Morning Briefing: Allen & Overy bolsters Myanmar office

Allen & Overy relocates ASEAN chairman to Myanmar… New partners for Hogan Lovells in Tokyo… Boies, Schiller & Flexner warns media over stolen Sony secrets… Lawyers with many strings to their bow…

Allen & Overy relocates ASEAN chairman to Myanmar
Simon Makinson, ASEAN chairman of Allen & Overy is relocating to Myanmar to add senior partner support to the growing office in the country. Makinson has been based in Bangkok managing the office in Yangon from there, but his relocation to the city is a strategic move for the firm. The Myanmar practice comprises two other senior lawyers, Chris Burkett and Kathryn Thornton, as well as four business services staff on the ground. The office is supported by the firm’s Bangkok and Singapore offices and certain projects bring in experts from further afield including Sydney, Perth, New York and London.
 
New partners for Hogan Lovells in Tokyo
Hogan Lovells has recruited three patent and trademark attorneys into its IP, Media and Technology team in Tokyo. The hires – Chikako Hashimoto, Mikako Tsukada and Reiko Hase – continue the trend of expansion of the team and consolidates Hogan Lovells' position as the largest international trademark practice in Japan.
 
International Bar Association position for HFW partner
Holman Fenwick Willan partner partner Elinor Dautlich has been appointed vice-chair of the maritime and transport law committee of the International Bar Association. It’s one of the oldest and most well-established committees of the IBA and has more than 650 members worldwide. Dautlich has been on the committee for a number of years and her new role will begin in January for a two year period.
 
Boies, Schiller & Flexner warns media over stolen Sony secrets
The chairman of Boies, Schiller & Flexner has written to media companies warning them of legal action if they continue to publish information and files that have been leaked online having been stolen by hackers in the high-profile cyber attack on Sony Pictures. It is understood that Sony had been in discussion with media firms requesting that the information is not shared but it had not achieved the desired result. David Bois says that those who publish the stolen information will be held responsible for damage or loss arising from the dissemination.
 
Lawyers with many strings to their bow
An orchestra made up of Australian lawyers with a talent for music will perform its inaugural concert this evening (Wednesday 17th December). The Sydney Lawyers Orchestra is headed and conducted by Corrs partner Thomas Jones and has representatives from the Bar, the Courts, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Allens, Clayton Utz, Norton Rose Fulbright, Gilbert + Tobin, King & Wood Mallesons, and the social justice sector. The 30-strong ensemble are all classically trained and will perform their free concert at the Pitt Street Uniting Church, Sydney from 7pm to 8pm.