UK law firm Addleshaw Goddard has formed an association with a new Hong Kong firm, Stewien & Co, launched by partners from DLA Piper and Minter Ellison.

Stewien & Co will be headed by Nigel Francis, head of litigation and employment at Minter Ellison, and DLA Piper corporate partner Brett Stewien. Once the association receives regulatory approval, both Francis and Stewien will become partners of Addleshaw Goddard.

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’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.