Meraj Noor and David Kuo have left DLA Piper to join the global corporate practice of K&L Gates Straits Law, the Singapore branch of K&L Gates.
An India-qualified lawyer and a registered foreign lawyer in Singapore, Noor brings 16 years of experience, having practised in Dubai, India and the Lion City. His corporate practice focuses on South Asia, particularly India-related transactions.
Noor told India Business Law Journal, “My move to K&L Gates Straits Law is driven by the need to enhance the service capabilities I can offer my emerging growth clients in the region on outbound transactions and advisory work.” He further attributed his decision to client demand.
Prior to joining K&L Gates, Noor was of counsel and the international deputy chair for DLA Piper for more than 15 years in Singapore. He has handled significant capital market transactions and advised on numerous cross-border mergers and acquisitions, cross-border corporate deals, especially capital markets transactions.
Noor said K&L Gates had “an excellent track record of advising emerging companies on their strategic multijurisdictional growth objectives” apart from having “an ecosystem which understands the unique needs of clients”.
“At a time when disruptions have accelerated due to geopolitical friction, the Indian market seems poised to benefit from the bytes and bricks dividend,” Noor added.
He said K&L Gates had “an integrated platform equipped with local Singapore law capabilities and a strong US-based service offering”, which was well suited to help clients especially given 含羞草社区 growing economy.
At KL Gates he will play a key role in the firm’s global corporate practice, enhancing its capability to advise clients on India-related transactions through its fully integrated global platform. He will be working with Pallavi Wahi and John Mangin, co-chairs of the global India practice team.
“The firm has a great line-up of practitioners who work across different practices, industries and markets, and make it a priority to maintain strong ties to the Indian market,” said Noor.
Joining Noor is Kuo, a US-qualified lawyer and registered foreign lawyer in Singapore, with 20 years of experience in the United States, Hong Kong and the Lion City.
Kuo has developed a broad corporate practice, specialising in outbound mergers and acquisitions, and advising on private equity and corporate finance transactions across the technology, life sciences, energy and real estate sectors.
The appointment of Kuo and Noor are part of a series of recent lateral hires in Singapore. Since January, the firm has welcomed investment funds partner Jason Nelms and finance partners Samuel Kolehmainen and Duc Nguyen.
