Offshore firm Harney Westwood & Riegels (Harneys) strengthens its position in Asia-Pacific by opening an office in Singapore.
Harneys - now the seventh offshore firm to open an office in the city-state - is sending Hong Kong partners to lead the new office. Global banking and finance head Colin Riegels will join funds partner Lisa Pearce alongside four other lawyers including counsel Shari Hawke and senior associate Richard Griffiths.
Singapore is becoming increasingly important for private wealth and the offshore firm provides services related to British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cyprus and Anguilla law. Its Asia practice has been focused on Hong Kong, which in recent years has grown to a 20-lawyer team.
In a recent statement Riegel said: “Singapore is the obvious next step. We’ve historically done a huge amount of Singapore work over the years and clients want to be able to instruct offshore lawyers in their own town.”
Collas Crill, Bedell Cristin and Maples and Calder led the way for offshore firms in Singapore after Conyers Dill & Pearman opened in 2001 and then Cains and Walkers in 2008 and 2009.