Ashurst has hired Alexander Dmitrenko as a partner in its dispute resolution practice in Tokyo and Jessica Li as partner in the global markets group in Hong Kong.
Dmitrenko was a former head of Asia sanctions at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Tokyo for more than six years, since 2015. Jessica joined from Allen & Overy in Hong Kong, where she was counsel for three-and-a-half years.
Dmitrenko has more than 15 years of experience specialising in white-collar defence, internal investigations, sanctions and export controls, and dispute resolution. He also advises financial institutions and other companies on compliance and risk mitigation measures related to US-China regulatory tensions and potential conflict of laws.
Li’s practice focuses on debt capital markets in Greater China, and her key clients include local and international banks, financial institutions and other corporate entities. She advises on various debt and equity-related capital market products.
Ashurst’s Asia-Pacific head of dispute resolution, Jeremy Chenoweth in Brisbane, said that economic sanctions and to some extent export controls were an important aspect of geopolitical trading relationships.
“Our clients are paying increasing attention to the importance of compliance both to manage risk and as part of an increased focus on ESG issues,” said Chenoweth.
Jini Lee, regional head of Asia and global co-head of the finance, funds and restructuring division in Hong Kong, added that the market was very active, with high-rated Chinese issuers in the capital-intensive industries as well as Chinese investment banks increasingly looking internationally to raise debt financing. “Jessica’s expertise and depth of experience will help us to capitalise on these opportunities,” said Lee.
