HONG KONG & SINGAPORE--()--The latest rankings published by premier legal directory Legal 500 have reaffirmed Walkers' position as a leading pan-Asian provider of offshore legal services.
The Legal 500 “Asia Pacific 2013” directory, published on November 15, 2012, once again ranks Walkers in Hong Kong as a 'Tier One' firm in the offshore category. This follows similar rankings from legal guides Chambers and IFLR 1000, which ranked Walkers as a leading firm in Hong Kong, where its offices were opened in 2003.
Walkers is also the only major offshore firm to have partners recommended by Chambers as 'Leading Lawyers' in Singapore, in addition to Top Rankings in Hong Kong. Having launched in Singapore in early 2009, Walkers has grown quickly and become firmly established as the leading, and largest, offshore firm in Singapore with ten attorneys now in place.
Andy Randall, Managing Partner of Walkers' Hong Kong office said: "We are delighted to be recognised as a Tier One firm once again by Legal 500, as we are with our leading rankings from all of the major legal directories in Hong Kong. Having maintained a presence in Hong Kong for nearly a decade, Walkers has formed very strong working relationships within the legal and financial services industries. This continuity of service gives us an important competitive advantage in the market."
John Rogers, Managing Partner of Walkers' Singapore office: "To once again be awarded the highest rankings possible in Asia is extremely pleasing and is testament to our intense focus on exceeding our clients' expectations. We will keep on investing in the highest quality legal talent and look at new ways in which we can pass on our expertise to our clients and make it easier for them to work with us."
Legal 500 ranks law firms based upon the size of the team and its strength in depth. Researchers also take into account the quality of the work handled, the calibre of its clients, client feedback and the reputation of individual performers. 'Tier One' rankings are important because they demonstrate excellence in service levels and an outstanding degree of technical expertise.
The publication's editorial commentary on Walkers in Hong Kong this year was particularly impressive, with a wide range of partners singled out for significant praise from the research team.
Walkers has “unparalleled depth across the bench, and its finance and ICR teams are without peer,” the directory reported. The firm is “at the top of its game for complex structured transactions, and also has strengths across corporate and insolvency matters.”
"‘Sharp and driven’ managing partner Andy Randall leads a ‘very dynamic’ office, which houses a number of standout lawyers," the directory added, highlighting "the 'fantastic' Arwel Lewis," who specialises in private equity. Another top investment funds specialist, Rod Palmer, was lauded for his “fantastic grasp of nuances both legal and commercial.”
Also highly recommended in Hong Kong were Team Head Denise Wong, who recently acted as Cayman Islands counsel to Shanda Interactive Entertainment in its $2.3bn take-private merger; Ashley Davies who acted as Cayman Islands and BVI counsel to Alibaba's financiers on its $3bn privatisation and Fraser Hern who is described is the 'go-to person' for insolvency and corporate restructuring matters.
The Legal 500 rankings in Hong Kong reinforce Walkers' superior reputation in the Asia Pacific region, with the recently published IFLR 1000 directory placing Walkers in 'Tier One' for the new 'Investment Funds – Offshore' rankings, while the Chambers “Asia Pacific Guide 2012” ranks Walkers in 'Band One' for offshore firms.
The IFLR 1000 guide listed Arwel Lewis as a Leading Lawyer, alongside Denise Wong, who was described in the guide by a client as being “‘someone I trust absolutely. Her language skill in Chinese is a godsend. She's one of the few offshore lawyers who can do that.’”
The Chambers “Asia Pacific Guide 2012,” which is the only publication to rank offshore lawyers in Singapore and Hong Kong, lists nine lawyers from Walkers: five partners from the Hong Kong office, and four from Singapore--John Rogers, David Collins, Laura Rogers and Ashley Gunning (now Cayman Islands).
About Walkers
From offices in the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, Jersey, London and Singapore, Walkers provides legal services to leading FORTUNE 100 and FTSE 100 global corporations and financial institutions, capital markets participants, investment fund managers, and growth-and middle-market companies.
Walkers’ expertise has been validated by numerous awards including “Offshore Law Firm of the Year” by Alpha Magazine, The Lawyer, PLC Which Lawyer? and Asian Legal Business. Walkers has also been honoured as the PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook Leading Cayman Islands Law Firm, Who's Who Legal Law Firm of the Year: Cayman Islands and has shared honours for “Offshore Legal Team of the Year” by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Many of Walkers’ attorneys have also been recognised by the industry and their peers.
For more information on the Walkers group, visit us on the web at www.walkersglobal.com or contact us by e-mail at info@walkersglobal.com. To contact Walkers by phone, call our Hong Kong office at +852 2284 4566.