Proskauer secures Asia launch with Heller China team

Proskauer Rose expects to launch in Hong Kong before the end of the month and in Beijing within six months to a year, subject to license approval. The New York-based firm had previously expressed interest in launching in Asia.

Heller's departing office head is joined by partner Ying Li and one associate from the top 50 US law firm's new office. The team will relocate to Hong Kong for the Proskauer office launch, along with Proskauer New York-based partner Yuval Tal.

Tal is a member of the firm's lodging & gaming practice group, which will be one of three main areas for the Asia practice along with sports law and investment funds.

Following the loss, Heller's Beijing office has only one partner - dispute resolution specialist Ing Loong Yang, who shares his time between Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore - plus two associates and three legal consultants.

The California-based law firm said it expects Hong Kong-based litigation partner David Chu to step in as the representative partner for the Beijing office.

Heller earlier this year hired former DLA Piper Asia head Nick Seddon to lead its Asia practice. A spokesperson for Heller Ehrman told Legal Week that the firm remained committed to its practice in the region.

"We have approximately 30 lawyers in our offices in Asia and plan to continue representing clients throughout the region," the spokesperson stated.

The latest departure comes amid a turbulent period for Heller, which has been hit by falling profits and more than 30 partner defections over the last two years.

In response, Heller's management has sought out a merger with a larger US practice, including earlier this year entering talks with Baker & McKenzie, an attempt that was abandoned last month. Last week it was revealed by Legal Week sister title The American Lawyer that Heller is currently in talks for a combination with Anglo-American practice Mayer Brown.

In contrast Proskauer has been one of the most upwardly-mobile practices in the US in recent years, successfully expanding beyond its core employment practice into a stronger corporate profile.

The firm also signalled its international ambitions after last year hiring Matthew Hudson from O'Melveny & Myers to launch its London office.