Aussie firm among four-way global alliance

Aussie firm among four-way global alliance
Australia’s Wotton + Kearney has joined with three other firms to create a new global alliance of leading insurance law firms.

The four founding members of Legalign Global also include UK-headquartered DAC Beachcroft, which has international offices including Auckland, Wellington & Singapore; German firm BLD Bach Langheid Dallmayr; and US-based Wilson Elser.

The four individual members offer services beyond services to insurers but the new alliance will focus on insurance/reinsurance Coverage, insurance/reinsurance defence and insurance regulatory & compliance. 
 
Morgan Lewis takes Orrick team for pan-China expansion
Morgan Lewis has hired a team of nine partners from Orrick to expand its pan-China capabilities.

The team is led by Orrick’s former capital markets head in Hong Kong, Edwin Luk; and Maurice Hoo, who was global practice group co-leader of the mergers & acquisitions and private equity practice group.

They will soon be joined by partners Ning Zhang, June Chan, Keith Cheung, Connie Cheung, Louise Liu, Billy Wong, and Mathew Lewis; on offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai.

In accordance with The Law Society of Hong Kong rules, Morgan Lewis will file an application to become a registered foreign law firm in Hong Kong, and will seek approval to associate with Luk and Partners, a newly formed Hong Kong Solicitors’ firm.
 
Team of 50 join Reed Smith from KWM Europe ashes
A team of lawyers and other staff from the former European arm of King & Wood Mallesons has joined international firm Reed Smith.

The 50 lawyers, including 17 partners, come from a variety of practice groups and have joined Reed Smith’s offices in London, Munich, Paris and Frankfurt. They join several former colleagues who moved to the firm a week ago.
 
Michael Wong joins financial services team at Dechert
Dechert in Hong Kong has strengthened its financial services practice with the addition of Michael Wong as partner. Wong was most recently with K&L Gates and his practice focuses on fund formation, fund investments and retail fund registration.