Linklaters has named Hong Kong-based partner Hwang Hwa Sim as its global head of capital markets for a four-year term, replacing Michael Voisin when his tenure concludes at the end of April.

Sim has been a partner in the firm’s capital markets practice since 2010, advising issuers, underwriters and investors on a range of debt and equity products in China and Asia. He has a particular specialism in convertible bonds, cross-border bond deals by major Chinese companies and bonds issued locally in China by non-Chinese companies.

Paul Lewis, global head of finance at Linklaters, said: “Hwang Hwa has extensive experience in advising on and the development of the full spectrum of complex and innovative capital markets transactions, fundraisings and investments across Asia and beyond. We are confident that Hwang Hwa will lead the global capital markets team’s on-going sustainable growth by continuing to be trusted advisors to our clients and by being market leaders in product innovation.”

Lewis says that Sim takes over at a time of unprecedented change in the global capital markets, most recently with the rise in ESG fundraising. 

He added: “We expect markets to continue to be active this year and drive post-Covid recovery in the real economy.”

London-based Voisin has been at Linklaters for more than three decades, specialising in derivatives clearing, financial market infrastructure and regulatory issues related to derivatives. Before heading the firm’s capital markets practice he also led its derivatives and structured products practice. He has also been closely involved in developing the firm’s knowledge around cryptoassets and smart contracts.

Under Voisin’s leadership, Linklaters has worked on some of the world’s most groundbreaking capital markets deals, including the European Commission’s first Covid-related social bond, Europe’s first ever general purpose bond linked to the UN’s sustainable development goals, the first sovereign green bond issued in the MENA region and Asia’s first ever blue bond, which was also the first issued globally by a commercial bank.

Other firms have also been stepping up their capital markets focus in Asia. Last month, Davis Polk hired ex-Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer deputy equity capital markets head Jason Xu in Beijing to bolster its deal expertise in China and Hong Kong.