Launch of Linklaters' Singapore funds practice with Morgan Lewis partner

Launch of Linklaters' Singapore funds practice with Morgan Lewis partner

Following the hiring of two partners in December 2021 in Hong Kong, Joel Seow has become a partner as well

A Partner from US competitor, Morgan Lewis & Bockius has been recruited by Linklaters to establish an investment funds practice in Singapore, Linklaters' third Asia partner lateral since the beginning of the month.

Joel Seow has extensive experience advising sponsors in Asia on the establishment of private investment funds across a wide range of asset classes and jurisdictions, with a focus on private equity, venture capital, real estate, infrastructure and hedge funds, as well as special situations funds.

Seow is an "established practitioner in the global funds market" according to Silke Bernard, Linklaters' global head of investment funds. In addition Seow's experience will help Linklaters to build an effective investment funds practice in Asia, which will meet the growing demand from clients and deliver best in class service.

Previously, he worked at Morgan Lewis for almost three years before joining Linklaters after five years at Sidley Austin. Seow's experience dealing with investment funds dates back both to London and Singapore. He also worked as a trainee at the Singapore firm Rajah & Tann and as an associate at Clifford Chance and Dechert.

Additionally, representing sponsors in regards to funding formation, his practice involves representing limited partners regarding private fund investments and advising on regulatory and licensing issues that pertain to fund management under Singapore law.

Linklaters has bolstered its financial regulatory and private equity teams in Asia following the rehiring of Betty Yap from Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison and Carl Fernandes from Latham & Watkins just a month before. After re-joining Linklaters' financial regulation practice in London, Yap joins the firm to co-head its Hong Kong-based financial sponsor practice. Fernandes plans to move back to Asia after initially re-joining the firm's London-based financial sponsor practice.

Bart Fleuren, former counsel from local firm De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, joined the firm at the start of this month, establishing a Dutch Supreme Court litigation practice. Its Netherlands dispute resolution practice has been around since 2010, and this new offering enables Linklaters to provide clients with a 'one-stop shop' approach in solving the most challenging litigation cases at every Dutch district court.

Other international firms that have made strategic recruitments in Singapore recently include Cooley, which hired Tim Pitrelli, the head of its capital markets division at Goldman Sachs, as a capital markets partner. King & Spalding, another US firm, also hired former Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom partner Parveet Singh Gandoak in November 2021 to bolster its Singapore M&A team.

In addition to Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Khaitan & Co, a number of other law firms have also established offices in the city-state over the past year, including US firms Orrick and McDermott Will & Emery, the latter establishing yet another on-the-ground presence in Asia.