Morning Briefing: International firm promotes 16 lawyers to partnership

Two lawyers from the Asia-Pacific region are among 16 new partners at Orrick, Herrick & Sutcliffe. Connie Cheung who focuses on private equity and M&A from the Hong Kong office; and commercial litigation specialist Shinsuke Yakura from Tokyo are among the five that are from outside the firm’s US offices. The promotions are effective 1^st January 2015.
 
Dentons expands with South Africa office
Dentons which is soon to merge with Dacheng to become the largest law firm in the world has expanded its global presence with a new office in Johannesburg.  It’s the firm’s second location in South Africa alongside Cape Town which opened last April.
 
New partner for Bird & Bird in HK
Bird & Bird in Hong Kong has a new partner with Wing On Chui joining its corporate practice from King & Wood Mallesons. The firm now has 36 partners in the Asia-Pacific region.
 
Mayer Brown hires DLA Piper practice head
Alex Dell, currently head of the structured finance trade and receivables team at DLA Piper in London has been hired by Mayer Brown for its asset-based lending practice. The global team operates in London, New York and Hong Kong.
 
No criminal action against pay day lender using fake law firms
Last year it was reported that UK pay-day lending firm Wonga had faced financial penalties from the country’s Financial Conduct Authority after it was found to have issued letters from fake law firms in a bid to pressure on customers that were late with payments. The practice of using non-existent law firms was found to be in use at other lenders and utilities and there was a suggestion that it could lead to criminal proceedings. However the City of London police announced yesterday that no further action was being taken against Wonga as there is not enough evidence for a criminal case to proceed.