Major expansion plan for international firm
Despite years advising American clients including more than half of the Fortune 500, London-headquartered law firm Bird & Bird has no representative office in the US.
That’s set to change in mid-2018 though as ‘Two Birds’ flies west with a San Francisco office as part of a plan to grow the firm’s presence in the region.
It will offer clients non-US law advice but the firm plans to partner with US law firms to provide global coverage.
Bird & Bird will back up the new office with heavyweight experience including partner Stefano Silvestri, co-head of the firm’s international corporate group, who will relocate from Milan; and IP partner Nick Aries, who will relocate from London.
Tech partner Roger Bickerstaff, and head of international HR services Ian Hunter will also spend “significant” time in San Francisco and the office will be supported by teams in Asia Pacific and the firm’s other locations.
Sydney partner jumps ship after 18 years at KWM
Max Bonnell has joined the international arbitration practice at White & Case in Sydney.
Bonnell was formerly with King & Wood Mallesons where he spent mpore than 18 years. His practice is focused on international arbitration and commercial litigation, advising clients in multiple jurisdictions in telecommunications, mining, energy, financial services, engineering and computer software.
"These are exciting times for our business in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region," said White & Case partner Eric Berg, Head of Asia-Pacific. "We now have more than 40 lawyers in our Melbourne and Sydney offices and Max, a recognised leader in arbitration, brings a practice that fits naturally with our project finance focus in Australia and with our wider disputes practice across the Asia-Pacific region."
Kennedys takes DLA Piper practice head for new Thailand office
Just weeks after it announced Australian expansion with a new Melbourne office, Kennedys has announced further expansion in the region.
A new Bangkok office has opened, headed by Suraphon Rittipongchusit, formerly a senior lawyer in DLA Piper’s insurance and litigation practice in Thailand, who is joined by partner Supreedee Nimitkul and senior associate, Tassanu Chutikanon.
The team also includes solicitor Ian Johnston who has relocated from Kennedys in Singapore.
Their initial focus is insurance/reinsurance, dispute resolution and corporate work.
Kennedys has also announced a new Paris office led by four partners formerly with French boutique litigation firm BOPS Avocats.
