Herbert Smith launches restructuring practice in HK

Herbert Smith has hired Michael Barker as a partner focusing on restructuring and insolvency work in Hong Kong, according to a press release yesterday.

Barker joins from Appleby in Hong Kong, where he has been a partner since 2007. Prior to that he was a partner and regional practice group head at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he focused on restructurings, insolvency and other distressed situations across the Asia region. Qualified in Hong Kong, England, Wales and Bermuda, Barker specialises in advising creditors, debtors and investors on high-end, non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters.

Barker will be responsible for launching Herbert Smith's non-contentious restructuring and insolvency practice in the China region and across Asia. In this capacity he will work closely with Hong Kong-based finance partner Alexander Aitken, as well as finance and dispute partners across the firm's regional network.