K&L Gates Adds Singapore Office, Firm’s Fifth in Asia
March 2, 2009
New York and Singapore – Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has established its fifth Asia office with the opening of a Singapore location. Joining K&L Gates offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Taipei, the Singapore office anchors the firm’s growing presence in South East Asia and is the firm’s 32nd location worldwide, immediately following K&L Gates’ March 1, 2009, combination with Chicago-based firm Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP. The addition of Singapore boosts the total number of K&L Gates Asian legal professionals to more than 70 across the firm’s five Asia offices and approximately 200 lawyers firmwide in the Asia practice group.
With the launch, the firm continues to fill out its footprint in Asia while enhancing K&L Gates’ overall practice offerings to benefit the firm’s technology, transportation, energy, financial services and investment funds, and other clients already based in Singapore, South East Asia, and India. The Singapore team adds practices that are highly complementary to the firm’s overall Asia and India initiatives, including cross-border corporate, mergers & acquisitions, restructuring transactions, and international arbitration. In addition, the Singapore location will offer services in investment management, including inbound and outbound fund formation and expanded capabilities in technology, with a particular emphasis in the areas of life sciences and digital media as well as maritime.
“Our Singapore office is another piece in the puzzle allowing us to better serve current and future clients and is a natural part of K&L Gates’ platform expansion,” said K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peter J. Kalis. “We recognize the strategic significance of a location in Singapore not only for the firm’s presence in Asia, but also in Europe and the U.S.”
David K.Y. Tang, K&L Gates’ Managing Partner, Asia, said: “The launch of our Singapore office during this major global economic correction is reflective of K&L Gates’ strong commitment to Asia and our confidence in the continuing growth and development in the region. Singapore is a recognized world-class financial center and we look forward to capitalizing on the opportunities an expanded Asia presence will bring our global clients.”
New partner Kevin J. Murphy will lead the firm’s Singapore corporate and restructuring team. With more than 20 years of experience focusing on international transactions, Murphy has been based in Singapore and Asia for more than 15 years, most recently as a partner with the Singapore office of DLA Piper. He represents Asian and foreign clients on inbound and outbound cross-border matters, including investments and acquisitions, debt restructurings, and public and private financings.
“I am delighted to join K&L Gates and be a part of the firm’s exciting expansion in South East Asia,” commented Murphy. “I look forward to introducing my current clients to the many benefits of K&L Gates’ global platform, and am thrilled at the opportunity to work with the firm’s existing clients.”
The Singapore office will be supported by additional members of the K&L Gates Asia practice, most notably corporate partners James Chen, Sin Khai Tan, and Choo Lye Tan, all of whom have significant ties to Singapore and the South East Asia region. Both Chen and Sin Khai Tan have practice experience in Singapore with a particular emphasis on venture capital and private equity investment transactions, debt restructuring, and mergers & acquisitions. Choo Lye Tan has more than ten years of practice experience throughout the South East Asia region, including a strong client base in Singapore and Malaysia spanning a diverse array of industries such as investment advisory, venture capital, telecommunications, banking, retail, and manufacturing. Lawyers in the firm’s London office will also be affiliated with and work closely with the Singapore team.
K&L Gates first entered the Asia market in 1996 with the launch of its Hong Kong office, followed by offices in Beijing, Taipei, and in April 2008, Shanghai.
Contact:
Peter J. Kalis, +1.212.536.4828,
David K.Y. Tang, +86.10.8518.8528,
Kevin J. Murphy, +65.6507.8100,
K&L Gates comprises approximately 1,900 lawyers in 32 offices located in North America, Europe and Asia, and represents capital markets participants, entrepreneurs, growth and middle market companies, leading FORTUNE 100 and FTSE 100 global corporations and public sector entities.