Many of Asia’s leading international firms have their top dealmakers also sit as regional heads or office managing partners. I can think of a few off the top of my head—Connie Heng at Clifford Chance, Constance Choy at Sidley Austin, Psyche Tai at Norton Rose Fulbright, Christopher Wong at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Teresa Ko at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Li He at Davis Polk & Wardwell and Kay Ian Ng at Sullivan & Cromwell—and the list goes on.

Without pointing my finger at any of the partners I’ve mentioned, it has in recent years become glaringly clear that top dealmakers don’t always make the best leaders.