White & Case hires former Kirkland duo from Broadfield to rebuild Hong Kong disputes capability after recent team loss
White & Case has hired Fergus Saurin and Grace Zhu — both formerly of Kirkland & Ellis and most recently at Broadfield — to strengthen its Hong Kong disputes and investigations practice. The move follows a recent departure from White & Case's Hong Kong disputes team and is described as a direct replacement hire. The two partners are positioned to advise on private capital-related disputes and cross-border regulatory matters, reflecting the growing volume of disputes arising from private equity and private credit transactions in the Asia-Pacific region. The hire underscores what Law.com describes as 'intensifying competition among international firms in Hong Kong, particularly for disputes and investigations talent'.
Why this matters
Hong Kong remains a critical disputes hub for cross-border Asia-Pacific transactions, and the competition for disputes and investigations talent capable of handling private capital matters reflects the growth of PE and private credit activity across the region. For City-trained lawyers, this signals continued demand for practitioners who can straddle English law arbitration, Hong Kong proceedings, and cross-border regulatory investigations. The lateral hire market in Hong Kong mirrors London's volatility, with Kirkland and Paul Hastings frequently central to movement.
On the Ground
On a cross-border disputes matter of this type, a trainee would assist with local counsel instruction letters, cross-border legal opinion coordination, and choice-of-law summaries for transactions where the governing law is disputed. Sanctions screening memos and apostille/legalisation coordination would also be relevant for evidence filed across jurisdictions.
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“What types of disputes are most commonly arising from private equity transactions in the Asia-Pacific market, and which legal frameworks govern them?”
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