Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has launched a new family asset protection practice in both Hong Kong and London.
BLP Hong Kong partner Marcus Dearle, a family law litigator, is leading a six-strong team of associates. Four are based in Hong Kong while two are in London.
The firm is also looking to recruit an additional partner for the team in London over the next six months.
The new practice is part of the firm's private client group which focuses on areas including pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, cross-border matrimonial litigation and trust matters.
Dearle joined BLP in 2016 as a partner from Withers where he had led the Asia practice from Hong Kong. He first joined Withers in London in 1990 and became a partner five years later. He moved to Hong Kong in 2009.
In Hong Kong, Dearle famously represented lawyer Florence Tsang on her divorce from billionaire property heir Samathur Li. Tsang was initially awarded a $180m ( 138m) settlement by the High Court of Hong Kong in 2011 but the Court of Appeal cut the award down to $53m ( 40.7m) in 2014 after Li appealed.
According to Dearle, the family law practice will capitalise on BLP's access to high net-worth individuals in the real estate sector.
For example, BLP recently secured a first-time appointment for CC Land on its 1.15bn purchase of London's Leadenhall Building, known as the Cheesegrater. CC Land is controlled by Chinese property magnate Cheung Chung-kiu.
Earlier this month, Charles Russell Speechlys also launched its first Asian office in Hong Kong with the hire of family law litigator Jonathan Mok from Mayer Brown JSM.