Hogan Lovells has picked up two new corporate partners at its office in Hong Kong. Paul Hastings’ local office head Sammy Li will be joining the firm alongside DLA Piper head of US capital markets Stephen Peepels. Both new partners will be focusing on capital markets work for Hogan Lovells. Mr Li specializes in IPOs and secondary offerings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has advised clients including Morgan Stanley, Deutsch Bank, UBS and Bank of Communications International. Mr Peepels, formerly the head of DLA Piper’s Hong Kong corporate group, has both debt and equity transactions in his practice.

As reported last week, Berwin Leighton Paisner has picked up a five-strong asset finance team as part of its bolt-on deal with Hong Kong firm William KK Ho & Co. Partners William Ho and Jackson Chow are joining the firm alongside associates Karen He, Clara Lam and Calvin Leung. The team specialises in financing for aviation and shipping.

Credit Suisse legal director Colin Rice has been picked up as a new finance partner for Norton Rose Fullbright’s office in Singapore. Prior to joining Credit Suisse, Mr Rice had worked as a solicitor for Allen & Overy in its offices in London, New York and Singapore. Mr Rice boasts a wide range of experience advising large corporations, global investment banks, retail banks and funds on a wide range of matters, including derivatives. ‘Clients are increasingly looking for legal services to be provided locally, and Colin will give us the derivative capability we need on the ground in Asia,’ said NRF South East Asia head Jeff Smith of the hire.

RHTLaw Taylor Wessing has picked up new intellectual property partner Kong Seh Ping from Stephenson Harwood's Singapore ally, Virtus Law. Mr Kong specialises in commercial anc corporate transactions within the technology and telecommunications sectors. He also experience in cross-border M&A, FDIs and joint ventures in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philipines. 

Herbert Smith Freehills has recruited Rudolph du Plessis as the first ever M&A partner for its new Johannesburg office, which opened late last year. Mr du Plessis joins the international firm from South Africa Big Five firm Bowman Gilfillan, where he was also a partner. As a regular advisor to large multinationals looking to invest in South Africa, Mr du Plessis carries a wealth of experience in cross-border M&A transactions.

Also in South Africa, Hogan Lovells has picked up M&A partner Carl Stein to its own corporate practice in Johannesburg. Mr Stein is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s top M&A lawyers and has advised clients including SABMiller, Amcor Packaging and Nampak, according to a statement from Hogan Lovells. Mr Stein is also departing African regional heavyweight Bowman Gilfillan to take up his new role.