As the COVID-19 pandemic raged across the globe throughout 2020, law firms have had to make difficult decisions such as pausing recruitment, cutting staff and salaries.

Nonetheless, a number of big strategic hires came to fruition throughout the year across the Asia-Pacific region. U.S. firms especially have been at the forefront of heavyweight hires this year with Milbank, Latham & Watkins and White & Case being the most active in the Asian legal recruitment market in 2020.