Mr Allen is departing his role as head of commercial litigation at the Hong Kong office of rival US-based outfit Sidley Austin to take up the new role with Orrick. Licensed in both Hong Kong and England and Wales, Mr Allen has been practicing in Hong Kong for more than 20 years and joined Chicago-headquartered Sidley Austin from Simmons & Simmons in 2002, eventually making partner with the firm in 2007. He marks the first new disputes hire for Orrick’s Hong Kong office since the departure of investigations partner Andrew Dale for the local litigation practice of yet another US firm, Ropes & Gray, in February last year. While Orrick’s global litigation practice boasts more than 450 lawyers worldwide, Mr Allen will be the firm’s only litigation partner on the ground in Hong Kong.

Sources: Asian Legal Business; CDR News