People Moves - 13th January 09

M&A specialist joins Jones Day
Donald J Hess has joined Jones Day in Hong Kong as a partner of the firm's M&A practice.

Hess has worked in Hong Kong for 14 years, where he spent time in-house at Cable & Wireless HKT and PCCW, and as a partner of Allens Arthur Robinson. He also worked in Australia, Europe and the US as a representative of the Australian Trade Commission.

Hess is known for his M&A expertise, particularly in the fields of telecommunications, media, manufacturing, real estate and financial services.


DLA Piper hires Roosevelt in-house counsel
DLA Piper has appointed corporate lawyer Kit Kwok as a partner with its China practice.

Kwok, formerly chief operating officer and legal counsel at Roosevelt Sino Retailers, will be based in Shanghai and will also work in the firm's Beijing and Hong Kong offices. He has previously practised with Baker & McKenzie and Johnson Stokes & Master (now JSM) and has expertise advising multinationals on M&A, joint ventures and general company representation.


Global appointment for Gide lawyer
The co-head of the Hong Kong office of Gide Loyrette Nouel, Rebecca Silli, has been promoted to the firm's global partnership.

Silli focuses her practice on project finance, foreign direct investment, and M&A in China. She recently advised sponsors on sports facility concession projects connected with the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as well as environmental and public transport undertakings.


New partner and head for MoFo in Beijing
Sherry Yin has joined Morrison & Foerster as a partner in its corporate practice.

Yin, a specialist in inbound and outbound corporate and securities matters, will be resident in the Beijing office.

Meanwhile, the firm has named Paul McKenzie as the new Beijing office managing partner of the firm's Beijing office. Former head Steve Toronto has left the firm to take up an in-house position.