Stone Chambers is seeing the departure of Singapore-based barrister Steven Walker as silk Andrew Moran moves to associate tenancy.

The commercial set was the first London chambers to have a QC permanently based in Singapore after opening in the region in September 2013.

The chambers now has just one full-time resident barrister in the jurisdiction. Shipping and international trade junior Henry Ellis moved to Singapore late last year and will continue to work from both London and Singapore.

Stone Chambers said in a statement Moran was “in the process of restructuring his practice in light of his decision to focus more closely on his arbitral work”. He is likely to become an associate tenant at the set.

Walker, an international arbitration barrister, joined the office in September last year and was based in London and Malaysia.

The pair were “supported by other Stone Chambers barristers locating to the region for extended periods of time”, reads a section on the chambers’ website.

Walker holds dual tenancy, also practising out of Terra Firma Chambers in Scotland. He will continue his tenancy at Terra Firma.

A statement from Stone Chambers said: “We can confirm that Steven Walker has decided to move on and is leaving Stone Chambers from the end of January 2016.  

“Until then, he will continue practicing from chambers. We are not aware of any plans that Steven has to join another set of chambers although he continues his membership of TerraFirma Chambers as he did when based with us. We wish him well in whatever he chooses to do.

”Andrew Moran QC is in the process of restructuring his practice in the light of his decision to focus more closely on his arbitral work and his increasing appointments as an arbitrator.  We fully anticipate Andrew will continue to play an important role in what Stone Chambers Singapore has to offer.

“We continue to have junior barristers based in our Singapore office, currently Henry Ellis. That office continues to grow and we remain fully committed to Singapore and the Asia Pacific region.”

London’s commercial and chancery chambers have been expanding in Singapore in recent years to capitalise on growing international arbitration in the region and the opening of the Singapore International Commercial Court.

Fountain Court appointed a permanent practice manager, Caroline McConnon, as its first member of staff in Singapore earlier this year. The set opened in Singapore in June 2014.

39 Essex Street also grew its presence in Singapore with the appointment of 20 Essex Street member Ben Olbourne last November.