Moves – 13 February 2014

Drew & Napier has welcomed back construction and engineering specialist Lee Chau Ee who re-joins the firm from the Dubai office of Reed Smith, where he founded and headed up its Middle East construction and engineering practice. He was later appointed Reed Smith’s Dubai office managing partner and a member of its global leadership team. Chau Ee spent his formative years at Drew & Napier. For the majority of his career, he worked in US and UK law firms in Singapore, London and Dubai. For almost two decades, Chau Ee has worked on contentious and non-contentious aspects of construction and engineering projects, with particular expertise in the energy and infrastructure sectors, advising clients across the supply chain from conception to completion spanning numerous jurisdictions.

Hogan Lovells has recruited Maurice Burke as a partner in the Singapore office to lead the litigation and arbitration practice in Southeast Asia. Burke, who will start in May 2014, previously headed the dispute resolution practice in Southeast Asia at Herbert Smith Freehills. He has extensive experience advising on a broad range of commercial litigation, dispute resolution, contentious regulatory and investigation matters throughout Asia. Burke has particular expertise in a number of highly regulated sectors, including in investment and financial disputes, oil and gas and telecommunications.

Jones Day has welcomed back David Carden, the United States’ first Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), who will re-join the firm as partner-in-charge of Asia to be based in Singapore. Carden was a partner based in New York and co-head of the firm’s Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement Practice prior to confirmation of his ambassadorship in March 2011. As the US Ambassador, Carden oversaw the broadening engagement of the US in Southeast Asia, which included the Obama Administration’s 2011 “pivot” or “rebalance” to the region. His responsibilities included engaging with and supporting ASEAN as it moves toward economic integration in 2015. In recognition of his efforts, Ambassador Carden was awarded the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award in December 2013.

Norton Rose Fulbright has appointed Declan McDaid as a partner in the Hong Kong office. He joins from Hong Kong firm Deacons, where he was a partner in the insurance practice. McDaid will focus on contentious non-marine insurance, acting on behalf of insurers, both Lloyds’ syndicates and corporate insurers, in insurance-related matters and providing advice on policy and coverage issues. Throughout his career, he has litigated and mediated on behalf of local and international clients throughout many Asian jurisdictions.

Stephenson Harwood has appointed Tom Platts as a partner in its corporate practice in Singapore. His previous experience includes working in Herbert Smith Freehills’ Singapore office. He has been based in Singapore for three years, having previously worked in London and Paris. Platts has extensive experience in advising on Southeast Asian and UK M&A, corporate finance, private equity and general commercial advisory work. He has acted on a range of public takeovers, private M&A transactions and primary and secondary equity offerings. His recent focus has been on emerging markets M&A, and in recent years, he has advised on a variety of matters in ASEAN, in particular Myanmar where he has advised a number of blue chip clients on their strategic investments in the country.

Troutman Sanders has added Rossana Chu as a new partner to its Hong Kong office. Previously a partner with Baker & McKenzie, Chu has a wide range of experience advising clients on M&A involving HKSE-listed companies, IPOs and corporate restructurings. She also handles private equity and venture capital investments with elements involving the PRC and Hong Kong.