- Asia
- Big Law Weekly
Week covered: 5–11 October 2026 · Back to the week page
Asia's lateral market followed practice and geographic lines this week. Novara built a global disputes and regulatory practice around partners in Tokyo and New York, Hogan Lovells Cadwalader added a private capital partner in Hong Kong, and Clayton Utz brought a five-lawyer infrastructure team into its Perth office.
The pattern follows the work. Japanese M&A value rose 42 per cent year on year to $235.5 billion in the first nine months of 2026, according to London Stock Exchange Group tables reported by Law.com. India's IPO surge is drawing capital-markets lawyers, while a Western Australian infrastructure program is bringing senior construction partners back to larger firms.
Novara and Kirkland build in Tokyo as Japan M&A rises 42 per cent to $235.5 billion
Novara launched a global disputes and regulatory practice led by newly hired partner Tony Andriotis, who will split his time between Tokyo and New York. Andriotis joins from DLA Piper, where he led the Japan international arbitration practice for six years. Novara launched in July 2026 with offices in London, Singapore, Tokyo and New York, combining a law practice with investment banking under global managing partner Marcus Wolter.
The hire comes as foreign firms compete for work in Japan. Kirkland & Ellis opened its Tokyo office earlier this year, its first Asia base outside Greater China, with M&A and debt finance partners hired from Morrison & Foerster and White & Case. In the first nine months of 2026, Kirkland led completed Asia deals excluding Japan, while Nishimura & Asahi held nearly half of Japan's $235.5 billion market. Established foreign practices are under pressure as Japan's homegrown firms expand abroad.
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader hires Kirkland's Paul Guan for Hong Kong private capital
Hogan Lovells Cadwalader hired Paul Guan, a Kirkland private capital partner, in Hong Kong. Guan joined Kirkland from Paul Hastings in 2021 and is rejoining former Paul Hastings colleagues David Wang and Meka Meng.
Wang and Meng joined Hogan Lovells in August 2025 to build its China M&A and private equity practice, based in Shanghai and Beijing. The Guan hire expands that Greater China practice under the combined firm formed by Hogan Lovells' July 2026 merger with Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
Clayton Utz adds five Perth lawyers against an A$38 billion infrastructure program
Clayton Utz brought a five-strong team into its Perth office, including lawyers formerly at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer. The move reabsorbs Chord Advisory, the infrastructure and construction boutique that former HSF partner David Hugo launched in 2024, bringing Hugo and Jason Ricketts back into a larger firm. Clayton Utz tied the expansion to an A$38 billion infrastructure program expected in Western Australia over four years.
Other Australian moves followed the same practice focus. Ashurst Perkins Coie elected Nicholas Mavrakis and Ben Hammond to its global board from 1 November, while Hicksons, Hunt & Hunt and Holman Webb recruited construction and property partners from Norton Rose Fulbright. Clyde & Co expanded its Asia-Pacific practice with arbitration and construction hires in Singapore and Sydney.
Cyril Amarchand, CMS INDUSLAW and Bae Kim & Lee hire as India capital markets and disputes grow
India's capital-markets demand brought several senior hires. S. Vivek rejoined Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas as a Bengaluru capital-markets partner, bringing 16 years of experience across IPOs, rights issues and QIPs. The firm recently advised the National Stock Exchange on its roughly $2.36 billion listing. CMS INDUSLAW hired Mehak Oberoi, formerly of GE Vernova, to build its construction practice in Delhi and NCR, and Bae, Kim & Lee hired India-qualified lawyer Reema Dash to split time between Korea and Bengaluru.
Promotions and disputes hiring continued alongside those moves. Kirkland promoted Pratik Ranjan Das to partnership. Dentons Link Legal promoted seven lawyers to Associate Partner and promoted Saahil Memon to partnership. IndiaLaw appointed Khushboo Rupani to head ADR and criminal litigation in Mumbai, MSA Partners added Dr. M. Sivaraman in Chennai, and DSA Legal added disputes partner Abhinit Das. In tax, Luthra & Luthra partner Rubal Bansal Maini left to start RBM Law Chambers.
Miura opens in Plano; Morgan Lewis, Goodwin, Clifford Chance and Kirkland adjust
Miura & Partners opened its third U.S. office in Plano, following San Francisco and Seattle. Mori Hamada & Matsumoto plans Dallas and Houston offices in the first half of 2027, while Nishimura & Asahi is set to become the first Japanese firm with a Dubai office in January 2027.
Leadership and financial moves filled out the week. Morgan Lewis chair David McManus said he has met with more laterals and lateral groups over the past six months than before, pursuing growth consistent with the firm's culture. Goodwin promoted 43 lawyers to partnership, a slightly larger group than last year despite a smaller headcount. Clifford Chance revamped its top private equity roles as it develops a global private capital brand. Kirkland stopped reporting revenue and profit figures to the media after topping $10 billion. Read more.
The week's moves grouped by practice and place: disputes and private capital in Tokyo and Hong Kong, capital markets and disputes across India, construction and infrastructure in Perth, and Japanese firms expanding into Texas and the Gulf. Private equity and private capital appear in the lateral hires, Clifford Chance's leadership changes and Hogan Lovells Cadwalader's Greater China practice.
The full list of the week's moves is on the Asia week page.
