Jones Day has hired a team of five energy lawyers from Hogan Lovells as partners in its Singapore and Beijing offices, including James Harris, who was the global head of infrastructure, as well as the regional leader of the energy and resources practice at his previous firm.
The other four lawyers are Julien Reidy, Bruce Schulberg and Alex Cull in Singapore, and Kanyi Lui in Beijing. Schulberg and Cull were partners with Hogan Lovells, while Reidy and Lui were counsel.
"We were attracted to Jones Day because of the firm's culture and commitment to superior client service, clear strategy, and long-term approach to Asia and Australia, and its leading energy, projects and infrastructure, finance, disputes, and restructuring practices," said Harris in a statement.
Harris, who was managing partner of Hogan Lovells’ Singapore practice until June 2014, has more than 28 years of experience in energy and infrastructure projects. Schulberg, who has about 25 years of experience in Asia, focuses on regional project financing, general banking and financing transactions, and cross-border investment, with a particular expertise in energy and natural resource projects. Meanwhile, Cull is an energy lawyer with 15 years of experience in Asia covering corporate transactions, project development, operations, and financing in the oil and gas industry.
'RESTRUCTURE AND REBUILD'
Reached for comment, Patrick Sherrington, regional managing partner at Hogan Lovells said that the firm had been prepared for Harris' departure, as he had been scheduled to go to Australia and move on from the Singapore office. “The other departures are disappointing but we have a strong practice in the region and the support of the network and region will simply strengthen the team going forward,” he said.
In the near-term, Sherrington said the firm expected some adverse publicity, and for associates in the projects team to feel unsettled. “We understand the uncertainty this creates for those affected and accept that some will inevitably leave but we have reassured the team of our commitment to the practice and the fact that there will continue to be roles for those who want to be part of the future here at HL which will be exciting and positive going forward,” he said.
However, he asserted that the firm’s commitment to both the region and the practice remained strong, and it would “restructure and rebuild.” For one, Samantha Campbell, managing partner of Hogan Lovells’ Ho Chi Minh City office, is expected to permanently relocate to Singapore.
The departures will result in a “focus on restructuring, growth and present an exciting opportunity to develop new talent,” said Sherrington. “We are absolutely confident of our strength as a global and regional practice and our commitment to continuing to have a market leading and profitable projects practice.” Additionally, he said it was “an opportunity to provide greater career enhancement for our young talented lawyers.”
Stephanie Keen, managing partner of the firm’s Singapore office added that regardless of the departures, Southeast Asia remained an important part of Hogan Lovells' global strategy. “Our Singapore office serves as the hub for our broader ASEAN practice. As a firm we are always looking at ways to remain relevant, innovative and commercial for our clients,” she said.
