In a busy week for laterals, Addleshaw Goddard, Hogan Lovells and Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) have boosted their international ranks, while Matrix Chambers and Penningtons Manches have hired in the City.
Addleshaws has developed its Asia corporate focus with the hire of Andrew Yang in Hong Kong. Yang, who joins Addleshaws from Goodwin Procter, advises on all aspects of M&A and commercial transactions for small to medium enterprises, listed companies, venture/growth funds and other financial institutions based throughout the Asian region.
Nigel Francis, head of Addleshaws’ Asia practice said: ‘The continuation of outbound investment from Chinese organisations as well as the promised economic reform that will ultimately lead to investment in China’s state owned enterprises represent exciting future opportunities. Andrew’s experience aligns perfectly with these plans and means our Asia practice will be well placed to capitalise as these opportunities arise.’
Meanwhile Hogan Lovells has continued its Australia expansion with the hire of Matthew Johnson, who joins the firm from Clayton Utz. Johnson, who was closely involved with Clayton’s China practice, will focus on private and public M&A, private equity, equity capital markets and corporate advisory in addition to working with the firm’s energy and resources sector teams.
Closer to home, HSF has bolstered its Paris offering, hiring real estate partner David Lacaze from Paul Hastings. Lacaze’s clients include financial institutions and investment funds. Donald Rowlands, head of HSF real estate UK/EMEA said: ‘The addition of David to our Paris team will be crucial to helping us deliver on our ambitious plans for the growth of our European real estate practice and will complement the investments we have made in Germany and Madrid to augment our top-tier UK and French practices.’ However, going the other way, HSF lost two associates and a special counsel to White & Case down under, following the US firm’s 10 partner hire to launch in Australia, earlier this year. HSF senior associates Adeline Pang and Ged Cochrane, and of counsel Michelle Keen will be made up to partner when they join White & Case later this year.
In the City, Penningtons Manches has expanded its construction and infrastructure practice with the addition of Francis Ho from Olswang.
Ho was head of construction at the firm. Recent deals include the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station, the construction of a major new Premier League stadium in London and the redevelopment of The Langham Hotel in Marylebone.
Finally, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has lost two high-profile names this week. In addition to the departure of M&A partner Ben Spiers to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Matrix Chambers hired Raj Parker, head of the firm’s insurance and reinsurance team as an associate member.
David Scott, partner at Freshfields said: ‘Whilst he is retiring from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, he is not retiring full stop, as he is going to return to the Bar and he will practice at Matrix Chambers. I have no doubt that Raj will have a very interesting and varied mix of work whilst he is there and we wish him all the best for his future career around the corner at Matrix Chambers.
kathryn.mccann@legalease.co.uk