Seladore Legal has hired Clifford Chance investor-state arbitration specialist Kate Apostolova as a partner in Singapore, continuing the disputes boutique’s expansion in Asia less than a year after opening in the city-state.
Apostolova joins from Clifford Chance’s Perth office, where she led the firm’s investor-state arbitration practice in Australia.
She brings more than 15 years’ experience in international arbitration and cross-border litigation, focusing on investment treaty and commercial arbitration and public international law.
She has represented sovereign states, state-owned enterprises and private companies in disputes spanning the energy, mining, infrastructure, finance and technology sectors.
Apostolova is also an accredited mediator and has acted as an arbitrator in institutional and ad hoc proceedings, as well as lecturing on the subject at the National University of Singapore.
The treble-qualified lawyer – who is qualified in New York, England and Wales, and Western Australia – previously spent a substantial part of her career practising in Singapore, working for both Mayer Brown and Freshfields, for two years and seven years respectively. She trained and qualified at Cleary Gottleib in New York, spending five years there.
Her arrival at Seladore follows its appointments of international arbitration partners David Gilmore and Peter Edworthy earlier this year, as the firm builds an integrated arbitration practice which now spans Singapore, London and Milan.
Gilmore joined Seladore in January from Herbert Smith Freehills (now HSF Kramer) – of which firm some of Seladore’s partners are alumni, including founder Simon Bushell, having spent more than 20 years in Tokyo and led the firm’s international disputes practice there, while Edworthy joined Seladore in February from Milbank, after more than a decade at the firm.
Bushell said: “Kate’s appointment is an important step in Seladore’s continued expansion in Asia. Her deep experience in the region will strengthen our Singapore office and our ability to handle major international disputes across Asian markets. We are delighted to welcome her.”
Apostolova said: “I am delighted to be joining Seladore and returning to Singapore” in citing Seladore’s “clear commitment to developing its presence in Asia”.
Seladore opened its Singapore office at Maxwell Chambers in September 2025, headed by Singapore partner Liang-Ying Tan. Apostolova is expected to work closely with Tan, Bushell and Milan office head Laurence Shore – once of Bonelli and HSF Kramer – in supporting the firm’s expansion across Asia, alongside Gilmore and others.
Meanwhile, Clifford Chance strengthened its international arbitration practice in Washington DC with the appointment of counsel Ricardo Chirinos from Covington & Burling.
Chirinos specialises in international commercial and investment arbitration and public international law, acting on investment disputes across a range of sectors. He is trained in both civil and common law.
Global disputes head Robert Houck said: “Ricardo’s arrival reflects our continued investment in helping clients navigate complex cross-border disputes across the US and Latin America. His deep sector experience, combined with his strengths in commercial and investment arbitration, will further enhance our ability to advise clients on their most significant challenges.”
Chirinos is joined by Camilo Clavijo and Diego Velazquez Lavin, who both join the firm after graduate studies at Columbia Law School. Clavijo previously worked at Peruvian law firm Rebaza Alcázar & De Las Casas in Lima, while Lavin qualified at Mexican disputes boutique Martínez Algaba de Haro y Curiel (MAHC) in Mexico City.
The trio’s arrival builds on the earlier arrivals of partners Laurens Wilkes and Caitlin Gernert in Houston from legacy Winston & Strawn. The US side of the firm has propelled its growth this year, both in partner promotions and strong financial results.
Apostolova’s exit comes amid continued investment by Clifford Chance in international arbitration. Over the past 18 months the firm has hired Pinsent Masons partner Amaia Rivas in Madrid and Cleary Gottlieb partner Francesca Gesualdi in Milan alongside its US hires. It also promoted arbitration specialists Karolina Rozycka in Paris and Elliot Luke in Perth in the firm’s 2026 partner promotions round.
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