Offshore law firm Walkers has announced its further expansion into the Asian markets with the opening of a new office in Singapore.
Offshore law firm Walkers has announced its further expansion into the Asian markets with the opening of a new office in Singapore.
Walkers’ says its decision to open this office was driven by strong, recognised and increasing demand for Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands legal and corporate services in Singapore and other countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.
Walkers will be the first law firm to provide practicing Cayman Islands counsel based in
Singapore and will also have BVI counsel practicing in the new office.
"In recent years, we have followed a ‘smart growth’ strategy of targeted expansion to provide a presence on the ground in the countries where our clients require the support and expertise that we offer,’ says Grant Stein, global managing partner of Walkers.
"The opportunities presented in Singapore make it a logical next step in the process of expanding Walkers’ global development and meeting our clients’ demands. By extending our coverage within Asean, we will be able to provide seamless integrated Cayman Islands and BVI offshore legal and corporate services to clients operating in this region. Singapore has enjoyed excellent growth in recent years and we have no doubt it will continue to do so in the future, despite more difficult current conditions.’
The new office will officially open for business on 2 February 2009. Located at One Raffles Quay in the heart of the Central Business District, the office will be spearheaded by partners Ashley Gunning and John Rogers.
With more than seven years experience in Asia, Rogers will lead the finance team in Singapore. He was the first finance lawyer in Walkers’ Hong Kong office when it opened five years ago, and he already has an extensive Singapore and regional client base.
Gunning will lead the investment funds and corporate groups in the new office. He previously spent five years in Singapore with international law firm Norton Rose before joining Walkers in 2004. He has significant expertise in hedge funds and private equity, as well as general corporate matters, having worked in both the Cayman Islands and the BVI.
Walkers’ new Singapore office comes on the heels of the group’s recent expansion in Hong Kong. With ten new staff members added to the Hong Kong team in a 12-month period, Walkers relocated to new, larger premises in Alexandra House, Central in September 2008.
