White & Case and Hong Kong dispute resolution boutique Laracy Gall have joined together in preparation for the emanate wave of corporate bankruptcies. In the face of such an economic decline, banks have limited their lending to what companies may be able to pay back. In the Asia-Specific region, excluding Japan, new loans amount to $4 billion, much less than last year’s $32 billion around the same time. Laracy Gall has 12 litigators, all of whom will work with White & Case’s banking, capital markets and private equity practice groups.

Source:  www.bloomberg.com

Eversheds has hired five new partners in Hong Kong, all previously with DLA Piper. The newbies include: King Tak Fung and Michael Yau (banking), Ivan Ng, Ronald Sum and William Leung (litigation). Also joining the firm as partner is Stephen Mok (corporate), previously of Fried Frank.

Source:  www.legalweek.com

Proskauer Rose has taken up a new office in Hong Kong’s central business district. Coroprate partner, Yuval Tal, has moved to Hong Kong from New York, to open and lead the office. The new address goes as follows:

36/F, Edinburgh Tower
  The Landmark
  Suites 3605-3607
  15 Queen’s Road Central
  Hong Kong
  Phone: 852.3410.8000

Source:  www.marketwatch.com

Allen & Overy is in the midst of restructuring its Hong Kong arm as a response to the ailing economy as well as to its loss of seven corporate partners who laterally moved to Latham & Watkins in October 08. The firm is left with four partners.  Allen & Overy has assured its staff that it is thinking of them first.  The public, as well as its staff, will have to wait to see the outcome of this restructure.

Source: www.asialegalbusinessonline.com

Latham & Watkins has made a seven lawyer lateral hire from Allen & Overy. The group is composed of partners in Hong Kong. The following are leaving Allen & Overy for Latham: regional corporate head Micheal Liu, Simon Berry, Jane Ng, Stan Chow, William Woo, Kenneth Chan and Cathy Yeung.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com

Tags:  Allen & Overy LLP | Hong Kong

Jones Day has hired Joe Bauerschmidt for its Hong Kong office. Bauerschmidt concentrates his practice on securities offerings and has represented both internatioanl banks and corporate entities. Bauerschmidt previously worked at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy. Jones Day has many branches in Asia including in: Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo.

Source: www.asia.legalbusinessonline.com

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP has made history in the Republic of China. The firm recently aided Asia Pacific Land (APL) in closing the largest real estate deal ever made in the country. Due to Paul, Hastings’ efforts, APL is now the proud owner of The Center, a Shanghai office in Puxi, purchased for about $650 million US dollars.

Source: www.practicesource.com

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge is preparing to open its new offices in Hong Kong and Tokyo. These new offices are part of 5 year plan to expand the firm globally. The plan not only consists of opening new arms of the firm, but also expanding existent locations, such as its London and Washington DC offices.

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Hong Kong: LAWFUEL – Law Firm Newswire – Renowned Hong Kong litigator Brian Gilchrist is to join leading law firm Clifford Chance from 1 May 2008.

Brian joins the strongest litigation team in Asia, with four partners based in Hong Kong, including leading practitioner Martin Rogers, and 40 litigation lawyers working across Asia.
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Following Reed Smith’s merger with Richards Butler Hong Kong, the firm plans on sending two trainees to Hong Kong. Mark Matthew, Reed Smith graduate recruitment manager, says this will occur later this month [February] at the next seat rotation. The merger,announced January 1, 2008, added about £30m to Reed Smith’s annual turnover.
Source: www.thelawyer.com