Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker's spending spree in Asia continues with the hiring of Jones Day's partner-in-charge in Shanghai and a real estate funds specialist from Morgan Stanley.

Former Jones Day partner Mitchell Dudek has been appointed chair of Paul Hastings' new Shanghai office, while experienced NPL and distressed assets practitioner and former CFO and COO of Morgan Stanley's real estate funds in Asia, Gregory Wells, also joins the firm.

The firm's new Shanghai office will initially be comprised of eight lawyers and will also include corporate partner Tom Shoesmith, who has relocated from Paul Hastings' San Francisco office, as resident partner.

Shoesmith said: "Opening the Shanghai office is a natural evolution for Paul Hastings. Shanghai is the leading financial centre in the PRC, and will become a global financial centre. Our office will serve as a bridge for global companies looking to invest in the world's largest market and will allow us to better serve both new and existing clients."

Greg Nitzkowski - global managing partner of Paul Hastings - said the hires of Dudek and Wells reflected his firm's commitment to "attracting the region's finest talent".

The office launch comes less than a year after Paul Hastings secured its Hong Kong and Beijing presence through a merger with Hong Kong firm Koo and Partners. It is the firm's fourth office in Asia (in addition to Tokyo, Hong Kong and Beijing) and the 13th globally.