PwC Legal opens Asia Pacific regional legal practice

Singapore, 6 December 2016 – PwC Legal today announced that it has expanded its legal capabilities in Asia Pacific by establishing its first regional foreign law practice – PwC Legal International Pte Ltd (a licensed Foreign Law Practice).The new regional foreign law practice will focus on cross-border regional transactions and projects. In cases where the practice of local law is necessary, PwC will continue to work with Camford Law (an independent local law firm within the PwC network) and other local Singapore law firms.

To support this development Leon Flavell, who is PwC’s Global Legal Services Leader, moved to be based in Singapore in March this year.

The Asia foreign law practice welcomes two new partners – Natalie Breen and Keith McGuire.

Natalie joins the practice from Norton Rose Fulbright Singapore office where she led the firm’s cross-border real estate capability in Asia Pacific since July 2011. Previous experience includes over 10 years in senior in-house legal roles at one of Australia’s largest REITs and at a prominent Australian investment management firm. Prior to that, Natalie was a senior associate at the firm now known as King & Wood Mallesons. Natalie has extensive experience advising her Asia-based clients on cross-border real estate transactions, both within the Asia-Pacific region and off-shore markets including Australia and Europe. Natalie’s clients include REITs, global pension funds, multinationals, developers and family offices.

Keith McGuire joins the practice from Ashurst's Singapore office which he joined in 2010 and managed in 2015 and 2016. Previous experience includes over 10 years as a partner with Allen & Overy in Singapore and London and 8 years with Clifford Chance. Keith first came to Singapore in 1991 and is recognised as one of the leading M&A advisers amongst the international law firms in Singapore. He has extensive experience advising clients on cross-border M&A and joint ventures in Asia with an emphasis on the financial services industry, and in particular on insurance, and also the oil and gas, energy and infrastructure sectors.

Commenting on the launch, PwC’s Global Legal Services Leader Leon Flavell said:

“The organic evolution of our business is in response to the growing market demand we are seeing in Asia for integrated business solutions across multiple territories. This is the driver behind this move to enhance our capabilities in the region, with legal services in Singapore being independent yet adjacent to the rest of the PwC network’s traditional strengths in advisory, tax and consulting. Moreover, such a move will add to the Singapore legal market in terms of attracting and anchoring talent and work here.”

ENDS