New York-based international firm Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy has appointed Asian capital markets expert Anthony Root as a partner in its 12-strong Hong Kong office.

Root, previously a founding partner at US rival Rogers & Wells' Hong Kong office, declined to say whether or not he was headhunted for the post.

He said: “I have a lot of friends in Hong Kong, and that's how I came to be invited to join the firm.”

Milbank has a 20-year presence in the Far East and was the first US firm to open an office in Tokyo.

In addition to Hong Kong and Tokyo, the firm has offices in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, London, Moscow and Singapore, plus a correspondent office in Jakarta.

Hong Kong office head Douglas A Tanner said: “Anthony's experience and relationships will substantially strengthen Milbank's capital markets presence in Asia.”