年利达近期扩充亚洲业务合伙人团队的举措表明亚洲市场相比欧美市场有提前复苏的迹象。该所已将伦敦基金投资业务合作伙 Edward Smith调派到其香港办公室，并称为亚洲基金投资业务团队负责人。

Smith专业特长在于为私募股权投资基金和基础设施基金等提供服务。 曾在众多大型基金投资交易和基金设立项目中提供法律服务。

他说：“亚洲地区， 尤其是中国的基金资产管理行业将在全球市场上占有日益重要的地位。这促使我们加强在该地区基金律师团队，充分利用这一预期增长。 ”

在Smith被调往香港前，亚洲基金投资业务由香港外国法律顾问Michael Guilday带领。

Signs that Asia is emerging from the recent downturn ahead of other regions are shown by international firm Linklaters deciding to devote additional senior resource to its Asia practice. It recently relocated London partner, Edward Smith (pictured), to its Hong Kong office to head up the Asia investment management practice.

Specialising in private equity funds, infrastructure funds, and closed-ended listed vehicles, some of Smith's recent deals include advising on the establishment of the €1bn ABN Amro Global Infrastructure Fund, and the €3bn fundraising for ProLogis European Properties II. In listed funds, he has been involved in many of the sector's most significant deals, including advising bookrunners on the global offering of shares in HarbourVest Global Private Equity and the US$1bn institutional public offering of BH Global Limited.

"Despite recent events, the Asia region - and China in particular - is expected to become more significant in the context of the global asset management industry, both as a source of capital and as a location to deploy capital," Smith said. "It makes sense for us to strengthen our practice in the region, to capitalise on this anticipated growth."

Linklaters has an established funds practice in Asia, with expertise in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Bangkok and Singapore (through its joint venture with Singapore firm Allen & Gledhill). Notable instructions include acting for Hopu Capital on the establishment of the Hopu USD Master Fund I, a US$2bn private equity fund geared towards buying stakes in state-owned Chinese companies. Also, advising ICBC on establishing a global resources private equity fund worth US$1bn, in its joint venture with Standard Bank.

Prior to Smith's relocation, the Asia investment management practice was headed up by Hong Kong counsel, Michael Guilday. He joined Linklaters from Allens Arthur Robinson's Sydney office in September 2007 to succeed Graham Turl, who left the firm to join the funds management group Blackrock in Hong Kong.

Lovells is another international firm that looks to expand its Asia private equity practice. The firm has announced that London-based private equity (PE) partner Stephanie Keen will relocate to the firm's Singapore office in September.