Akin Gump hires arbitration partner

Akin Gump hires arbitration partner

As of a recent week, the firm hired Ing Loong Yang, a second senior disputes executive following Graham Lovett to Dubai.

Ing Loong Yang, an arbitration partner from Latham & Watkins in Hong Kong, will join Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to strengthen the firm's international disputes practice.

Yong is recognized among the leading cross-border dispute resolution practitioners in Hong Kong and brings with him over three decades of experience handling international arbitration cases as well as commercial litigation in Asia, particularly in connection with entities in Greater China. That expertise has included shareholder and joint venture disputes, disputes involving technology and licensing, criminal investigations and criminal defense, as well as compliance and regulatory matters.

Partner Steve Baldini leads Akin Gump's global disputes practice. He says: "Ing Loong's experience and reputation in mainland China and Hong Kong are at the very top of the list and his arrival will help us strengthen our existing investment funds-focused Hong Kong disputes practice and expand our international disputes practice across Greater China and Asia."

Latham & Watkins employed Yang for over nine years after he previously worked at Sidley Austin and Allen & Gledhill in Singapore. He has served on arbitration panels in Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Singapore.

It follows the hiring of UAE litigation lawyer Graham Lovett to Akin Gump's Dubai office from Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, who joined as a partner in March. Akin Gump currently lists 17 professionals in Hong Kong.

Akin Gump's chairwoman Kim Koopersmith commented: "Ing Loong's arrival presents further exceptional growth for the firm's international arbitration and disputes practice. This development follows the recent addition of Graham Lovett and his market-leading disputes practice to the Dubai office. The firm on the whole will benefit greatly from his experience both locally and internationally."

Many other firms are looking to improve their dispute resolution capacities in the recent past. Following the departure of Vinson & Elkins' managing partner in Dubai, Amir Ghaffari, who left to start his own boutique Middle East disputes firm, Vinson appointed Nabeel Ikram from Hogan Lovells to strengthen its commercial litigation practice in Dubai.

To increase the UK Magic Circle firm's international arbitration capabilities, Allen & Overy landed disputes partner David Herlihy from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom at the end of March.