Charles Russell Speechlys today announces the appointment of Shirley Fu in Hong Kong as a Partner (Commercial & Corporate) in the Firm’s Business Advisory & Transaction Services (BATS) team.

Shirley, joining us from SF Lawyers, specialises in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and both corporate and commercial matters, and has two decades of experience advising on complex corporate and commercial transactions in China and across Asia. She generally advises private and public listed companies and private equity clients on all types of transactions, including M&A, restructuring, and joint ventures, as well as general corporate matters, from corporate governance, directors’ duties, and shareholders’ rights, to listing rules and compliance.

Shirley has worked with clients including Chinese state-owned enterprises, multinational corporations, Japanese conglomerates, global and regional financial institutions, and listed companies. She has a highly international practice, with legal qualifications and expertise in Hong Kong, Australia, England & Wales, New Zealand, Cayman Islands, BVI and the Greater Bay Area, PRC. She is also qualified as both a lawyer and accountant.

Shirley is consistently recognised as a leading lawyer in her field by various legal directories and awards. Many of the deals which she worked on are high-profile and high-dollar-value transactions and have received industry recognition and acclaim.

Shirley will be joined by three others in Hong Kong – Tom Wong, Senior Legal Manager, along with Senior Associates Rachel Kan and Bessie Chow.

Simon Green, Partner and Head of Asia, comments:

“It has been tremendously exciting to announce so many new Asia appointments to the market this year. It is testament to our strength in the region as we continue to quickly grow, develop and achieve our business objectives. Shirley’s appointment is another important development in our journey to become the leading Private Capital focused law firm in Asia and I would like to extend a big welcome to her as she joins our Firm. I have no doubt she will be a boon to our offering in Hong Kong.”

Silvia On, Partner and Head of the Hong Kong office, comments:

“We are delighted to welcome Shirley to the Firm. Her appointment reinforces our aims to enhance our footprint in Greater China to ensure we remain primed for continued growth across the region. As an international Firm focused on Private Capital, her extensive international expertise and practice is a great fit for us. I am confident she will deliver value to our clients and the wider Firm.

Shirley Fu comments:

"I am drawn by Charles Russell Speechlys’ commitment to continue strengthening the depth and breadth of their service offerings in Hong Kong. I am thrilled that my team and I will add significant China and Hong Kong corporate and commercial capabilities to the firm. I look forward to embarking on this remarkable journey and building on the firm’s success.”

Shirley’s appointment follows a range of other lateral hires by the Firm in the Asia region, including the hire of International Arbitration and Investigations Partner Peter Brabant, and an International Tax team led by Partners Kurt Rademacher and Ivan Lu, all in Singapore.