Vedder Price expands into Singapore

Vedder Price announced the opening of a new office in Singapore, continuing the growth of the firm’s global footprint. The Singapore office will initially tap existing members of Vedder Price’s prominent Global Transportation Finance (GTF) practice, with plans to further develop this new office through additional lateral hires. The office will practice U.S. and UK law.

The Singapore location gives Vedder Price a foothold in a key region that is critical to the firm’s clients and where the firm’s GTF practice is already thriving. The Asian global transportation finance market is expected to undergo explosive growth in the next 20 years, particularly in aircraft finance, as the region’s population grows and air travel surges. Growth in maritime finance is also expected.

Vedder Price enjoys a strong worldwide reputation for legal services related to global transportation finance. The firm serves a broad base of clients across all transportation sectors, including the aviation, aerospace, railroad and marine industries, and serves both U.S.-based and international clients who execute deals worldwide under U.S. and UK law. The firm was named the “Law Firm of the Year” at the 2015 Aviation 100 Awards and recognized for “Overall Deal of the Year.

“This is an exciting time for our firm and practice as we expand our capabilities into Asia,” said Dean N. Gerber, Vedder Price Board of Directors member, Executive Committee Vice Chair and Chair of the firm’s Global Transportation Finance team. “Singapore continues to be a key focal point for global transportation finance and leasing, and we expect this to continue for years to come given market conditions. We look forward to establishing new relationships and to strengthening our ability to serve our many clients already doing business or domiciled in Asia.”

The office will be established by Shareholder Ji Woon Kim who recently relocated from the firm’s New York office. Mr. Kim will manage the business development and strategic growth of the office, including lateral hires. Mr. Kim, who has spent his entire career at Vedder Price, has helped build the GTF practice for more than a decade. In 2013, he was recognized as a Rising Star by Airfinance Journal, and in 2014, he was listed as a Rising Star by New York Super Lawyers in the practice of aviation and aerospace. He will be joined by solicitor Lev Gantly who relocates from the firm’s London office.