Clifford Chance has appointed Singapore managing partner Geraint Hughes as its new Asia Pacific regional managing partner, assuming the role from Peter Charlton.
Hughes is currently head of the firm’s Asia Pacific energy and resources group and has been serving as Singapore managing partner since 2010. He will relocate to Hong Kong in June and will take up the regional leadership role in September 2016.
Incumbent Asia Pacific chief Peter Charlton will return to the UK after having completed eight years in the role.
During Charlton’s tenure, the firm has achieved significant growth in the region. Its number of lawyers increased by approximately 70 per cent to over 450 and regional revenues have more than doubled, according to the firm. Partner numbers grew from 30 to 44 in the past decade.
Apart from steady expansion in Greater China, Singapore and Japan, Clifford Chance has expanded into new markets, such as Australia and South Korea, and tapped into Indonesia via an association with Jakarta-based Linda Widyati & Partners.
Global managing partner Matthew Layton thanked Charlton for his “outstanding work” and “huge contribution”, and said in a statement: “Under Geraint’s future leadership, we will continue our commitment to build upon our position as the leading international firm in Asia Pacific and will continue to invest to ensure our clients have access to the best platform with the greatest breadth and depth that any firm can offer.”
Clifford Chance is yet to announce Hughes’ replacement as managing partner in Singapore.
For more on the magic circle in Asia, read this week’s cover feature on the challenges firms are facing in Greater China.