A&O's Asia disputes head returns to City

Allen & Overy (A&O) Asia dispute resolution head Andrew Jeffries is moving back to London after nine years in the Hong Kong office.

He returns to London to build up the strength of the global corporate and commercial litigation practice. London arbitration and litigation partner Matt Gearing will move to Hong Kong to take over Jeffries' role.

Gearing will maintain Jeffries' focus on arbitration, which is a growth area in Hong Kong and Asia. Jeffries specialises in advising and advocacy in commercial disputes and arbitrations in the finance, project and energy fields. He moved to Hong Kong in 1999, one year after making partner at A&O.