The Legal Cheek View
Morgan Lewis & Bockius launched in Hong Kong through a 2017 association with local firm Luk & Partners. By that point the Philadelphia-based firm had been making a big growth push in the Far East; expanding its offices in Beijing and Tokyo and opening new offices in Shanghai and Singapore. A nine-strong partner team from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, led by former capital markets head Edwin Luk, staffed the firm that became Morgan Lewis’ Hong Kong office.
The firm primarily focuses on corporate, capital markets, private equity, litigation and employment mandates. The now 14 partners and 20+ fee-earners advise entrepreneurs and large private equity houses looking to invest in southeast Asia. As the firm grows it has moved into new office space in The Landmark’s Edinburgh Tower in Central. It’s a prime office location; in and around other big-name firms.
Each year the Hong Kong office recruits up to four trainees across two vacation scheme intakes. Trainees spend two years across four different practice areas, including seats in corporate, banking & finance, litigation and investment management. They may also have the opportunity to go on secondment to the firm’s global offices during their training contract.
The vacation schemes run in June and December of each year, with up to 12 places offered on each scheme. Morgan Lewis requests prospective applicants submit a CV and cover letter outlining their career goals as well as their academic transcripts.