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HFW Continues To Expand Global Transactional Practice With Senior Singapore Partner Hire
HFW has continued to expand its fast-growing global transactional practice with the hire of senior commodities partner Peter Zaman in Singapore.
Peter joins HFW on 18 January from Reed Smith, where he was Singapore Managing Partner. He was previously a partner at Clifford Chance.
His arrival, which is subject to standard regulatory approval, follows HFW's hire of a large transactional team from Locke Lord in Hong Kong, led by the US firm's Hong Kong Managing Partner Wing Cheung.
HFW has now added 20 transactional partners globally since 2018, including lateral hires in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, London, Monaco, Paris and Singapore.
Mert Hifzi, Singapore Office Head, HFW:
"This is a step-change for our transactional capability in Singapore and a further boost to our Greater China practice, following the arrival of Wing and his team. Peter is a genuine market leader and has a unique skillset in climate finance and sustainability – he is the region's go-to lawyer for organisations looking to manage environmental risk. Peter also brings considerable expertise across international derivatives, structured products and financial regulation, as well as commodities and energy, which are core sectors for us as a firm globally.
"We're celebrating our 30th anniversary as a firm in Singapore this year, and this latest hire reflects both our long-term commitment to the market and our plans to continue to strengthen our offering to clients."
Peter has more than 20 years' experience as a transactional lawyer and has a broad practice spanning commodities, structured finance, energy and resources, environment and climate change, renewables, and sustainability.
He has significant experience acting on China-related transactions, with a particular focus on onshore and offshore commodity derivatives, including regulatory aspects.
Peter is recognised as one of the world's leading climate change lawyers, holding a Band 1 ranking for almost a decade in legal directory Chambers Global, which says: "He is regarded as one of the top choices of counsel for policy drafting and emissions trading, with strong experience carbon financing and green bonds."
Peter is rated by The Legal 500 as an "experienced commodities finance specialist", and is also a winner of a Client Choice Award for Derivatives, which recognise lawyers that "stand apart for their excellent client care".
Peter Zaman, Partner, HFW:
"I am truly excited about joining HFW. Its deep-rooted presence in Asia and Singapore, its practice and industry focus aligns very well with my own practice in commodities and sustainable finance, as do its commitment to client service. My 20-plus years as a practising lawyer have taught me that there are very few firms that have the right mix of pedigree, international reach, industry focus and working culture that is needed to deliver excellence to clients, and HFW excels in all those areas."
Alistair Feeney, Global Head of Commodities, HFW:
"Peter is acknowledged as one of the world's leading commodities specialists and is an outstanding addition to our team. Singapore is an important hub for our global commodities practice, and Peter's range of expertise in commercial and financial derivatives, emissions trading and climate finance, and regulation is second to none."
HFW now has 26 partners and more than 80 total lawyers in its global commodities group, advising clients across the full spectrum of hard and soft commodities, including physical supply, transportation, storage, OTC and exchange-traded derivatives, finance, digital trade, insurance, operations, compliance, sanctions and regulation.
HFW has operated in Singapore for more than 30 years and now has 17 partners and over 40 total lawyers in the country.
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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