新加坡市场领先的立杰律师事务所（Rajah & Tann）迎来国际争议业务律师丘健雄以合伙人身份加盟其中国办公室。

伴随去年12月8日中、新两国签署自由贸易协定，进一步升级议定书，立杰也期待深化其中国业务能力。

根据中新两国进一步升级《自由贸易协定》的议定书，中国将对新加坡进一步开放服务业领域，新加坡投资者和服务提供商也将享受更为自由、透明的规则，帮助他们在投资中国、在中国展开贸易的过程中享受更平等待遇。

“中国将成为立杰愈发重要的市场，我们有计划深化并扩展我们在中国市场的影响力。”立杰管理合伙人汪柄坤说。

立杰的中国办公室设立于上海，迄今已有超过20年历史，也是该所在新加坡以外设立的第一家海外分支机构。立杰目前在上海只有一位常驻合伙人乔丽娜律师，主要从事外商投资、破产重组等业务。

Rajah & Tann plans China expansion with arbitration partner hire

Leading Singapore law firm Rajah & Tann has added international arbitration attorney Hew Kian Heong as a partner in its China office, as the firm looks to deepen its China capabilities following the signing of an upgraded trade pact between PRC and Singapore.

Hew was previously the head of construction and infrastructure disputes at Herbert Smith Freehills’ joint China operation firm. Kewei. He has advised and represented Chinese and international corporations on arbitrations, litigations and mediations in China, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Stockholm, Geneva, and London, and on projects spanning from Asia to South America.

He also regularly advises client project teams on project implementation issues and disputes and risk mitigation, with a view to avoiding expensive litigation and arbitration.

Hew’s hire is part of a larger plan by R&T to expand its China presence and comes at a time when China and Singapore have taken their bilateral ties a notch higher with the signing of the upgraded China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement in December.

Under the latest changes, Singapore will be able to secure greater market access to China’s services sectors and Singapore investors and service suppliers will also enjoy more liberal and transparent rules that level the playing field for them to invest in and trade with China, Rajah & Tann said in a statement.

“China will be an increasingly important market for Rajah & Tann and we have plans to deepen and broaden our presence there,” said Patrick Ang, managing partner at the firm.