White, a specialist in international finance, is a member of the firm's executive committee and has headed the finance and projects division since 2002. He was based in the Hong Kong office from 1992 to 1996, and during his last year in the city was head of the office's international finance team.
"Giles has a strong track record in building deep relationships with clients and with people generally," said David Cheyne, the firm's senior partner, in a written statement. "Both the firm and our clients in Asia will benefit from the energy and vitality that he brings to the region."
He has big shoes to fill. It is a testament to Davies' success in managing the firm's Asia practice that he has succeeded to the top job despite strong competition from senior London-based partners, such as Nick Eastwell, long-time capital markets boss, and John Tucker, head of banking.
"I am delighted to be returning to Asia," said White. "I look forward to building on the extraordinary success the firm has achieved in Asia over the past few years under the leadership of Simon Davies."
During Davies's four years in charge the firm has grown from 35 partners in Asia to 50 after the latest round of partner promotions became effective on May 1. Indeed, the most recent promotions neatly demonstrated Linklaters' strength across the board. The eight new partners were spread across offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore, and included lawyers whose primary focus is India and Korea, where law firms are restricted from opening offices.
The merger in Tokyo with Yasuda and Wani, which established the first credible international-domestic tie-up in Japan, was the firm's most significant step forward during Davies's tenor. The firm's first big development in Asia under White will likely come within the next year: an office in Seoul after the Koreans relax restrictions on foreign law firms.
The rapidly developing importance of China and India will also figure highly on his agenda, though it is unlikely he will preside over any significant strategic changes û foreign law firms can already operate offices in China and there are no signs that India is about to make a decision one way or the other.
¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.
