Ede Charlton brings in Herbert Smith's Bacon

Property specialist Professor Nigel Bacon has left the Hong Kong office of Herbert Smith to join Arthur Andersen's fledgling Hong Kong firm, Ede Charlton & Co.

Bacon has worked in Hong Kong for 15 years, training with Herbert Smith and then returning after a stint with DW Ling & Co to establish the firm's property and conveyancing practice in 1987. He joins Ede Charlton as a consultant.

Bacon is a visiting professor at the City Polytechnic University of Hong Kong, and he has been a member of the Advisory Committee to the Governor of Hong Kong on Legal Education.

Justin Ede, managing partner at Ede Charlton & Co, said Bacon would "add greatly to the stature of the firm".

Ede, who was with Garrett & Co, and Julia Charlton, an ex-Simmons corporate partner, founded Ede Charlton in November as part of the Arthur Andersen international network of law firms. At the time, it was undecided whether the firm would be known as Garrett & Co's Hong Kong branch, or as a separate firm in the Andersen's legal network.

Five months on, Ede believes he has established a "solid base" of 15 lawyers. The firm has three partners, including Bernard Fleming, who is due to join from Deacon Graham & James later this year.