DWF is set to open its first Singapore office with hires from Eversheds Sutherland, including managing partner Oommen Mathew.

Mathew will take a three-strong team with him: Asia head of construction, infrastructure and energy Iain Black and associates Charis Tan and Kate Lan. Following these exits, Eversheds will be left with 18 partners in Singapore.

It is understood that Singapore partner Philip Fong will take over from Mathew as Singapore managing partner.

These exits come just a few months after Eversheds Sutherland officially launched in the region through a merger with Harry Elias Partnership. The Singapore merger was initiated by legacy Eversheds, which started discussions with Singaporean firm Harry Elias in early 2016. The Asia deal was delayed due to Eversheds’ recent merger with US firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, which took effect on 1 February 2017.

The new office will be DWF’s fourth Asian office and 23rd globally. The firm has not confirmed a launch date for its new office.

The announcement follows the firm’s steady trend of expansion since 2015 when it launched its first offices outside the UK and Ireland in Dubai.

Since then, its number of German offices has grown to three since the firm entered that market in 2015, an office in Paris after a merger with Heenan Paris and the association with Saudi Arabian firm Harasani & Alkhamees bringing the Riyadh and Jeddah bases.

Oomen Mathew said: “I am delighted to be able to work with such a dynamic and forward thinking partnership.  It is clear that DWF is focussed and driven to succeed in this region and I am excited to be leading them on this journey with such an excellent team.”

Since being named managing partner in 2006, Leaitherland has overseen all of DWF’s expansion plans overseas.