Partner exodus continues at Linklaters' Aussie ally

Rod Howell, a banking and finance partner who was the head of Allens’ finance team in Asia, will join Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) as a partner in Singapore. He has 20 years of experience advising on financing deals in Asia, Australia, UK and US, particularly in asset and structured financings. He will be joined at HSF by Allens senior associate Jeremy Chase.

Meanwhile construction and infrastructure partner John Cooper has left Allens to join Jones Day’s Sydney office after spending 26 years with the Australian firm. Cooper is now a partner in Jones Day’s global disputes practice and the 12th partner in the firm’s Sydney office.

Howell started his career with Allens and moved to Clifford Chance in 1997, where he was made up in 2005. He rejoined the Australian firm as a partner in Singapore, where he is a registered foreign lawyer, in 2010 (30 June 2010).

Following Howell’s departure, Allens only has one partner in Singapore, Marae Ciantar in its energy and projects practice.

Cooper is the latest Allens partner to join Jones Day. Last October, two of Allens’ Singapore-based partners joined the US firm (12 October 2012).

Also in October 2012, Allens’ Sydney corporate partner Campbell Davidson, formerly based in the firm’s Shanghai office, left to launch Squire Sanders’ Sydney office (17 October 2012).

In July 2012, Clyde & Co took a group of seven partners from Allens across Sydney, Perth, Hong Kong and Singapore (2 July 2012).

Allens entered into an exclusive alliance with Linklaters in May 2012 (23 April 2012).