Watson Farley expands in Singapore

Watson Farley & Williams' Singapore office has poached a top corporate lawyer from leading Australian firm Allen Allen & Hemsley.

Barry Irwin joins as head of the corporate practice only 18 months after Watson Farley bought the office from shipping rival Sinclair Roche & Temperley.

The firm told The Lawyer at the end of last year it was planning a significant expansion of the office, particularly the corporate department.

Watson Farley's Singapore managing partner Nigel Thomas says: "With Barry's arrival we have strengthened our corporate practice.

"He brings with him more than 17 years' experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer as well as a comprehensive understanding of business in South East Asia."

Irwin's role will be to develop the corporate practice.

Irwin says: "I am excited to be joining such a young, focused and energetic law firm at a time when its aggressive development plans for Asia coincide with a promising outlook for the regional economies."