Shipman to head Clifford Chance Asia

Mark Shipman will become head of corporate practice at Clifford Chance Asia Pacific from January 2013, according to a company statement. He will also continue his current role leading the firm’s global funds and investment management sector. 

Shipman joined Clifford Chance in 1991 and has been in Asia since 1997. He has led the global fund and investment management practice for about three years advising on a number of asset classes including private equity, real estate and limited partnerships. 

Current head Roger Denny will stay on at the firm as head of M&A in Asia, having led the firm’s corporate practice for ten years. Under Denny, Clifford Chance advised on a number of large private equity-related deals including the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation’s $700 million subscription of shares in China Pacific Insurance Group. 

Shipman said in a statement: “I'm delighted to have been given this opportunity by the partners and I look forward to building on our already leading practice in the region. At the same time, I will continue to maintain close relationships with our funds clients in my capacity as the head of the firm's global funds and investment management sector.”

Clifford Chance has offices across Asia Pacific, with offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Perth, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo, with over 400 lawyers in the Asia Pacific region. 

The firm was also one of the first three foreign law firms to open an office in Korea in August after the government relaxed regulations previously restricting foreign law firms from operating in the country, PE Asia reported earlier. Other firms that have opened are Ropes & Gray and Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, while 14 others await approval from Korean regulators. These include Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Paul Hastings and O’Melveny & Myers.