Andrew Blacoe succeeds Graeme Preston in the role
Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed Tokyo partner Andrew Blacoe to lead the firm's North Asia corporate practice – a new role to respond to client demand and the firm's continued Asia expansion.
In his new role, Blacoe will lead the practice in Tokyo and Seoul to strengthen corporate law services for clients based in that region, and to advise on their work around the firm's global network.
Blacoe succeeds Tokyo partner Graeme Preston, who has been reappointed to lead the firm's corporate practice across Asia, a role he has held since 2019. Both roles were effective 1 May 2022.
"Andrew has a deep knowledge of our clients' ambitions for their regional and global businesses, gained since arriving in Tokyo in 2010," said Preston. "Given record client demand for our North Asia corporate practice, his new role provides the additional support that our clients and teams deserve."
Blacoe has extensive experience in advising clients on complex international cross-border transactions in the energy, power, metals and minerals, oil and gas, and LNG sectors. He has practiced in London, Sydney and Tokyo, and has advised Japanese corporations for over 17 years on global M&A, project development and finance transactions.
"North Asia's companies are at the forefront of investment in the energy transition and the digital transformation," said Blacoe. "I'm excited to be assuming this new role at such a pivotal time for these companies in a fast-changing and disrupted business environment.
"Japanese and Korean companies have taken a very strong lead in countering this disruption, particularly in energy transition and digitalisation, and we will be working hard to ensure we provide the legal advisors and insights they need to succeed."
