Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has announced it has opened its first office in Hong Kong as part of its long-term strategy to expand its offering in Asia.
The US firm initially announced its intention to open its doors in Hong Kong in March after hiring Clyde & Co head of global aviation finance Paul Jebely. The launch of the office was dependent on gaining regulatory approval but Pillsbury has now successfully obtained its licence.
Jebely will be the office’s managing partner and will be joined by finance associates Luca Denora, Zara Machado and Sharon Nourani. The team comprises of US and English qualified lawyers and will focus on transportation finance, private client advisory, disputes, and technology-focused corporate and securities matters.
Pillsbury’s chair Jim Rishwain said: “Our opening in Hong Kong is an important step in continuing to build our presence in Asia. Under Paul’s leadership, our team in the new office will significantly augment the already strong transportation finance and cross-border services we offer clients.”
The Hong Kong office will be the firm’s third in China after it originally opened its doors in Shanghai in 2006. The opening coincided with the firm closing its base in Taiwan. Pillsbury then expanded its offering in China by launching an additional office in Beijing in 2014.
Since opening in Beijing the firm has continued to grow in China. In January the firm picked up Perkins Cole IP partner Jack Ko to lead its Shanghai office. It also added a team of employment litigation and corporate partners to its practice in the West Coast of the US to increase its cross-border ability with its Chinese clients.
Last year Pillsbury entered into merger talks with fellow US firm Chadbourne & Parke. According to sources at the time Pillsbury called its partners into a mandatory meeting to discuss the proposed merger in September. Following two months of speculation the deal to form a new $800m firm were eventually called off.