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Baker McKenzie reshuffles new practice and industry group leaders
Baker McKenzie has made new leadership appointments for seven Asia-Pacific practice and industry groups, effective 1 July 2020.
Tony Zhang
Commenting on these appointments, Baker McKenzie’s Asia Pacific chair Ai Ai Wong said she was delighted to welcome new practice and industry group leaders to the leadership team.
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“What is particularly exciting is that among the seven new [Asia-Pacific] leaders, four are women,” she said.
“As a firm that values diversity in the workplace, these appointments mark a step forward towards achieving our firm’s global aspirational targets of having 40 per cent women at the partnership and leadership level.”
For its industry groups, Sydney-based Elisabeth White is taking over as Asia-Pacific chair of the healthcare and life science industry group from Isabella Liu, who will be the new regional IP and technology practice group chair.
Cherrie Shi of FenXun Partners, the firm’s joint operation partner in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, will co-chair the firm’s industrials, manufacturing and transportation industry group in Asia Pacific with Yaeko Hodaka in Tokyo.
The advisory practice groups will welcome Singapore-based Nandakumar Ponniya as Asia-Pacific chair of the dispute resolution practice, replacing Yoshiaki Muto in Tokyo.
Sydney-based Anne Petterd is replacing Kana Itabashi in Tokyo as Asia-Pacific chair of the international commercial and trade practice while Hong Kong-based Ms Liu is taking over Bangkok-based Say Sujintaya as Asia-Pacific chair of the IP and technology practice.
For its transactional practice groups, Singapore-based Emmanuel Hadjidakis is replacing Tokyo-based Gavin Raftery as Asia-Pacific chair of the banking and finance practice. Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur-based Brian Chia is taking over as Asia-Pacific chair of the M&A practice from Hideo Norikoshi in Tokyo.
The seven new appointees will join the other 12 leaders who continue to lead the various practice and industry groups in Asia Pacific.
Those based in Australia include Michael Michalandos, Asia-Pacific chair of the employment practice and Adrian Lawrence, Asia-Pacific chair of the technology, media and telecoms industry group, both based in Sydney.
“I would like to congratulate our new practice and industry group leaders on their appointments,” Ms Wong added.
“I would also like to sincerely thank Hideo Norikoshi, Mita Guritno, Yoshiaki Muto, Kana Itabashi, Say Sujintaya and Gavin Raftery for their leadership and contribution to their respective groups.
“I look forward to seeing how the new teams build on the successes that their predecessors have made, and take our regional service offerings to new heights.”
