Lovells has announced that London-based private equity (PE) partner Stephanie Keen will relocate to the firm's Singapore office in September to help it expand its PE practice in the region. Keen, who joined the firm in 2006 from Fried Frank, boasts a wide corporate experience particularly in relation to M&A and equity offerings.

Keen's transfer appears to be ideally timed as PE interest in the region continues to gather pace. Earlier this month PE outfit Olympus Capital invested $US47.5m in China-focused hydropower company Zhaoheng Hydropower. The capital from Olympus was part of a larger equity-raising by Zhaoheng totaling US$57.5m. The balance US$10m has been contributed by the parent company, Zhaoheng International. A Baker & McKenzie team led by Allen Shyu acted for Zhaoheng, while Olympus retained US-based law firm Purrington, Moody Weil.