UK law firm RPC has hired tech lawyer Nicholas Lauw from Rajah & Tann in Singapore to boost its commercial group.

Lauw joins as a partner in RPC’s Singapore joint legal venture RPC Premier Law and will sit in its technology practice. He brings with him more than 16 years of experience covering contentious and non-contentious intellectual property and tech-related work. RPC’s tech practice provides advice on digital, data, consumer and regulatory matters, as well as transactional and dispute work.

Antony Sassi, RPC’s Asia managing partner, said: “Nicholas’s arrival is of strategic importance as we look to build out our technology practice… We are continuing to see an uptick in our clients' ambitions to unlock new opportunities as Singapore continues to grow as a commercial tech hub in the region.”

Lauw spent almost 14 years at Rajah & Tann, becoming a partner in 2013. He previously had stints at Baker McKenzie’s Singapore JLV Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow and local firm Drew & Napier.

Jeremy Drew, RPC’s head of commercial, said: “Nicholas’s pedigree as a leading technology lawyer in Singapore complements our technology practice… Nicholas’ hire reflects our commitment to focus on growing our number of clients in the TMT sector across the globe.”

RPC has added nine new partners in Asia over the past two years across its Singapore and Hong Kong offices, doubling its Asia partner count. Those included Ashurst’s former Korea co-head Peter Kwon, who joined in January to lead RPC’s newly-formed Korea desk based out of Hong Kong. The firm has also added six partners in its global commercial group since the start of this year, with the group eyeing further growth, Drew said.

Elsewhere in Singapore, Ashurst’s Singapore ally ADTLaw last month hired a senior M&A team from local firm Allen & Gledhill. In July, King & Spalding named finance and restructuring partner Andrew Brereton as its new Singapore managing partner, replacing Kelly Malone. And back in May, Linklaters unveiled new Singapore leadership with dispute resolution lawyer Melvin Sng named as the Singapore office’s first senior partner, while capital markets lawyer Jonathan Horan was named national managing partner.