Asia: Latham hires V&E ex China co-head in HK; NRF hires DLA’s Singapore corporate head; Clayton Utz ends HK association

The past week has seen global top three firm Latham & Watkins hire Vinson & Elkins’ former China co-head David Blumental in Hong Kong, as Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) takes on DLA Piper’s Singapore corporate head Sheela Moorthy and big six Australian firm Clayton Utz ends its association in Hong Kong with Haley & Co.

Global London – Sweeping the board

Our 12th annual Legal Business Global London survey reveals the pressure a mounting US offensive is putting on City stalwarts. Can the UK firms resist the advance? Maurice Allen, co-managing partner of Ropes & Gray’s London office, knows all about the major players in the City, having taken in Clifford Chance (CC), White & Case …

Q&A with HSF’s new global head of disputes Justin D’Agostino

Justin D’Agostino has taken over as global head of dispute resolution at commercial litigation heavyweight Herbert Smith Freehills. Here the Asia-based lawyer talks to Legal Business about joining the dots of an expanding practice. What effect will a Hong Kong-based disputes head have on the global practice? Being based in Asia gives me a good …

Spanish leaders Uría and Cuatrecasas hike fees as confidence returns to battered market

Despite Spanish M&A values dropping significantly in 2013 and amid the country’s continuing well-publicised debt crisis, two of Spain’s big four law firms have reported an uptick in turnover as a note of optimism returns to Europe’s fourth-largest jurisdiction. Deal value in 2013 was down from $47.6bn to $32.2bn, according to mergermarket, but with a …

Singapore: QFLP renewals, hires for Milbank and a new office for Harneys

Singapore has over the past month dominated much of the legal agenda in Asia, starting with the renewal process early in March of its sought-after qualifying foreign legal practice (QFLP) licences. Of the original six firms that were awarded a QFLP in 2008 and which came up for five-year renewal, Allen & Overy (A&O), Clifford …