Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has hired corporate partners Betty Yap and Judie Ng Shortell in Hong Kong and Beijing respectively from Linklaters. The firm also named corporate partner Jeanette Chan as managing partner of its China practice.

China-focused corporate specialist Yap, who was elected to head Linklaters’ China practice in 2011, advises financial institutes and corporations on M&A and foreign direct investment transactions. Her departure is another blow to Linklaters in Hong Kong, which has seen a string of partners leave the firm in the past year.

Meanwhile, Beijing-based corporate partner Shortell advises on cross-border M&A transactions and private equity matters in China.

Paul Weiss has also named long time partner Jeanette Chan as the new managing partner of its China practice. Hong Kong-based Chan specialises in M&A, private equity and communications, media and technology industries.

“We are delighted to welcome Betty and Judie to our firm, and particularly to our preeminent corporate department and Asia practice,” said Paul Weiss chair Brad S. Karp in a statement. “I am pleased that Jeanette will lead our firm's extraordinary China practice.”