DLA Piper HK hires Perkins Coie and Freshfields duo

DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary has boosted its Hong Kong office with the hire of two new partners.

The former joint head of Perkins Coie's technology, media and telecoms practice Gigi Cheah joined DLA's Hong Kong office last week.

Cheah, who was promoted to partner in 2002, also specialises in antitrust and consumer protection law. Prior to joining Perkins Coie she was the legal director of 3Com Asia Pacific Rim in Singapore.

Her appointment follows the closure last month of the Seattle-based firm's Hong Kong office. As first revealed by Lawyer News Weekly (8 December 2004), Perkins Coie decided to pull out of Hong Kong after concluding a strategic review.

Meanwhile, the firm's corporate finance team, which was headed by Julian Chung, joined Norton Rose's Hong Kong office.

Cheah will be joined at DLA by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer senior associate Justin Davidson. Davidson, an IP specialist, will be joining DLA as a partner on 27 April.

A spokesperson for DLA confirmed the appointments but declined to comment further.