Baker & McKenzie appoints Gary Seib as Asia Pacific regional chairman

Gary Seib has been appointed to the role of Asia Pacific regional chairman. He was the global chairman of the firm’s dispute resolution practice from 2009 to 2014 and Asia Pacific chairman of the practice from 2006 to 2009.

Ella Cheong and Alan Chiu set up new firm

Ella Cheong (Hong Kong) and its subsidiary Ella Cheong Intellectual Property Agency (Beijing) have been acquired by IPH, the holding company for Australian based IP firm Spruson & Ferguson. Ella Cheong’s team will remain but Ella Cheong will no longer be involved in the business from November 1. She has set up a new firm with Alan Chiu called Ella Cheong & Alan Chiu. Chiu was previously a partner at two international firms and specialises in contentious and advisory IP, technology and media work in both Hong Kong and China.

Clayton Utz appoints eight new partners across five practice groups

Clayton Utz has appointed eight new partners in five national practice groups and four offices. The appointments will be effective from January 1 2017. They comprise:

-David Benson, commercial litigation, Perth

-Pip Mitchell, commercial litigation, Melbourne

-Jonathan Slater, commercial litigation, Sydney

-Christy Miller, workplace relations, employment & safety, Brisbane

-Cilla Robinson, workplace relations, employment & safety, Sydney

-Kounny Rattley, corporate, M&A and capital markets, Sydney

-Carrie Rogers, real estate, Sydney

-Chris Slocombe, major projects & construction, Brisbane

Anthony Portas joins Minter Ellison as tax partner

Anthony Portas has joined Minter Ellison as a partner. Before the move, he was the head of tax, Asia Pacific for the Anglo American mining group. Portas has extensive experience in resources, M&A transactional and project taxation.

Link Legal promotes Anurag Dwivedi to partner

Banking and finance associate Anurag Dwivedi has been promoted to partner at Link Legal. He started his legal career as in-house counsel at Hindustan Unilever and was then head of the legal department at IL&S Infrastructure. Dwivedi has extensive experience on project finance transactions.