Freshfields adds Asia partners from Allens Arthur Robinson and Milbank

Gavin MacLaren, a partner at Australian firm AAR’s Melbourne office, and Mark Plenderleith, a partner at Milbank’s Tokyo office are both set to join Freshfields.

MacLaren, who focuses on M&A, joint ventures and project development work within the energy and natural resources sector, is understood to be relocating from Melbourne to Hong Kong, but will be travelling between the firm’s Asia offices.

Plenderleith, an expert in project development, acquisitions and financings in the energy, mining and infrastructure sectors, will remain in Tokyo, where he has worked for the past six years, when he joins his new firm, and will be tasked with augmenting Freshfields’ Asian energy and infrastructure project finance capability.

In a statement, Freshfields’ Asia managing partner Robert Ashworth said: “These two appointments, in addition to the new partners elected recently in the region, indicate how important the Asia markets are to the firm.

“Specifically, Gavin and Mark will increase the strength and depth of our specialist capabilities in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors in the Asian region and substantially boost our client offering in what is a fast-growing market.”