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published DECEMBER 17, 2009

Freshfields bolsters Asia practice with three new partners for 2010, including new Head of Finance, Asia

International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer today announced that David Winfield, currently head of Freshfields’ banking practice in London will take up a new role as Head of Finance, Asia based in Hong Kong in the new year. Ken Martin, a senior US corporate partner will also be relocating to Hong Kong from the London office at the start of 2010 to further strengthen the firm’s regional capital markets practice. This follows the recent announcement that senior Citigroup lawyer Royce Miller, who has been appointed as a partner in the Hong Kong office to lead the firm’s financial services practice in Asia, will join the firm in January. Ken will work alongside Hong Kong-based US securities partner Calvin Lai and an existing team of US securities associates. The group works closely with the Hong Kong capital markets team, which includes China Managing Partner Teresa Ko, Global Co-Head of Capital Markets, Kay Ian Ng and partner Grace Huang, as well as Beijing-based partners Chris Wong and Antony Dapiran. Royce will work alongside Hong Kong-based financial institutions dispute resolution partner Richard Chalk, Hong Kong-based corporate partner Robert Ashworth and Shanghai-based corporate partner Melissa Thomas. Simon Marchant, Freshfields’ Asia Managing Partner commented: “Ken and David’s relocation and Royce’s appointment will bolster the existing market-leading team in the region. They are senior partners, with a wealth of experience – which is what our clients keep telling us they really value. These appointments to the Hong Kong office are part of Freshfields’ continued significant investment in our Asia operations.” Teresa Ko, Freshfields’ China Managing Partner commented: “Appointing three senior partners to the China practice demonstrates our firm’s strong commitment to China, and to strengthening and expanding our service offerings in the region as a whole.” David Winfield commented: “Following the economic downturn, Asia is clearly leading the recovery. Relocating to Hong Kong will afford me the opportunity to further develop the firm’s finance practice across Asia. It’s a fabulous time to be moving here.” Ken Martin commented: “It will be very exciting to assist the team in Hong Kong to grow further our capital markets practice in Asia. They have helped clients raise close to USD20 billion through IPOs this year, and I look forward to working with them on additional transactions next year and beyond.” Profiles: David Winfield David Winfield has worked for the firm in London and New York and has been a partner since 1995. He has expertise in banking transactions across the credit spectrum, including financial restructurings. He has acted for lenders and sponsors/financial buyers on leveraged finance transactions, including infrastructure deals, and represented a number of large European corporates on their treasury activities. His recent experience includes advising large European corporates on forward start and other corporate facilities, debtors and creditors on restructurings, particularly of sponsor portfolio companies, "loan to own" investors on potential purchases, and private equity sponsors on new money transactions. Ken Martin Ken Martin joined the firm in 2001 from Goldman Sachs where he was head of its Special Execution Group for Europe. His primary focus is on international public and private securities offerings. Ken has spent a significant amount of time working with companies in emerging markets over the last several years, assisting a number of companies, including but not limited to Globaltrans Investment, Namakwa Diamonds and Severstal, in coming to the London market for their IPOs, and he has already been involved in a number of Hong Kong-focused transactions during 2009 from London. Royce Miller Royce Miller has been at Citigroup for over 15 years, most recently as Managing Director and General Counsel of Citigroup’s Asia Pacific Institutional Clients Group, overseeing more than 170 staff covering 18 countries. Prior to joining Citigroup, Royce was an associate at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton where he spent seven years working on a wide range of corporate, securities and banking law matters in the US and Europe. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from New York University School of Law.