Law firm Clifford Chance is to bolster its leading private equity team in Asia with the relocation of partner Simon Cooke from the firm's London private equity group.

Cooke will work closely with existing Hong Kong-based partner, Andrew Whan.

Whan said: "Simon will complement our experienced Asia-based team. Like our clients, we remain upbeat and believe that the private equity market in this region will continue to weather the global financial storm, and want to have the best team possible on the ground.

"His experience in the more established UK and European private equity markets, including take-private transactions, is welcome given the continued shift in transaction trends from the more mature private equity markets to the Asian private equity market and the current interest in the public markets shown by our private equity clients."