K&L Gates Straits Law Strengthens Aviation Team with Two Key Appointments

K&L Gates Straits Law Strengthens Aviation Team with Two Key Appointments

K&L Gates Straits Law has appointed aviation lawyers Samuel Kolehmainen and Duc Nguyen as Partners. They have transitioned from Herbert Smith Freehills to join K&L Gates Straits Law’s legal team in Singapore.

Their departures follow a recent trend at Herbert Smith Freehills, with partner Siva Subramaniam having moved to Singapore Big Four law firm Allen & Gledhill a few months ago, where he now co-leads the aviation finance practice.

Kolehmainen became a part of Herbert Smith Freehills in 2018, joining alongside Subramaniam in a four-partner move from Watson Farley & Williams. Prior to that, he gained experience at Clifford Chance, two Finnish firms, and held an in-house role at aircraft lessor Amentum Capital. His expertise lies in advising on commercial and Export Credit Agency financings, as well as handling matters related to operating leases and aircraft trading.

On the other hand, Nguyen focuses on aviation financing, covering areas like operating leasing, tax leasing, asset trading, and structured finance. Before joining Herbert Smith Freehills as of counsel in 2022, he also gained valuable experience at Clifford Chance.

K&L Gates Straits Law boasts a formidable team in Singapore, with a current roster of 14 partners. This includes the addition of disputes expert Joan Lim-Casanova, who joined the firm in January 2023. Lim-Casanova transitioned from Cavenagh Law, the formal law alliance firm of Clifford Chance in Singapore.