Eversheds revamps Asia management team and finds relationship firm in Denmark

Eversheds has revamped its management team in Asia following the departure of former Asia managing partner Nick Seddon (24 January 2013) as part of its planned restructuring. The firm has named long-serving partner Stephen Kitts, who relocated from Birmingham to Hong Kong late last year (16 October 2012), as its new Asia managing partner. Kitts is a senior corporate finance partner, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, disposals and private equity and has been with Eversheds for over 20 years.

At the same time, the firm has adopted three new regional practice leadership roles as a key step to better integrate its Asia practices. Head of corporate in Hong Kong Stephen Mok has been promoted to the firm’s Asia head of corporate. Hong Kong litigation partner Ivan Ng will take up a new role as Asia head of litigation and dispute management team. King Tak Fung, who joined Eversheds’ Hong Kong office from DLA Piper in 2009, has been appointed as Asia head of finance.

“The next stage of our journey in Asia is to drive closer integration with the rest of our global business and to continue to invest in high calibre front line practitioners, in particular in corporate, finance and litigation,” said global managing partner Lee Ranson. “I’m pleased to announce these new appointments for key roles in our new Asia management structure to drive forward Eversheds’ strategic objectives and continue to grow our presence in the region - including opening a new office in Beijing this year.”

All four new appointments are based in the firm’s Hong Kong office, but will have responsibility for their areas of practice across all of Eversheds’ offices in the region. The appointments are effective immediately.

It is understood that the firm’s Singapore managing director Desmond Ong will leave Eversheds in the coming month. However, the firm is yet to name a new office head in Singapore.

At the same time, in Europe the firm has entered into a relationship with Danish firm Rønne & Lundgren. As part of the arrangement, Eversheds will transfer a number of people from its operations in Copenhagen to Rønne & Lundgren, following its decision to close its office in the city (24 January 2013).