Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has recruited a new partner in Hong Kong to add strength to its debt capital markets team.

William Ku joins the firm from King & Wood Mallesons whom he joined in 2003 as an associate when it was Mallesons Stephen Jaques, before its merger with King & Wood.

“Strong debt capital markets capabilities in both Singapore and Hong Kong are essential to bank and issuer clients in Asia,” says Adrian Cheng, HSF’s Asia head of finance. “William will work closely with debt capital markets partners Philip Lee in Singapore and Kevin Roy in Hong Kong and the firm's other capital markets partners in Asia-Pacific to extend our practice across the region.”

As a debt capital markets specialist, Ku brings an understanding of China’s securities markets, increasingly important as Chinese issuers and renminbi issues take centre stage in international finance.

Ku—qualified to practice in Hong Kong, England and Wales and New South Wales—speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin and will be joining his new firm in early 2016.