Hong Kong – 30 September 2008 – Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge announces the opening of a Hong Kong office by entering into an association with Hong Kong law firm Lister Swartz (www.listerswartz.hk) effective 1 October.
“Expanding our client service capacity formally into Asia is consistent with the Firm’s strategy,” explains Walter G.D. Reed, Managing Partner of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge. “Hong Kong is the right place for us to be and in direct response to the needs of our increasingly global client base. I’m pleased that Lister Swartz will lead EAPD’s efforts in Hong Kong.”
Lister Swartz will be created on 1 October by the combination of two previously established Hong Kong firms — Martin Lister and Swartz Solicitors. Martin C.v.M. Lister and Kristi L. Swartz will be partners in Lister Swartz. Lister is a partner with Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge and has been the sole principal of the Hong Kong firm Martin Lister. Swartz has been the sole principal of the Hong Kong firm Swartz Solicitors. Swartz will be joining Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge effective 1 October. In addition to Swartz, a trainee solicitor and two paralegals, all previously associated with Swartz Solicitors, have joined together with Martin Lister to create the new Lister Swartz team.
Martin Lister practices in both Hong Kong and London. He has advised clients for more than 24 years in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, regulation and compliance, securities, tax, employment, retirement schemes and other corporate, commercial and financial services matters. He has also advised on the establishment and regulation of insurance companies and insurance businesses (life and general), and the authorization of investment-linked products by Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission. He also has experience of start-ups and investments by insurance companies in China.
Kristi L. Swartz has practiced in Hong Kong for more than 12 years advising clients on a variety of corporate and commercial matters. She has experience in heading up legal departments and company secretarial companies in addition to overseeing all aspects of legal and compliance matters regarding Securities Futures Commission licensed companies. She has carried out merger and acquisition activities for companies in the Asia Pacific region and legal due diligence in China including tax and structuring advice. She has also been involved in many China matters which include establishing representative offices, joint ventures and wholly foreign owned enterprises as well as contract negotiations regarding these entities.
About Lister Swartz solicitors
Lister Swartz is located at Dina House, Ruttonjee Centre, 11 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong. Principals Martin Lister and Kristi L. Swartz concentrate their practice on corporate and regulatory work, providing advice on Hong Kong law. For more information, visit www.listerswartz.hk.
