AAR to open Beijing office
7 December 2004
Three more partners move to Asia
Allens Arthur Robinson (AAR) is set to open a new office in Beijing next month and will move three more partners into Asia as part of an aggressive expansion plan to capitalise on market opportunities, particularly from Greater China.
As part of this expansion, the firm, from early 2005, will re-establish a full-time partner presence in Jakarta, and will add a second specialist finance partner to its growing Singapore practice.
AAR already has well established offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok and Cambodia.
Executive Partner - Asia Pacific, Jim Dunstan, said the firm had taken the decision to open a Beijing office based on the booming growth of the Chinese economy, and to be closer to key Chinese decision makers in the Central Government.
"Shanghai and Beijing, along with Guangzhou, are the most influential commercial centres in mainland China and the time is right for us to open in Beijing," Mr Dunstan said.
"Our Shanghai office has experienced rapid growth over the past two years - that growth, along with the complexity of the Chinese market, and the need to be closer to government, has led us to Beijing," he said.
"The Beijing team will work very closely with our Shanghai and Hong Kong partners and lawyers to ensure our clients a full coverage of China.
"We plan to send another partner, Nigel Papi, to China from the new year, bringing our Greater China practice partner numbers to eight (8), double the number of partners we had in the region just 12 months ago."
Mr Papi, a commercial partner who specialises in projects, real estate and funds management work, will leave Sydney for Shanghai in January.
The firm in Greater China specialises in M&A, finance, resources, communications and technology, insurance, and litigation services.
Partner Bruce Johnston, who has been spearheading the firm's Indonesian practice on a 'fly in-fly out' basis, is set to be based permanently in Jakarta from the new year, in association with Indonesia firm, Wiriadinata & Widyawan.
Mr Dunstan said Mr Johnston had a unique depth of Indonesian legal experience built over 20 years, particularly in relation to energy and resources, industry restructuring, financial services and inbound foreign investment.
"The chance for the firm to re-establish itself in Jakarta is very exciting and Bruce is looking forward to working closely with our friends at Wiriadinata & Widyawan to build this practice," Mr Dunstan said.
The firm's Singapore office has also quickly grown over the past two years and an additional partner, Steve Pemberton, will move to Singapore from Melbourne in January.
Mr Dunstan said the Singapore practice was building a very good reputation in the energy and resources, infrastructure, and project finance markets across Southeast Asia, and Mr Pemberton's addition to the Singapore team as a specialist finance partner would further position the firm for more growth.
"Steve will add great strength to our Singapore team and will bring significant financial experience and client knowledge with him that will be invaluable to us in Southeast Asia," Mr Dunstan said.
Ends
For further information, please contact:
- Jim DunstanExecutive Partner - Asia,
Hong Kong
Ph: +85 2 2840 1202
Jim.Dunstan@aar.com.au - David McCluneDirector - Marketing & Client Services,
Melbourne
Ph: +61 3 9613 8965
David.McClune@aar.com.au
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