Baring’s general counsel joins law firm

Weil, Gotshal & Manges has hired Baring Private Equity Asia’s general counsel William Hay as senior counsel.

Hay joins the law firm’s Hong Kong office after spending over six years at Baring, which is a client of Weil. 

During his tenure Hay was responsible for all legal matters for the private equity firm and its $10 billion assets under management, including the evaluation, completion, management and exit of portfolio investments, fund raising and general legal matters, according to a statement from Weil. 

Last year Baring Private Equity Asia closed its sixth fund on its $3.98 billion hard-cap – one of the largest funds raised by an Asia-based firm – having attracted commitments from the likes of the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System, Texas County & District Retirement System and New York State Common Retirement Fund, as reported by sister title Private Equity International. 

“Many of us have worked closely with Will during his time at Baring and we are delighted to welcome him to Weil,” said Akiko Mikumo, Weil’s Asia managing partner. “He has a long tenure in Asia—with over 20 years of transactional experience throughout the region—and is widely recognized for his expertise in private equity across Asia Pacific.”

Prior to joining Baring in 2010, Hay served as general counsel of real estate private equity firm Colony Capital Asia Pacific and GE Capital Pacific. He also worked as a partner at law firm Hogan Lovells for two years.

Weil’s Asia practice focuses on transactional matters for corporate and private equity clients. Weil advises a wide-range of Chinese and international clients on transactions across the entire Asia-Pacific region.