Locke Lord has raised its global profile with the opening of a new office in Hong Kong led by internationally recognized REIT and Capital Markets attorney Brad Markoff. Hong Kong represents the 13th office for Locke Lord and the second international office after London. As Hong Kong Office Managing Partner and head of its Asia practice, Markoff will focus on developing new business opportunities not only in Hong Kong but throughout Asia, including China, Korea, Singapore, the Philippines and India.

Markoff is a former partner with DLA Piper in the United States and in Hong Kong, having served as the co-chair of its real estate capital markets practice, and before relocating to Hong Kong, as the managing partner of its Raleigh, NC, office. Prior to his tenure at DLA, he was chair of the REIT practice at Alston & Bird. Most recently, Markoff was a co-founder and managing partner of The Kolkhian Group, a financial and business advisory firm focused on providing solutions to the financial and regulatory challenges faced by the Asian real estate industry. 

Markoff has years of experience in complex financing transactions, including cross border transactions, business rollups and strategic investments, and he has worked on a wide range of corporate and real estate finance, securities, corporate governance and mergers and acquisition matters. He has been very active in legislative initiatives in the REIT and real estate finance industry in both the United States and throughout Asia and has served as an advisory board member of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts and as vice president of the executive committee of the Asian Public Real Estate Association. He is a frequent speaker on topics related to cross border finance, REITs, innovative financing structures and mergers and acquisitions, having spoken at numerous conferences and university programs around the world. 

“Our Hong Kong office expands Locke Lord’s footprint across Asia and also fulfills one of our strategic goals for smart growth,” Firm Chair Jerry Clements said. “Already, we are recognized for our strength in international private equity and energy, and this will tie in perfectly with our strength and experience in REITs and Capital Markets in Hong Kong, creating a synergy that will build existing relationships and create new ones, both domestically and abroad. This is an exciting and powerful move to propel Locke Lord into the new year.” 

International Partner Tom Tong has returned to the Firm from private practice and will combine his considerable connections in China to work with Markoff in Hong Kong. Tong is fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and several other Chinese dialects. Traveling frequently between China and the United States, Tong’s permanent office will remain in Houston. Tong has represented U.S. and Chinese clients in transactional matters of all kinds and in litigation and mediation matters. The Hong Kong office also will get strong support from Houston Partner Greg Burch, who heads Locke Lord’s Construction and East Asia practice groups. 

“The time is right to move forward in this part of the world,” Markoff said. “Locke Lord is now on the ground in one of the most strategic and powerful financial centers in the world and a gateway for companies looking to do business in mainland China and the Greater Asian Pacific region. We look forward to serving our current and new clients well from our base in Asia.”