Withers, the international law firm, has again expanded its Asian team in a bid to meet the demand stemming from Hong Kong as the "divorce capital of the East."

Stacey Devoy joins the Hong Kong Asian matrimonial practice as partner, focusing on the financial aspects of relationship breakdown, particularly cases that involve complex financial structures, trusts and offshore assets.

Devoy brings over 20 years of litigation experience to this role and is also a resolution qualified mediator who assists parties to reach agreed terms in a divorce. She has been a family lawyer at the Withers office in London since 2008. She moved to Hong Kong in 2012.

"Hong Kong has become the divorce capital of the East and follows England law. [Devoy's] experience of handling multi-jurisdictional cases establishes our position as a leading matrimonial law firm," said Sharon Ser, senior regional partner at Withers and head of the Hong Kong family law practice.

The announcement complements a string of expansion initiatives by the firm in the past year, which saw the hire of seven partners across Hong Kong and Singapore. In addition, the firm has opened a Singapore office, relocated London partner Erik Wallace to support its Hong Kong tax and wealth planning team, named Rita Ku as its first Chinese partner and launched its first regulatory practice in the Asian region.