(As excerpted from our monthly Associate Newsletter - Asia Pacific)
Associate Newsletter – Asia Pacific is a monthly resource that reports current legal market news, trends, partner moves and active opportunities in the Asia Pacific legal markets.Legal Market Summary
HONG KONG
Hong Kong’s legal hiring market remains active, particularly across funds, corporate and disputes practices, with steady deal flow supporting demand. Notably, US firms are increasingly utilising alternative titles such as Legal Manager and Legal Consultant to attract talent and manage headcount approvals, creating more entry and mid-level opportunities outside the traditional associate track. At the same time, while there is demand for senior M&A lawyers, firms remain cautious on hiring candidates seeking immediate counsel titles, instead favouring those willing to integrate at associate level. Separately, the rebound in IPO and cross-border activity continues to support hiring confidence, despite ongoing cost discipline across firms.
CHINA
The legal hiring market in Mainland China (Beijing and Shanghai) remains selective, with firms adopting a cautious approach to recruitment despite steady demand in corporate, M&A, capital markets and investigations practices. Hiring is largely focused on mid-level lawyers with strong PRC qualifications, Mandarin fluency and international firm training, reflecting ongoing regulatory requirements and client needs. US firms continue to operate with leaner teams following regional realignment, while PRC firms remain active in attracting talent and expanding their capabilities. Overall, hiring is driven by strategic needs rather than headcount expansion, with firms maintaining a disciplined and highly targeted approach.
SINGAPORE
Singapore’s legal hiring market remains active, with international firms continuing to invest in their offices and drive recruitment across funds, M&A, finance and disputes practices. Demand is strongest at the junior to mid-level range, particularly for lawyers with regional experience, while senior hiring remains more selective and often replacement-driven. Singapore-qualified candidates remain the top priority for most firms, especially for roles requiring local law capability. Notably, disputes and international arbitration continue to be key growth areas, supported by Singapore’s position as a regional arbitration hub. Competition for experienced talent remains high, with longer hiring cycles and continued pressure on compensation.
SINGAPORE - Interim Legal
Singapore’s interim hiring market saw a standout April, with record demand across any industry, and mainly focused on general commercial skillsets. Activity remains strong, though more selective, with current demand being driven by shorter-term bridging roles, particularly in the data centre and energy sectors. Mandarin language capability is also becoming a more common requirement as regional business needs evolve. Overall, tech companies have kept their contracting needs up.
SOUTH KOREA
The Seoul market has remained comparatively quiet, with limited lateral hiring activity at the associate level. A small number of targeted opportunities continue to arise, primarily for bilingual US-qualified lawyers, though overall demand remains narrow in scope. Firms are maintaining a cautious approach to headcount growth, with hiring typically driven by specific practice needs or vacancies rather than broader expansion initiatives. As a result, movement has been selective, and most of the opportunities are with the major Korean firms rather than international firms.
JAPAN
The second quarter has proven to be just as active as the first in terms of major market movements in Japan. The most notable development was the announcement by Kirkland & Ellis that it will open in Tokyo with a team drawn from White & Case, Morrison & Foerster and Ropes & Gray—news that came as a surprise to many in the market. Just days later, Freshfields’ two-partner US M&A team, which had joined the firm roughly two years earlier, announced a move to White & Case. For a relatively small market, the pace of change has been striking. Amidst these changes, associates at Cravath-scale firms are closely watching whether their firms will match the recent Milbank salary increases, adding a further layer of uncertainty. In terms of hiring, while associate roles abound on both the foreign lawyer and bengoshi side, firms continue to be incredibly selective. There are currently a number of opportunities in M&A, capital markets and energy/project finance, with Japanese language capability required for many but not all roles.
AUSTRALIA
Across all major cities in Australia, we have seen continued demand for Senior Associates with 5+ years’ experience in Corporate - M&A, Banking & Finance and Investment Funds. With low rates of domestic lateral recruitment, top-tier law firms predominantly in Syndey and Melbourne are looking at jurisdictions like London and New Zealand to attract lawyers to their ranks. Although not as busy as transactional practices, we’re seeing a slow increase in commercial litigation opportunities across the market, especially for mid-level and Senior Associates. Overall, our clients tell us they are cautiously optimistic for a similar healthy second half of the year.
Partner Moves
|
Partners |
Practice |
To |
From |
Location |
|
Xiaoming Zhong |
Debt Capital Markets |
Tongshang Hong Kong |
Linklaters |
Hong Kong |
|
Joanne Wong |
Capital Markets |
Jingtian & Gongcheng |
PCPD |
Hong Kong |
|
Sheryl Cheung |
Corporate and Commercial |
Howse Williams |
King & Wood Mallesons |
Hong Kong |
|
Kevin Lee |
Wealth Management |
Charles Russell Speechlys |
Stephenson Harwood |
Hong Kong |
|
Wei Kang |
Wealth Management |
Charles Russell Speechlys |
Stephenson Harwood |
Hong Kong |
|
Hannah Cassidy |
Financial Services Regulatory |
A&O Shearman |
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer |
Hong Kong |
|
Loke-Khoon Tan |
IP and Technology |
Dentons |
Baker McKenzie |
Hong Kong |
|
Dominic Edmondson |
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity |
Dentons |
Baker McKenzie |
Hong Kong |
|
Maria Joannides Smith |
Trademark |
Dentons |
Baker McKenzie |
Hong Kong |
|
Kwok Kit Cheung |
Construction |
Ince & Co |
Deacons |
Hong Kong |
|
Wang Yang |
Corporate |
K&L Gates |
Dechert |
Hong Kong |
|
Kevin Wang |
Mergers and Acquisitions |
Allen & Gledhill |
Jingtian & Gongcheng |
Shanghai |
|
Elodie Dulac |
Arbitration |
Peter & Kim |
King & Spalding |
Singapore |
|
Joshua Hiew |
Commercial Litigation |
Duxton Hill Chambers |
Allen & Gledhill |
Singapore |
|
Ryan Francis |
Insurance |
Sparke Helmore |
Lander & Rogers |
Sydney |
|
Tom Jarvis |
Litigation |
Lander & Rogers |
Johnson Winter Slattery |
Melbourne |
|
Christopher Sones |
Litigation |
Lander & Rogers |
Johnson Winter Slattery |
Melbourne |
|
Naoya Shiota |
Private Equity |
Kirkland & Ellis |
Morrison Foerster |
Tokyo |
|
Clara Shirota |
Private Equity Funds |
Kirkland & Ellis |
White & Case |
Tokyo |
|
Yoshiki Tsurumaki |
Mergers and Acquisitions |
LPA Law |
King & Wood |
Tokyo |
|
Noah Carr |
Mergers and Acquisitions |
White & Case |
Freshfields |
Tokyo |
|
Gordon Palmquist |
Mergers and Acquisitions |
White & Case |
Freshfields |
Tokyo |
|
Banghyun Kim |
Mergers and Acquisitions |
Shin & Kim |
Bae Kim & Lee |
Seoul |
Partner moves are obtained from both public sources and Major, Lindsey & Africa market intelligence. The list is not intended to represent Major, Lindsey & Africa as the consultancy involved in the moves, although some moves may have been brokered by Major, Lindsey & Africa.
