King & Wood is expanding its international network with a Singapore office scheduled to open in early October.
The firm is rebuilding its Singapore team rather than taking over the former office that existed before King & Wood’s separation from Mallesons.
In May 2015, King & Wood established a Singapore office three years after its 2012 combination with Australian firm Mallesons. On 31 March 2026, the two firms completed their separation, with the existing Singapore office remaining with the Australian business and operating independently under the Mallesons brand.
Liu Haitao will head the new office as partner-in-charge, Singapore, while also being part of the dispute resolution practice.
Subject to local regulatory and employment approvals, the office will initially comprise nine lawyers. Liu will be joined by corporate partners Jiang Mengbi and Fei Dake; capital markets partners Jing Gang, Gao Yimin and Liu Xiaoguang; banking and finance partner Zhang Haoqing; and dispute resolution partners Qi Yuan and Bai Bing. All are currently practice from King & Wood offices in either Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou or Shenzhen.
King & Wood global chairman Wang Junfeng said the office reflected closer economic ties between China and Southeast Asia.
“The decision is fundamentally client-led. The economic relationship between China and Southeast Asia continues to deepen, and Singapore has become an increasingly important part of the internationalisation strategy of many of our Chinese clients. It is a key gateway for investment into Southeast Asia and an important hub for international businesses engaging with China,” he told Asia Business Law Journal.
The Singapore office will focus on corporate, banking and finance, capital markets and dispute resolution.
“This includes cross-border investment and M&A, financing, regulatory compliance and investigations and international disputes and arbitration. The emphasis will be on cross-border work where our China capabilities and international platform can bring value to clients,” Wang said.
As for future plans, Wang said: “International growth remains an important part of our long-term strategy.”
King & Wood’s decision to establish a presence in Singapore follows the opening of offices in Vancouver and Los Angeles in April 2026.
