Baker Botts has launched its third office in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi. Partner Greg Golden is transferring over from the firm’s DC office to act as Partner in Charge. Baker Botts is also expanding its other offices in this region, Dubai and Riyadh, due to their growth in number of attorneys. When the Dubai office opened in 2005, it only had 5 lawyers. Now it houses more than 20.
Source: www.in.sys-con.com
Evan here, writing from Miami. Here is a headline from today, July 1, at ALB Legal News: “Firms poised as Hong Kong’s capital markets spring back to life.” The article, by George Beveridge, opens: “After posting the slowest first quarter in almost a decade, Hong Kong’s capital markets are once again in full swing, or [...]
Intellectual Property lawyers are foretelling some major growth in the practice field throughout Asia. Connie Carnabuci and Mark Parsons, both lawyers with Freshfields in Hong Kong, explain that the economic decline, changes in regulation, and an increase of IPR awareness are playing off of each other and subsequently increasing work for IP lawyers in Asia. In short, the downturn is increasing the willingness of businesses to protect what is theirs, since so much has already been lost. The money-making options are slimmer than they once were, so businesses feel a greater need to protect what is rightly theirs. China’s States Intellectual Property Office has noted a 19% increase in patent applications since the implementation of a national IPR strategy. This growth may also be seen in law firm response. The following firms have boosted their IP groups in Asia: Bingham McCutchen, Deheng, and Rouse and Dacheng.
Source: www.asialegalbusiness.com
Latham & Watkins has suffered a hit with the loss of Hong Kong partner, Julie Gao. Gao joins the Asia practice of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom. She has practiced out of Latham since 2008, when she graduated law school and was promoted to partner in 2006. Gao concentrates on M&A and capital markets.
Source: www.legalweek.com
Robert here. Having arrived back in the US last night, I’m sitting up at 3 am now reflecting on the results of another outstanding visit to Hong Kong. Several of us were in town and able to meet with dozens of people while there, some of whom are candidates and some of whom are representatives [...]
Robert here. I’m writing this blog entry in the Newark President’s Club as I prepare to depart for China for my second trip this month. I’ll be joined in Hong Kong on Tuesday by Evan Jowers and Daniel Roark. Upon our return I think that Evan will write a contribution to our Asia Chronicles describing [...]
