Nabarro has hired the managing partner of Gadens’ Singapore office, Marc Rathbone, in a bid to strengthen its projects practice in Asia.
His exit comes just months after Gadens revealed it would merge with Dentons following a partner vote late last year. Gadens is understood to have closed its Singapore office in the wake of the tie-up.
Rathbone founded Gadens’ Singapore office in 2013, joining the firm from Clifford Chance. The hire reunites him with Adrian Wong, also a partner in Nabarro’s projects team, who joined from Clifford Chance in 2014.
Rathbone’s appointment is the second lateral partner hire for Nabarro in Singapore this year following the firm taking funds and corporate partner Matthew Nortcliff from Hogan Lovells in February.
Nabarro has made 10 lateral hires so far this year, including Penningtons Manches head of IT and outsourcing Sam De Silva in London, who joined as a technology partner in April, and Fasken Martineau disputes partners Chris Gooding and Sukhi Kaler, who have also joined Nabarro’s London office.
Toronto-headquartered Fasken Martineau revealed it would drastically reduce its London headcount last autumn.
Rathbone’s own practice includes advising clients on power, gas, transport and waste management projects, as well as on transactions in oil and gas, mining, minerals and petrochemicals. At Nabarro he will advise clients across the Asia-Pacific region.
Singapore managing partner Steven Lim said: “Infrastructure, construction and energy are important components of our practice in Singapore. Marc’s arrival strengthens our transactional team and his experience and profile will be invaluable, particularly in the energy and oil and gas space.
“When I arrived as managing partner last year I set out to grow a practice for Nabarro in Singapore that complements the firm’s strengths in London and adds to its international reach through the hubs of London, Dubai and Singapore.
“We now have a strong, balanced offering in Singapore covering disputes, international arbitration, projects, infrastructure, construction and energy, inbound real estate into London, and funds. This gives us a good platform for further growth,” he added.
Lim joined Nabarro from Clyde & Co in May 2015.