More promotions for Asia-Pac lawyers
Almost a third of the new partner promotions at international firm Allen & Overy are from Asia-Pacific. In total there are 33 promotions across 15 offices and 10 are from this region. They are: Daniel Lau (banking) and Richard Qiang (corporate) in Beijing; Jinghua Zou and Alice Chan, (corporate),Jonathan Chapman (ICM) and Matt Hodgson and Sheila Ahuja (litigation) in Hong Kong; Tarsis Halintar (banking) and Nick Marchica (corporate) in Jakarta ; and Wei Ling Wong (ICM) in Singapore.
HSF appoints two non-exec directors to global board
Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed two non-executive directors to its international board. Jane Hemstritch, a director at Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Johanna Waterous, a senior independent director at insurance firm RSA will be part of the firm’s global governance board. They are the first external appointments to that board. Melbourne-based Hemstritch joins the board as another resident of the city, projects partner Jane Hodder leaves it.
White & Case granted licence extension in Singapore
International law firm White & Case will be continuing to practise in areas of Singaporean law having been granted an extension to its Qualifying Foreign Law Practice licence. The firm was granted its licence in 2009 along with Allen & Overy,
Clifford Chance, Latham & Watkins and
Norton Rose Fulbright. The extension will allow it to continue its practice until 2019.
Han Kun forms Italian alliance
Chinese law firm Han Kun has announced an alliance with Italy’s Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners. Han Kun has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong (through its alliance with Choy, Chung & Co.) The Italian firm also operates in Hong Kong along with offices in Europe and the Middle East. The alliance will expand the scope and footprint of both firms and will include Han Kun’s existing Hong Kong alliance.
Orrick closes two international offices
US-based law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has announced the closure of two more international offices, both in Germany, affecting five partners and more than a dozen associates. It cuts the firms practice in the country in half and follows a scaling back of its headcount in London in recent years.
Lawyers dispute six-figure salaries
Don’t rush to get a job in London based on a recent salary report. The figures that were widely reported in the UK press have been criticised by lawyers. The data said that lawyers could earn £100,000 (AU$194,107) after five years and would average £54,000 (AU$104,818). Associations representing the legal profession have responded that while some top-end corporate lawyers do earn six-figure salaries the majority in the profession do not. Critics of the data say that it is likely only to be focused on big law firms in The City. Many lawyers may be earning closer to £20,000 (AU$38,821).
