King & Spalding has strengthened its Asia-Pacific energy and infrastructure group in Singapore after adding another energy specialist in Singapore.

Power projects expert Simon Cowled joins King & Spalding from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom where he developed a strong reputation advising project sponsors and equity investors.

Ken Culotta, global transactions head at King & Spalding, said of the hire: “With the addition of Simon, our Singapore office will offer a deep bench in power development, finance and M&A reflective of our goal to develop a Singapore energy team with deal experience that spans the region and offers clients focused expertise in high-stakes, high-value practice areas like power, oil and gas and LNG.”

With 15 years’ experience in the region, Cowled focuses on projects in South East Asia, China, Hong Kong and Macau. He has worked on several prominent deals including the Indonesian $1.5 billion Paiton III power project and China Huaneng Group’s $1.1 billion acquisition of 50% in a global power company.

The move comes a month after the US firm recruited Herbert Smith Freehills’ South East Asia energy head, Richard Nelson, to its Singapore office. The hire also makes Cowled King & Spalding’s tenth partner in Singapore.