Law firm Watson, Farley & Williams (WFW) has appointed Richard Wilmot as a partner in its Hong Kong office.

Wilmot will advise bankers, buyers and trading companies on commodities supply, transportation and trade. He has particular expertise in petroleum products, coal, LNG and LPG.

He joins WFW from Holman Fenwick Willan in Hong Kong, where he was a partner for 12 years.

Along with Wilmot, WFW has hired three associates, Andrew Carpenter, Josephine Chan, and Noelle Doo, to cover corporate, commercial and litigation.

Michael Greville, WFW managing partner, says: “The recruitment of Richard and his team brings the complement in our office up to the level we had planned for the first year, covering corporate, finance and litigation work in the firm’s key areas of shipping, natural resources and energy; this is consistent with our overall Asian practice, in Singapore and Bangkok, and it provides an excellent base for further development in Hong Kong and into China.”