Herbert Smith has appointed long-time partner, Mark Johnson, as its new head of Asia. Johnson, who is currently the firm’s head of disputes for Asia and a member of Herbert Smith’s governance board, will take up his new position from 1 October 2011 as incumbent Ashley Alder departs the firm to assume the role of CEO of Hong Kong’s securities and futures commission.

As head of Asia, Johnson will chair the firm's Asia Executive Committee (AEC) and play a lead role in the development and implementation of the firm's Asia strategy. 

Johnson told ALB that he will look to bolster the firm’s resources in its core areas of practice—capital markets, energy & resources and dispute resolution— while strengthening ties with its global operations. “We will continue to look at what opportunities exist to expand our footprint in Asia and will also be looking to coordinate more closely with our strong European footprint,” he said. “This is an area of real potential for us in the future with investment flows between Asia and places like Russia continuing to grow very strongly.”

According to the ALB 50 has 86 lawyers and partners in its Hong Kong office and 200 lawyers and partners across its Asia pacific practice.ALB