Herbert Smith Freehills promotes Richard Norridge to Head of Private Wealth for Asia region

Herbert Smith Freehills has announced the appointment of Richard Norridge to head the Asia Private Wealth practice, effective 1 January, 2014.

With an Asia-wide practice, Richard acts for high net worth individuals, their families, private banks and other advisers on a range of trust and probate issues together with charitable and family company matters. In a number of instances this includes advising mental health committees and estate administrators. Richard also has extensive experience in acting for international banks and individuals in cases involving fraud. He is a member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Since joining the firm in 2011, Richard has worked closely with Asia managing partner Mark Johnson and Hong Kong-based Head of Litigation, Gareth Thomas, to grow the private wealth practice. Following his move to Hong Kong from London, Richard has established a reputation as one of the leading specialists in his field, generating instructions from high-profile families in Hong Kong, Singapore and more widely. He is also regularly consulted by the leading private banks seeking advice in this highly specialised field.

Richard’s appointment is timely, with the Asia Pacific region now one of the fastest growing private wealth markets in the world. Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management, joint publishers of the 2013 World Wealth Report, noted that the Asia Pacific is second only to North America for the number of high net worth individuals, and is set to take first place in the near future.

Gareth Thomas commented:

“Our private wealth practice has grown significantly over the past few years, in particular as families and their advisers look to adopt more complex and sophisticated structures and an ageing population has led to more succession-related disputes.  Richard has been central to these efforts and he has made a valuable contribution to developing the practice in Hong Kong and more widely across the region.  His appointment reflects both Richard’s efforts and the opportunities we see for further growth.”

Mark Johnson added:

“We have acted for a number of high net worth families and advisers in Hong Kong for over 20 years.  Richard’s appointment is the next step in our strategy to expand this practice, in particular in mainland China and Southeast Asia.”