DLA Piper continues to bolster Asia capability with senior energy partner hire in Hong Kong

DLA Piper has appointed Russell Wilkinson as a partner in its Finance, Projects and Restructuring (FP&R) practice, based in Hong Kong.

Russell joins the firm from Baker Botts in Hong Kong, where he has been a senior energy partner since 2006. He is widely recognised as a leading individual in the energy, oil and gas markets, with rare expertise in liquefied natural gas, making him one of only a handful of specialist energy practitioners in Asia. He regularly advises national oil companies, oil majors, regional energy players companies and energy traders across the region.

He focuses his practice on the development, acquisition/divestment and financing of energy businesses and infrastructure, and the commercialisation of energy resources. He has extensive experience of upstream and midstream petroleum projects, power generation and transmission projects.

Commenting on the hire, Matthias Schemuth, Head of DLA Piper’s FP&R practice in Asia, said: “I am delighted to welcome Russell to our FP&R practice in Hong Kong. Russell is an impressive energy lawyer with extensive experience in Asia. His appointment significantly expands our capabilities and enables us to offer our clients specialist energy services across the region. The team and I are very excited about the future of our Asia practice.”

DLA Piper’s International Group Head of FP&R, David Trott, said: “Building out our FP&R capabilities in Asia is a strategic focus of the firm, evidenced by our partner hires in Singapore, Bangkok and Tokyo in recent years. The addition of Russell to our team demonstrates our continued investment and ambition for the practice in Asia. Russell’s experience helping energy companies to achieve their environmental targets will also be a great asset in helping us to implement the firm’s ESG agenda in Asia. As a firm we are wholeheartedly committed to helping our clients transition to a sustainable future, as well as our own business.”