UK law firm Addleshaw Goddard has grown its corporate and litigation offering with the arrival of Nigel Francis from Minter Ellison to co-head the firm’s associate office in Hong Kong.

Previously the litigation and employment head at Minter Ellison, Francis oversees Addleshaw Goddard’s associate firm in Hong Kong, Stewien & Co, alongside ex-DLA Piper corporate partner Brett Stewien.

Francis, qualified in Hong Kong and England and Wales, has worked on disputes cases involving court proceedings, arbitration and mediation, while Stewien focuses on M&A and investments across Asia.

Addleshaw Goddard has also made five additional hires in the region. Legal director Ivan Chang (Securities and Compliance), managing associate James Yeung (Litigation), registered foreign lawyer Dan Yang (Corporate), and associate Winnie Wong (Employment and Litigation) join the firm in Hong Kong, while shipping specialist Mike Melwood Smith joins the firm’s Singapore office as a consultant from DLA Piper.

Addleshaw Goddard’s Hong Kong office, which was approved to open in May, is headed by managing partner Andrew Carpenter and international arbitration and litigation partner Jonathan Tattersall.

The firm also opened an office in Qatar in May, and sealed an alliance with Japanese law firm Hashidate Law Office in June.

Kanishk Verghese is North Asia journalist at ALB. Follow us on Twitter: @ALB_Magazine.