Withers Worldwide, the international law firm, has appointed Joe Field as senior partner for its business in Asia and relocated two associates from London office to Hong Kong in order to expand its wealth planning segment.

Mr Field has been appointed as senior regional partner – Asia and will be based in Hong Kong. He joined the company seven years ago, and for the last several years was firm’s senior international partner in New York; prior to that, he was the senior international private client partner at Bryan Cave.

Withers also relocated Cindy Brittain and Philip Munro to its Hong Kong office. Ms Brittain focuses on assisting US and non-US clients with their respective cross-border estate and tax planning, while Mr Munro is a member of Withers' funds, investment and business tax team, as well as providing tax and trust planning for entrepreneurs and their families.

These appointments are a response to the increasing demand on the company’s services since the opening of its first Asia Pacific office in Hong Kong early last year.

In other recent developments, in September this year Withers set up a specialist team to advise people facing heightened media exposure and threats to their privacy.