Charles Russell Speechlys appoints new Corporate Partner in Singapore

Charles Russell Speechlys today announces the appointment of Tun Zaw Mra as a Partner in the Corporate team in Singapore.

Tun joins the Firm from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), and brings with him more than fourteen years of expertise advising on complex M&A and other corporate transactions in the UK, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region.

Tun advises clients on investments, mergers and acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures in developed as well as emerging markets. In addition to corporate transactions in Asia, Tun regularly advises Asia based clients on their real estate investments in the UK/Europe and global clients on their investments and businesses in Asia. He has particular experience in the Real Estate, Energy & Natural Resources and Financial Services sectors.

Tun’s experience also includes advising on the drafting of the Myanmar Companies Law 2017 and a secondment to WorldPay’s in-house legal team in London in 2011.  In 2023, Tun was  recognised in the LexisNexis 40 under 40 list for Asia Pacific. Tun is admitted to practise in England and Wales, and is a Registered Foreign Lawyer in Singapore.

Simon Green, Partner and Head of Asia, comments:

Asia is a key international investment opportunity and growth priority for the Firm. Tun’s appointment underlines our commitment to, and growth ambitions for, the Singapore office and the wider Asia Pacific region. He will play an important part in capitalising on the opportunities in M&A and corporate work as we continue to expand our global footprint.

David Collins, Partner, who is responsible for the Firm’s Business Advisory & Transaction Services Division, which includes the Corporate, Commercial, Employment, Immigration, Financial Services and Banking teams, comments:

One of our strategic priorities is to increase our exposure to cross-border transactions and capital flows. Singapore is a regional investment hub around which significant pools of private capital are deployed in the form of outbound investment into various asset classes, including real estate, and through M&A transactions across South East Asia.

"Our ability to offer clients first class corporate and finance transaction capabilities is therefore key. Following the recent recruitment of Shirley Fu and her corporate and commercial team in Hong Kong, we have been looking to build out our corporate M&A offering in Singapore. So we are delighted that someone with Tun’s experience and strong market reputation has agreed to join us, and look forward to collaborating with him across our international offices to add value to our clients.

Tun Zaw Mra, Partner, adds:

I am excited to be joining Charles Russell Speechlys in Singapore as the Firm looks to expand and strengthen its capabilities and footprint in Asia. I have been impressed with what the Firm has built up so far in Hong Kong and Singapore and I hope to utilise my experience and expertise to further its goals both regionally and internationally. I also see many synergies between my corporate practice and the Firm’s current strengths and offerings. I look forward to supporting our clients together with the Charles Russell Speechlys team.

Tun’s hire comes within a year of significant growth for the Firm across Asia. In the last year, the Firm appointed Peter Brabant as a Partner and brought a new International Tax Team on board in Singapore. New Partners Vanessa Duff, Stephen Chan and Shirley Fu joined the Family, Litigation and Dispute Resolution and Corporate and Commercial teams respectively in Hong Kong. In its latest set of financial results, the Firm posted 30% revenue growth in Asia.