US law firm Squire Patton Boggs is adding to its Asian capability with a new partner hire in Singapore.
The company said Kate Sherrard is joining from Clifford Chance to continue the expansion of the commodities and shipping division set up a little over a year ago.
Sherrard was previously head of the Asia Pacific maritime and offshore group at the rival law firm.
Her Clifford Chance colleague, senior associate Bernice Chia, is also joining Squire Patton Boggs.
"When we launched our commodities and shipping group last year, we set our sights on creating one of the premier practices in the market," Steve Mahon, the firm's global managing partner of clients and strategy, said.
"The team has got off to a fast start, and Kate is another talented addition who will continue our growth in this area and complement other aspects of our global practice."
Sherrard specialises in the financing of maritime and offshore oil and gas assets.
She represents corporates, leasing companies, banks and financial investors on matters across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas.
Sherrard has focused on LNG carriers and offshore oil and gas units, working on asset and project financing transactions, including export credit agency deals, sale-and-leaseback deals, private equity and Islamic financing.
"Kate is a versatile practitioner with a sophisticated global practice who is among the leading finance lawyers in Singapore in the shipping and offshore oil and gas space," Barry Stimpson, Squire Patton Boggs' Singapore office co-managing partner, said.
"Our practice has taken great strides in a short period of time and, after having known and worked on transactions with Kate through the years, I am delighted to now call her a colleague."
Squire Patton Boggs launched the commodities and shipping group in November 2019 with Stimpson and Jessica Kenworthy, both hired from Reed Smith.
HFW additions
In June, the firm brought in a six-lawyer commercial disputes team spanning London and Singapore, and a corporate team focusing on commodities assets, from Holman Fenwick Willan.
Squire Patton Boggs later added a Perth-based corporate partner and team from the same firm.
Sherrard said: "After almost 20 years in the industry, I have developed a huge enthusiasm for what my clients are achieving: in particular, to adapt, expand and diversify in response to market trends and challenges.
"I’m very excited to be joining the firm where we can provide a full legal service to clients and where I will have the opportunity to grow the maritime practice, with the support of industry specialists."
