Shipping and insurance specialist Holman Fenwick & Willan has moved to bolster its international offices with partner appointments in Dubai, China and Australia.
The firm has strengthened its Middle East practice with the hire of Christian Taylor as a partner from Manches in London. Taylor has joined to head the Dubai commercial property and construction practice.
His experience includes acting for developers on residential, commercial and mixed-use projects with a particular focus on the hotel and leisure sectors. He has also acted for banks and other financial institutions in relation to property projects and is experienced in joint venture agreements for projects in the Middle East.
The firm has also appointed a new partner to lead its Shanghai office, with energy partner Paul Aston moving over from Singapore to head the practice in March. Aston will take over from consultant Peter Rees Smith, who is moving to a part-time consultancy role. Rees Smith, who retired as a partner in 2003, rejoined the firm’s Shanghai office as a consultant in 2005. He will now spend four months a year in Shanghai as well as taking on projects for the London office.
Greg Gray, Holman Fenwick’s managing partner, said: “Although Peter will no longer be based full-time in Shanghai, we are pleased he will continue to help us develop our business in China. Peter’s knowledge and connections within China and Hong Kong have been invaluable assets for the firm.”
Meanwhile, the firm has also transferred litigation partner Chris Lockwood from London to Melbourne. Lockwood specialises in cross-border litigation in the international trade and commodity and derivatives markets, as well as shipping.
The appointments follow Holman’s recent office opening in Brussels. As reported by Legal Week in January, the firm launched in the city with the hire of Addleshaw Goddard’s former Belgian office head, Dan Horovitz, who specialises in international trade and competition.
“The changes give us a slice of the local cake,” says Marcus Bowman, a marine litigation partner in London. “We want to grow our Dubai capabilities for non-traditional work for clients. The office has been open since February 2006.”