New York firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson announced that they will be opening a new office in Hong Kong. Nine partners from Simmons & Simmons of Britain have been recruited to move to this new office, along with 20 associates and six Fried Frank partners from the U.S. and Britain. This office opening comes four years after the proposed merger between Fried Frank and London’s Ashurst Morris Crisp. The merger would have been the first trans-Atlantic merger of firms of equal size, practice strength and profitability. But after over a year of no decisions, discussions of the deal ended in May 2003. Since then, Fried Frank has been expanding internationally on its own; its London office hosts 49 lawyers, Paris is home to 30, and the firm opened an office in Frankfurt in 2004.
Source: www.nylawyer.com

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe strengthened its China practice through its acquisition of structured-finance lawyer Michelle Taylor. Taylor joins the 23-lawyer Hong Kong office as a partner after leaving Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker’s Hong Kong office where she was a partner in the corporate group. Within the past couple months, Orrick has lost some lateral some lateral partners, so this addition comes at a good time.
Source: www.nylawyer.com

Boston firm Bingham McCutchen is set to open a Hong Kong office this January. This office will focus on advising existing financial-institution clients in Asia. The Hong Kong opening comes after Bingham’s merger with Swidler Berlin of D.C., and after Bingham’s Jay Zimmermann stated that the firm hopes to expand its international operation. After completing six mergers, Zimmerman has morphed this firm into a national powerhouse.
Source: www.nylawyer.com

Chicago-based Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw is in the process of expanding to Hong Kong, looking to grow their global stature. If they can navigate the red tape, Mayer Brown would join the list of big firms in China, including Baker McKenzie, Hogan & Hartson, and Sullivan and Cromwell. Mayer Brown employs approximately 1,400 lawyers in 13 offices worldwide.
Source: www.law.com

Texas-based Vinson & Elkins will expand its presence in Asia with a new Hong Kong office. This will be the firm’s fourth in the region, with locations in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Beijing. The firm plans to staff the office with 8 lawyers and will focus on energy related banking and finance.
Source: www.law.com

The deal merging U.S. giant Reed Smith with U.K. firm Richards Butler is official, confirmed today in a vote by the two firms’ partners. The new firm employs approximately 1,300 attorneys worldwide. U.S. offices will continue to operate under the name Reed Smith, while U.K. branches will use the name Reed Smith Richards Butler. The Hong Kong branch of Richards Butler will remain independent for the time being but look at joining the merger in the future. Source:www.legalweek.com