Ashurst appoints new independent board directors

Robin Lawther is Non-Executive Director of UK Government Investments, Nordea (Chair of the Remuneration Committee), and Oras Invest. Previously she worked at J.P.Morgan in London and New York for over 20 years in a number of senior positions in investment banking. Her roles included Senior Country Officer and Head of Investment Banking for the Nordic Region and Head of the European Financial Institution Mergers and Acquisitions Execution Team. She specialised in mergers and acquisitions and capital raising.

Wu Gang is an investment banker with extensive international experience having held senior positions in Chinese, American and British financial institutions in both Hong Kong and London. He is currently Senior Adviser to Rothschild & Co Hong Kong Limited and was previously Managing Director and Head of Corporate Finance for Europe at CLSA Securities, the international investment banking platform of CITIC Securities. He also held senior level positions at ICBC International, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC and Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong and London and worked for Goldman Sachs and Hill Samuel Bank in his earlier career. He was a Non-Executive Director of Laird Plc and a member of the remuneration committee.

Commenting on the appointments, chairman of Ashurst, Ben Tidswell, said:

"Robin and Wu Gang are highly accomplished individuals with considerable international experience with major organisations. As seasoned Board members, their strategic input, breadth of knowledge of different markets and sector-specific expertise will be invaluable to the firm. We are delighted that they are joining the Board."

Robin Lawther commented:

"I am excited to have the opportunity to be a member of the Board. Ashurst is a forward-thinking client-focused firm that is on the front foot in understanding the impact of the digital economy, with particular expertise in financial services and client innovation. The firm is well positioned to be at the forefront of issues which will re-shape the business landscape. I look forward to being a part of the team."

Wu Gang said:

"It is a fascinating time to join the Board of Ashurst, which has a very strong position in both Europe and Asia Pacific and is at a growth phase. I hope to be able to bring my international experience to bear at a time of significant opportunity and changes for the legal market."

These appointments follow David Turner and Robert Gillespie reaching the end of their terms as independent board directors, having served since 2013.

The Board comprises chairman Ben Tidswell (London), managing partner Paul Jenkins (London/Sydney), Barbara Phair (Sydney), Bernd Egbers (Munich), James Marshall (Sydney), Karen Davies (London), Sarah Sivyour (London), and chief financial and operating officer Jan Gooze-Zijl (London).