K&L Gates has launched an office in Singapore and appointed former DLA Piper partner, Kevin J Murphy, to head the corporate practice.

Murphy will manage the new office's corporate and restructuring practice, and bring his long-standing clients to the firm. “The current global economic crisis presents significant long-term and short-term opportunities for firms that are willing to commit to the future of Southeast Asia,” said Murphy. “While the current situation demands prudence, we plan to build a Singapore office with a critical mass of lawyers of appropriate experience and seniority.”

The new office will be K&L Gates' fifth in Asia, giving it a total of 70 Asia-based lawyers. It will service clients in the technology, transportation, energy, financial services and investment funds fields, and expand to capture the life sciences, digital media and maritime practice areas. Murphy said that despite the impact of the financial crisis in Singapore, the new office had long been on the cards. “The firm had been planning to open a Singapore office for some time and did not believe the recent economic crisis should change those plans. Unlike many firms, 2008 was a good year for K&L Gates and I anticipate 2009 to be a very good year for the Singapore office,” he said.

The firm said that the addition of the office places another 'piece in the puzzle' in its Asia commitment. "We recognise the strategic significance of a location in Singapore not only for the firm's presence in Asia, but also in Europe and the US," said chairman, Peter J Kalis.

In addition to Murphy, the office will also see in its ranks corporate partners James Chen, Sin Khai Tan and Choo Lye Tan, who will be supported by lawyers from the firms' London office on transactions. Murphy's appointment is the second the firm has captured from DLA Piper, following former DLA lawyer Louis Meng's detraction to the K&L Gates Shanghai office last December.

K&L Gates: Asia Snapshot

*Number inclusive of cross-office lawyers and admin partners