UK firm Ince & Co has suffered three departures in Singapore in a blow to its strategy to have the city-state as a base for its shipping and insurance practices.
Partners Richard Lovell and Mohan Subbaraman left the firm for Reed Smith, while Asia-Pacific energy head Martin David moved to Baker & McKenzie.
Lovell fronted Ince’s shipping practice in Singapore and is focused on maritime casualties and insurance disputes, particularly in Indonesia and Vietnam. Subbaraman - a Singapore-qualified shipping litigator - was head of its local alliance firm, Incisive Law.
David, specialised in projects and project finance in the onshore energy and infrastructure sectors, was head of Ince’s energy practice but has left for Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow.
Ince has named John Simpson as the new managing partner of its Singapore office, but its ability to conduct local law is expected to be affected by losing Subbaraman, whose exit results in losing 10 lawyers from Incisive Law - the firm it had formed a local alliance with in 2011.
Reed Smith has been looking to expand its South East Asia practice of late and is seeking a Formal Law Alliance in Singapore in the near future.
