Kinstellar Southeast Asia in association with Sok Siphana Sethalay has hired Roman Hamala as an international partner for its Cambodia office to strengthen the firm’s cross-border offerings and support its growth strategy across Southeast Asia.
“His [Hamala] arrival significantly strengthens our capabilities in Cambodia and aligns with our broader Southeast Asia strategy, which includes deepening our cross-border M&A and private equity offerings, expanding energy and infrastructure practices (including PPPs and privatisations), and enhancing real estate and financing services for regional and international investors,” Vanseka Sok, managing partner of Sok Siphana Sethalay Asia, told Asia Business Law Journal.
Sok said Kinstellar’s origins were in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), and the firm frequently handled cross-border mandates connecting CEE and CIS investors and sponsors with Asean opportunities. Bringing Hamala’s experience to Phnom Penh was also a way to strengthen ties between the Kinstellar offices and the Southeast Asian market, said Sok.
Hamala has joined the firm from Slovakia’s HKV Law Firm, where he spent 19 years as a partner. He brings more than 25 years of international experience in M&A, private equity, energy, infrastructure and real estate, alongside a proven track record in building and leading law firms in emerging markets.
As an international partner in Cambodia, Hamala, in association with Sok will help lead mandates in M&A/private equity, energy and infrastructure, real estate and financing, drive client development with regional and international investors, strengthen the Cambodia office (including team development, training, quality control and knowledge management) as well as collaborate closely with Kinstellar’s Vietnam office, Asia Counsel, to support regional integration and client service excellence.
Sok has also observed sustained demand in Cambodia and the wider region driven by energy transition and grid modernisation (renewables, transmission infrastructure and regulatory reform), transport and logistics infrastructure (ports, roads, airports, rail and industrial parks), ongoing privatisations, PPPs, inbound foreign direct investment, and growing industrial and logistics real estate markets supported by sponsor and credit financing.
Hamala’s extensive experience in privatisations, greenfield investments, restructurings, M&A/joint ventures, financing, and real estate development aligned closely with these trends, said Sok.
