Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) has made a series of new management changes to its Far East offices, with new managing partners for its Hong Kong and Singapore offices and the appointment of project finance partner Nick Merritt as head of Asia business strategy.
The firm has appointed corporate partner Psyche Tai as the head of its Hong Kong office, with former North Asia head and Hong Kong partner Philip John retiring at the end of August.
NRF has also replaced its former South Asia head and Singapore partner Jeff Smith, who will become a consultant at the firm. Banking and finance partner Yu-En Ong will lead the Singapore office.
Singapore-based project finance partner Merritt becomes head of Asia business strategy, a new role that will manage strategic co-ordination of business opportunities across the region. Merritt will also continue his role as global head of infrastructure, mining and commodities.
The firm recently made further top level management changes, hiring former PwC partner John Berriman as its global chief operating officer in December last year. Berriman replaced former operations head Mark Whitley, who had spent two years at the firm.
NRF EMEA managing partner Martin Scott said: ‘Norton Rose Fulbright remains strongly committed to the Asian region, where we have had a presence for over 40 years. We see significant opportunities for many of our global and Asian clients investing in a region which clearly has a strong and vibrant future and will be a key driver for global growth.’
The US side of NRF’s business is currently in the process of completing a merger deal with New York-based firm Chadbourne & Parke, set to complete later this year.
matthew.field@legalease.co.uk
Read more on the firm in: ‘On the bus – Inside the Norton Rose Fulbright masterplan’
