The head of Paul Hastings’ China PE practice Maurice Hoo has left the firm to become the co-head of global PE for Orrick in Hong Kong.

Hoo will share the role with Orrick’s London partner Peter O’Driscoll. He is expected to bring his clients with him, among which are PE firm Warburg Pincus and AIG Investments. Orrick’s global corporate head, Don Keller, said the appointment will help his firm focus on international PE transactions while retaining a focus on Asia.

The appointment comes as the private equity industry in Asia gears up for deals post-financial crisis: one of the industry’s biggest players, The Carlyle Group, recently raised US$2.55bn to fund deals in Asia alone.

Hoo’s appointment follows Orrick’s March hire of Baker & McKenzie US securities partner Allen Shyu also in Hong Kong. Hoo isn’t the only talent from Paul Hastings Orrick has looked to in recent months – in November last year partner Phoebus Chu joined Orrick’s China corporate and capital market practices.

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