International offshore law firm Harneys has appointed a head of litigation and restructuring for Asia.

Ian Mann, a partner who specialises in insolvency, restructuring, shareholders’ disputes and contentious trusts, relocated to Hong Kong last April.

Global Head of Litigation, Phillip Kite, said the move will give the firm’s Asia based litigation clients access to real time British Virgin Islands litigation and restructuring advice. “This move is in keeping with our commitment to providing fast and reliable service to clients, wherever they are in the world. Asia clients have been very important to our litigation practice, and we are seeing increasing volume and complexity from the region,” he said.

Mann will be joined at the Hong Kong litigation and restructuring desk by BVI senior associate Claire Robey who begins a three month secondment to the Hong Kong office this week. The firm has also recruited a former Jones Day litigator who will join in September, Kite noted.

Richard Peters, global managing partner said that Harneys is the first offshore firm to have such a dedicated litigation presence in Hong Kong. He further noted that the addition of litigation and restructuring expertise in Hong Kong adds to the firm’s capacity in Asia which already includes corporate, finance and investment funds specialists.

Mann is an experienced advocate whose recent cases include several contentious trust applications involving substantial Hong Kong and PRC based assets. Other recent matters include a dispute for a Russian state-owned oil company and unfair prejudice proceedings in relation to a BVI joint venture vehicle owning substantial oil operations in Saudi Arabia.

Mann, has lived in Hong Kong, Singapore and Jakarta, and practised as a barrister in London for 8 years before moving offshore.