Herbies City corporate man to lead Singapore

Herbert Smith has appointed a London corporate partner to head its Singapore office.

Austin Sweeney, who begins a three-year term in August, will report to Asia head Ashley Alder.

He takes over from corporate partner Veronica O'Shea, who has been managing partner of the Singapore office since 2004 and will return to full-time client work.

Last month the firm moved to a larger office in Singapore's financial district to house its expanding team.

In March the firm hired Linklaters energy, infrastructure and project finance partner Richard Nelson to bolster the office.

Austin was made a partner at Herbert Smith in 2003 having spent two years in the firm's Tokyo office. He specialises in M&A work and recently acted on British American Tobacco's E2.7bn (£2.05bn) purchase of Denmark-based Skandinavisk Tobakskompagni's cigarette business.

Herbert Smith's Singapore office now has three partners and 15 fee earners, advising on corporate and commercial transactions, capital markets, structured finance, energy projects and disputes.