Anuj Shah

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has hired Kirkland & Ellis funds partner Michelle Cheh in Hong Kong. Cheh advises on the forming and structuring of private investment funds across asset classes, including private equity, private credit and real estate. Earlier this year, Cheh represented Multiples Alternate Asset Management on the completion of its inaugural multi-asset continuation fund to continue its partnership with Vastu, APAC and Quantiphi. Last year she acted for GLP Capital Partners Limited on the sale of its international business and certain of its affiliates to Ares Management Corporation for $3.7 billion. “As Asia continues to see rising demand for sophisticated fund structures and increasingly complex fund-related transactions, Michelle’s dual expertise in fund formation and secondary transactions bolsters our ability to meet rising demands from clients in these areas,” said Adam Furber, co-head of Simpson Thacher’s Asia offices and head of the firm’s Asia investment funds practice, in a statement. “I look forward to working closely with her as we continue to scale in Hong Kong and across the globe.” Cheh joined Kirkland in 2015 and made partner in 2019. She was previously a lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills. She is the second partner to join Simpson Thacher in Hong Kong this year. In May, the firm hired former Dechert restructuring practice partner Daniel Margulies . Last month, however, the firm’s long serving capital markets partner Majory Ding , who has worked at the U.S. firm since 2011, moved on to join Chinese practice Zhong Lun Law Firm. With Cheh on board, Simpson Thacher will now count about 60 lawyers in the city, 15 of whom are partners. Three of those partners including Cheh focus on representing investment fund clients on the formation and structuring of funds. “Asia is central to the future growth of global funds and our continued investment in the region reflects its importance to our clients and our practice,” said Lauren King,co-lead of Simpson Thacher’s fund transactions practice, in a statement. “Michelle’s experience in the secondaries market adds exciting depth to our bench in Asia and enhances our ability to deliver strategic, forward-looking solutions to clients in a rapidly evolving market.” Cheh’s departure from Kirkland has been reported earlier by Law.com International. Kirkland has had almost two dozen partner leave its Asia practice in less than 18 months.

Nov 18

2 min

Law firms across the Asia-Pacific region have strengthened their senior benches with a series of partner hires in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong, targeting sectors such as energy and infrastructure, and insurance. In Australia, Dentons has expanded its construction practice with the addition of a partner from DLA Piper. Jonathan Stafford brings more than two decades of experience advising on all aspects of construction and infrastructure law. His expertise spans contract drafting and negotiation, project structuring, procurement, risk management and regulatory compliance. “Jonathan’s appointment underscores our strategic focus on sectors that drive Australia’s growth. His extensive experience across major infrastructure and construction projects positions Dentons to deliver even greater value to clients navigating complex, high-stakes developments,” said Dentons’ Australia chair and Australasia region chief executive officer Amber Warren in a statement. A DLA Piper spokesperson commented: “We wish him well in his new role.” Dentons also strengthened its Singapore office with the appointment of insurance lawyer John Goulios. Goulios also joins from DLA Piper, where he served as global co-chair of the firm’s insurance sector and previously led its Singapore office. Goulios has more than 30 years of experience advising multinational insurers and corporations on complex insurance and reinsurance matters, including transactional, regulatory and compliance issues, as well as claims, disputes and investigations. He spent over 18 years at DLA Piper and was earlier in his career based in Australia. Also in Singapore, local Big Four firm Drew & Napier has hired Ton van den Bosch as head of its projects, energy and infrastructure practice. Van den Bosch is a dual-qualified corporate and project development lawyer who specialises in energy, offshore, infrastructure, ports and logistics projects across the Middle East ,Africa and Asia. He joins the Singapore firm from Clyde & Co, where he has practised for more than three years. Prior to that, he served for nearly four years as the Singapore managing partner of U.K. firm Addleshaw Goddard. Earlier, he was global head of the ports and terminals practice at the now-defunct Singapore office of Ince & Co. Van den Bosch has also previously worked in-house. He was the Manila-based general counsel at International Container Terminal Services Inc., a global terminal operator, where he advised on acquisitions, concessions, project financings and geopolitical risk issues. Drew & Napier said his appointment strengthens the firm’s capabilities in capital-intensive projects and energy transition work. In Hong Kong, Paul Hastings has hired corporate lawyer Joongwon Park as a partner. Park joins Paul Hastings from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, where he was counsel. He advises Korean and international clients on complex buyouts, minority investments, pre-initial public offering investments and listings, as well as Rule 144A and Regulation S offerings and private placements. He has previously worked in Simpson Thacher’s New York, Seoul and Hong Kong offices.

Feb 13

2 min

Eight Sidley partners have been identified in China Business Law Journal’s 2024–25 list of “Growth Drivers” practicing in foreign law firms. The annual list acknowledges “the key players in law firms” who are distinguished by their adaptability in a dynamic legal landscape and ability to add tangible value for their clients. The following Sidley lawyers have been recognized: Stephanie Chan Christopher Cheng Meng Ding Sherlyn Lau Carrie Li Olivia Ngan Renee Xiong Yan Zhang~~Eight Sidley partners have been identified in China Business Law Journal’s 2024–25 list of “Growth Drivers” practicing in foreign law firms. The annual list acknowledges “the key players in law firms” who are distinguished by their adaptability in a dynamic legal landscape and ability to add tangible value for their clients. The following Sidley lawyers have been recognized: Stephanie Chan Christopher Cheng Meng Ding Sherlyn Lau Carrie Li Olivia Ngan Renee Xiong Yan Zhang

Jan 22

1 min

Simpson Thacher was recognized in multiple categories as part of the FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2024. Makiko Harunari, Head of the Firm’s Asia Banking and Credit Practice, was also named “Best Legal Advisor (Hong Kong SAR).” Makiko was recognized for her work advising on the financing aspects of complex transactions throughout the Asia-Pacific region, recently including Blackstone’s A$24 billion acquisition of AirTrunk. That acquisition, which was Blackstone’s largest ever investment in the Asia Pacific region, was also named FinanceAsia’s “Best Infra Deal,” “Best PE Deal” and “Best Property Deal” for Australia/New Zealand.~~Several other matters on which the Firm advised were also named among FinanceAsia’s Deals of the Year:~~Held annually, the FinanceAsia Achievement Awards recognize excellence across Asia’s financial markets and the accomplishments of the region’s key players who have shown dedication to their sector. Winners were recognized at an awards ceremony held in Hong Kong on February 26.

Mar 3

1 min

Latham & Watkins, Allen & Gledhill, JSA Advocates and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett are among the advisers on KKR and Singapore Telecommunications’ $5.1 billion acquisition of an additional stake in ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC). The transaction has also spawned roles for AZB & Partners, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and Gibson Dunn & Crutcher. Latham & Watkins is advising seller ST Telemedia on the sale of its remaining stake in STT GDC to a consortium led by KKR and Singtel. The transaction implies an enterprise value of approximately $10.9 billion for the Singapore-based data centre platform. The Latham team is led by Singapore corporate partners Sharon Lau and Michael Rackham. Latham also advised ST Telemedia on receiving the consortium’s earlier $1.3 billion investment in STT GDC in 2024. Allen & Gledhill and JSA Advocates are advising Singtel, according to people with knowledge of the matter. JSA’s team is being led by partners Vikram Raghani and Nisha Kaur Uberoi. Simpson Thacher, retaining its role representing long-time client KKR, is acting as counsel to both KKR and Singtel, with Hong Kong partner Erik Wang once again leading the firm’s team on the transaction. Gibson Dunn is also acting for KKR on the deal. Gibson Dunn’s team is being co-led by Hong Kong partner Tyler Cohen and London partner Till Lefranc. In the initial $1.3 billion stake acquisition in STT GDC in 2024, it was Freshfields that advised the KKR-led consortium. The Freshfields team was then led by former partner Nigel Gleeson and associate Alice Boughton, both of whom have since moved to Gibson Dunn Singapore as partners. According to sources working on the deal, Indian firms AZB & Partners and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas are advising KKR and ST Telemedia on merger control aspects of the deal. In 2024, AZB acted as sole Indian counsel for the consortium leaders in securing a Competition Commission of India approval for their investment in STT GDC. Milbank also had a role in the deal, the firm advised a large group of lenders made up of global and regional banks on the financing for the acquisition. Its team, sources said, was led by partner Davide Mencacci and special counsel Daniele Sutto. Under the latest agreements, funds managed by KKR and Singtel will acquire the remaining 82% stake in STT GDC from founding shareholder ST Telemedia. Upon completion, KKR will hold a 75% interest in the company, with Singtel owning the remaining 25%, taking into account the conversion of existing redeemable preference shares held by both investors. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Founded in 2014, STT GDC is one of the world’s fastest-growing and most diversified data centre platforms, with 2.3 gigawatts of design capacity across12 markets in Asia Pacific and Europe.

Feb 5

2 min