Valerie Kong has been appointed as Clifford Chance’s Singapore’s new Office Managing Partner effective October 1, 2022. She will be taking over from Kai-Niklas Schneider, who will focus on his practice and his Financial Investors role on the firm’s top strategic decision body, the Executive Leadership Group.
Originally from Singapore, Valerie specialises in M&A, advising financial investors and multinational corporations on their minority investments and majority acquisitions in the Southeast Asia region, as well as portfolio divestments and strategic joint ventures.
She has held many positions within the firm globally, including as a member since 2019 of the Partner Selection Group. She also has previously served on the Asia Pacific Leadership Group and the Singapore Leadership Group.
She first started as an intern in the Singapore office in 1999 during her second year of university. She then joined the firm in London in 2002 as a trainee, and subsequently moved to the Singapore office, where she became a partner in 2014. She is admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales and in Singapore. She graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA in Law (first class honours).
“I am honoured and excited to be taking on this role for the firm. We have an impressive track record advising clients for more than 40 years in Singapore. I have been part of the growth journey over the past 20 years, and look forward to further strengthening our market leading practice. I am equally passionate about our team and people, and will continue to foster a culture of inclusion and collaboration, which I believe is key to our continued success,” Valeria said.
Global Managing Partner Charles Adams remarked, “I am confident her leadership experience and deep market knowledge will pave the way for the firm’s continued success in Singapore and the entire Southeast Asia region. I also want to thank Kai for his excellent work as office head, and look forward to his continued valuable knowledge and insight on our global leadership team, as revenue from Financial Investors has nearly doubled over the last seven years.“