Ashurst ADTLaw, the Formal Law Alliance (FLA) practice of Ashurst in Singapore, has added a four-strong M&A team to its practice. Chiam Tao Koon, Ko Xiaozheng, Choo Yi Ming and George Kho join from Allen & Gledhill, a leading firm also in Singapore. This, Ashurst ADTLaw reports, “is a key milestone in Ashurst’s strategy to become a leading international firm for M&A transactions in Asia.”
The team has worked together for some years already, bringing extensive cross-border M&A experience.
Chiam, with 20 years of experience as a lawyer and entrepreneur specialising in deal structuring and execution for cross-border private equity transactions, takes on the additional role of Head of M&A, Southeast Asia.
Ko, joining as a director, is experienced in acting for private equity funds on transactions throughout Southeast Asia and across various industry sectors, including financial services, the digital economy, projects and infrastructure.
Choo, also joining as a director, has M&A experience focussing on sovereign wealth funds and large cap corporates in joint ventures and acquisitions with a particular emphasis on real estate platforms, including for data centres, industrial and logistics properties, hotels, student accommodation and offices.
Kho, joining as an associate director, works with high growth startups and venture capital transactions and has industry knowledge across various sectors, including F&B, education, healthcare, insurance, construction and FMCG.
Head of corporate transactions for Ashurst in Asia, Josh Cole commented, “We are thrilled to be joined by four seasoned practitioners, led by Tao Koon, an energetic, commercially and client focused senior lawyer who is known for his excellent client service. Each with a slightly different but complementary specialism, Tao Koon, Xiaozheng, and Yi Ming and George work well together as a team on a wide range of matters across different regions and industries. Our recent hires in Asia, including Yan Yuan who joined our corporate transactions practice in Shanghai in June, demonstrate our commitment to continue to grow our team and offering in Asia.”
Asia regional head, Jini Lee added, “I am pleased to welcome the team, whose combined technical expertise and client relationships will greatly strengthen one of our strategic areas of growth for our Southeast Asia practice. These new hires bring a wealth of experience to the firm, with a track record of building a significant and growing practice. The appointments significantly expand our capabilities and enable us to capitalise on the opportunities in the market.”