolio or sub-funds in Hong Kong, the Cayman Islands, the Netherlands and the UK. Known as the Privium Capital Fund, it offers a fast and cost...
Squire Sanders expands Greater China corporate team
Squire Sanders has hired corporate law specialists Jenny Liu and Xudong Ni as partners in its Beijing and Shanghai offices, while Sin Kiu Ng has joined the law firm in Hong Kong.
Man in the middle: Placement agents in Asia
Placement agents are building up resources in Asia as the region becomes more significant as a fundraising location. Some GPs are keen to build long-term relationships, but others take more convincing
Cleary Gottlieb adds Ling Huang as partner in Beijing office
Global law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton announced Ling Huang will join the firm as a partner in its Beijing office.
DLA Piper appoints Bob Charlton as head of Asia Pacific
DLA Piper has appointed Bob Charlton as managing director for Asia Pacific. He is replacing Alastair Da Costa, who is returning to the UK after five years heading up the law firm’s business in the region. Charlton will start his new role on May 1 and...
China's Fangda poaches Freshfields partner to lead HK office
Chinese law firm Fangda Partners has hired Freshfields litigation partner Peter Yuen to head up its new office in Hong Kong, which is set to open in June. This will be the firm's first location outside of mainland China.
Blackpeak appoints ex-Control Risks executive in Shanghai
Risk advisory firm Blackpeak Group has opened an office in Shanghai and appointed Max Hirsch to head up its operations in the city. Formerly a member of Control Risks’ corporate investigation practice, Hirsch will work with Nick Blank and Jack Clode,...
WSGR hires PE-focused partner in Shanghai
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR), the US-based law firm specializing in technology and life sciences, has hired Zhan Chen as a partner in Shanghai. Her practice focuses on private equity, privatizations and M&A.
Tata Capital to offer private investment banking in Singapore
Tata Capital will set up a private investment banking business in Singapore with a view to starting operations within two years. It plans to focus on private equity and fund management capabilities as well as wealth management and securities broking....
Blackpeak adds Nicholas Blank in Hong Kong
Risk advisory firm Blackpeak Group, which focuses on corporate, private equity and hedge fund clients, has appointed Nicholas Blank as a director based in Hong Kong.
Bain: GDP doesn't indicate private equity capacity
The number of large companies in a country, not the size of its economy, is the most important indicator of a market’s capacity to absorb private equity capital, according to Bain & Company. Other key factors include the depth and liquidity of capital...
China business leaders join 3i's advisory board
3i Group has appointed two Chinese business leaders and one academic to its newly formed advisory board for the country. The new recruits are Frank Ning, chairman of food conglomerate COFCO, Dr Bing Xiang, founding dean of Cheung Kong Graduate School...
Vistra launches fund administration services in Asia
Vistra Fund Services has launched an Asian unit to complement existing operations run out of Jersey and Luxembourg. Based in Hong Kong, the new unit will provide fund administration and associated services to fund managers throughout Asia.