King & Spalding has received the go-ahead from the Singapore government to open an office there.
The firm intends the office, announced last month, to become an Asia-Pacific hub for its energy and international arbitration practices. The new outpost is located in Singapore's central business district and is staffed by three lawyers.
Philip R. Weems, who co-leads the firm's global energy practice, has relocated from the Middle East to manage the office. He handles energy transactions, arbitrates international oil and gas disputes and has represented Singapore's Energy Market Authority in the development of the country's first liquefied natural gas terminal, according to the firm's website. Weems was managing partner of King & Spalding's offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh from 2007 until earlier this year.
The firm recruited partner John Savage, who has an international arbitration practice, from Shearman & Sterling, where he headed the Asia disputes practice and was the vice chair of international arbitration.
Two large dispute resolution centers are located in Singapore -- the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and Maxwell Chambers.
Daniel R. Rogers, a partner handling international transactions, has moved to Singapore from the firm's Houston office.
The Singapore office is King & Spalding's first incursion into Asia. The firm's other foreign offices are in London, Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh (an affiliate). Its U.S. offices are in Atlanta, Washington, New York, Charlotte, Houston, Austin, San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
