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HFW Boosts Market-Leading Energy, Resources And Commodities Practice With Singapore Partner Hire
Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has continued to expand its market-leading energy & resources and commodities practices with the hire of partner Dan Perera in Singapore.
Dan specialises in disputes and complex contractual arrangements in the energy and resources, commodities and international trade sectors, and joins HFW on 22 February 2021 from Reed Smith, subject to standard regulatory approval.
HFW recently hired Reed Smith's Singapore Managing Partner and commodities expert Peter Zaman, who is one of the world's leading advisors on climate change finance.
HFW now has four specialist commodities partners in Singapore and seven across Asia, making it one of the largest teams of any international law firm in the region.
Alistair Feeney, Global Head of Commodities, HFW:
"This is another very exciting hire for our global commodities group. Dan's physical commodities expertise – particularly in the oil, LNG and mining sectors – further strengthens our client offering in the key hub of Singapore and creates significant opportunities across our global team. Following the arrival of Peter Zaman in January – a world leader in climate change finance – we have brought in two of the top commodities experts in Singapore."
Dan advises international clients on complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes relating to oil & gas (particularly LNG), commodities, international trade, shipping, construction and mining, having previously spent several years as senior in-house counsel at BHP.
He has significant experience in international arbitration, including under SIAC, LCIA, ICC, LMAA and UNCITRAL rules, and represents clients in mediations, expert determinations and all other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Dan also advises on non-contentious energy, resources and commodities matters, such as project risk management, bespoke offtake agreements, LNG SPAs and MSPAs, devising complex market-based pricing mechanisms, and managing standardisation projects. He has helped to develop several commodities contracts that have been adopted as industry standards.
He has been based in Singapore for more than a decade, and was previously rated by Singapore Business Review as one of the country's most influential lawyers under the age of 40. (HFW commodities senior associate Suzanne Meiklejohn features in SBR's 2020 most influential list, and HFW commodities partner Adam Richardson was included in 2018.)
Dan is admitted to practice in England & Wales (as a Solicitor-Advocate), New York and Australia.
Dan Perera, Partner, HFW:
"I am delighted to be joining such a strong energy, resources and commodities practice, and one with a long-standing history of excellence in Singapore. HFW’s relentless focus on sectoral excellence is a huge draw for both myself and for our clients, who – speaking from my own experience – truly see the value in so many market-leading practitioners being under the same umbrella. I very much look forward to being a part of this tremendous global team."
Mert Hifzi, Singapore Office Head, HFW:
"This is another exciting hire for us in Singapore. Dan is one of the top energy & resources and commodities lawyers in Singapore and, following the arrival of Peter Zaman, is another significant boost to our team. We've been in Singapore for a long time as a firm, and these latest hires are a clear sign that our commitment to the market – and the strength of our ambition – remain undimmed."
HFW has operated in Singapore for over 30 years and now has 19 partners and more than 40 lawyers in total in the country.
The firm's global commodities group now has 28 partners and 85 lawyers in total across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, advising clients across the full spectrum of hard and soft commodities, covering physical supply, transportation, storage, OTC and exchange-traded derivatives, finance, digital trade, insurance, operations, compliance, sanctions and regulation.
About HFW
HFW is a leading global law firm in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy and resources, insurance, and shipping sectors. The firm has more than 600 lawyers, including 185 partners, based in offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. HFW prides itself on its deep industry expertise and its entrepreneurial, creative and collaborative culture.
For further information, please contact:
Chris Johnson
Head of Communications
D +44 (0)20 7264 8159
M +44 (0)7976 939864
E chris.johnson@hfw.com
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