Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom will boost its Asian arbitration and litigation capabilities by relocating three of its lawyers to Hong Kong and Singapore. The firm will transfer partner Frances Kao from Chicago to Hong Kong, associate Calvin Chan from Hong Kong to Singapore and associate Kam Nijar from London to Hong Kong.
Kao, a key member of Skadden’s US and international dispute resolution practice and a Putonghua speaker, concentrates on commercial litigation, arbitration and civil and criminal government investigations.
Nijar, an arbitration specialist who speaks Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, will join Kao to support the team in Hong Kong.
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Chan, meanwhile, moves to Singapore after having worked at Skadden’s offices in New York, London and Hong Kong.
“Singapore is a real competing hub for Asia arbitration along with Hong Kong, and particularly for Indian arbitration and Indian parties,” said Paul Mitchard QC, leader of the firm’s Asian international arbitration and litigation practice and co-head the firm’s global international arbitration practice. “It makes sense to have an office in Singapore, to move our Singapore lawyer to Singapore and to bring one of our top-performing London associates, who can speak Indian languages, to the region,” he told India Business Law Journal. “The target is Singapore, but in doing that you’re indirectly targeting India, Indian arbitrations and Indian parties.
“This is a step for the future,” added Mitchard. “It’s also a vote of confidence in the future of India as a commercial centre.”
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