Mishcon de Reya has bolstered its recently launched Singapore office with the hire of an experienced dispute resolution lawyer from boutique Sharpe & Jagger.

Gavin Margetson is the first partner to join the office since it opened for business in May when it hired a two-partner team from Withers KhattarWong.

He is making the move after an 11-month spell at Sharpe & Jagger, which he helped found with name partners Justyn Jagger, formerly of Morgan Lewis, and ex-Duane Morris partner Samuel Sharpe.

Before then he spent two years leading Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner's regional arbitration team having originally trained and qualified at Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF), where he spent more than 17 years – seven as partner. 

Mishcon’s Singapore arm – its only office aside from its London HQ  – has thus far specialised in high-net-worth-individuals, closely held entities and family businesses.

Margetson’s arrival adds disputes to the mix and looks set to partly compensate for the departure Ben Giaretta, also a veteran of the Singaporean arbitration scene, who joined Fox Williams last week. It also supplements the wide-ranging arbitration interests of Louis Flannery QC, who joined the firm from Stephenson Harwood this summer.

Karel Daele, head of international arbitration, said the move was “testimony to the firm's ambition to keep growing its practice. After bringing Louis Flannery QC on board in London, we are now spreading our wings in another important hub for arbitration work." 

Tahirah Ara, managing partner of the Singapore office, said: “He brings a wealth of expertise in a key area for the Firm, and a reputation of delivering successful outcomes for his clients when problems arise." 

Key to Margetson’s appeal to Mishcon is his diverse regional experience, which complements his institutional links; he will also cover corporate crime issues and related investigations.

During his time at HSF, he was seconded to its Thailand office, where he forged regional and national ties, including with local arbitration institutions.  He has also spent time in Japan, including as an in-house secondee at Marubeni Corporation, giving him experience of Japanese corporate sensibilities. 

With Japanese legal interest in Singapore growing, his ability to harness such contacts is important. 

His regional experience also extends to Indonesia and Myanmar, which has seen interest from  Japanese and other Asian investors. 

His counsel work has led to a variety of panel appointments as arbitrator, not least with Singapore’s burgeoning international arbitration centre, while also representing the Lion City’s arbitration