Dechert Bolsters APAC M&A Practice with Addition of Partners David Cho & Min Kim in Singapore

Dechert LLP is pleased to announce the addition of a two-partner team in its corporate and securities practice group, to bolster the firm’s Asia Pacific and global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) expertise, as well as enhance the firm’s offering to clients across the private capital lifecycle. David Cho is rejoining the firm, while Min Kim joins as a new addition to the team. Mr. Cho and Mr. Kim, who worked closely together at their prior firm, will be based in the firm’s Singapore office.

Mr. Cho and Mr. Kim both bring deep experience across corporate transactions and M&A. Mr. Cho draws on over three decades of expertise in advising multinational clients including major Asian conglomerates on cross-border M&A, corporate finance as well as capital markets transactions across a broad range of sectors – spanning private equity, technology, telecommunications, manufacturing, insurance and energy. Mr. Cho joins from another highly regarded international law firm, where he was managing partner of their Seoul Office. Prior to that, he served as co-managing partner of Asia at Dechert for a decade. Mr. Cho has been consistently recognized as a top corporate and M&A attorney in the region by Chambers Global and Chambers Asia-Pacific. 

“We are delighted to welcome David back to Dechert. His return, coupled with Min’s arrival, reflects our broader growth strategy to invest in key markets, and is a powerful boost to our Asia Pacific M&A practice, anchored in our regional hub in Singapore. Their combined experience, alongside the existing team, will further enhance our ability to support clients on complex, cross-border transactions both regionally and globally.” said Mark Thierfelder, co-chair of Dechert.

Mr. Cho said: “Returning to Dechert is an incredibly exciting opportunity and I’m looking forward to working with some of the most talented lawyers in the industry. With Dechert’s highly regarded M&A platform and strong track record for advising on complex, high-profile transactions, the firm is uniquely positioned to help clients drive growth and innovation – and I look forward to furthering that effort.”

Mr. Kim joins Dechert from a major international law firm, where he was special counsel in the firm's Global Corporate/M&A Group. He advises corporate and private equity clients on cross-border M&A transactions, joint ventures and strategic investments throughout the Asia Pacific region, with deep experience in the technology, digital infrastructure and energy transition sectors. Mr. Kim has represented US and international private equity sponsors, multinational corporations and sovereign wealth funds on high-stakes transactions, and regularly advises on outbound investments by Korean conglomerates into Southeast Asia and global markets. Mr. Kim is individually ranked for Corporate/M&A in both Chambers Asia-Pacific and Legal 500.

“David is a well-respected M&A lawyer in Asia Pacific – it is fantastic to have him back – and Min also brings outstanding expertise in highly complex deals across multiple jurisdictions. Their arrival bolsters our Singapore bench and importantly, deepens our ability to advise clients across the full spectrum of private capital activity, from fund formation, deployment, through to exits,” said Dean Collins, Dechert’s Singapore Managing Partner.

The additions of Mr. Cho and Mr. Kim are the latest in a series of significant lateral hires at Dechert. Within the first half of 2026, the firm has welcomed more than 40 lateral partners globally, each strengthening capabilities across its core practices in investment management, finance and restructuring, capital markets and securitization, M&A, intellectual property and litigation. Dechert has also announced the opening of new offices in Chicago, Dallas and Houston.

Dechert has been at the forefront of advising on M&A for decades, helping clients navigate some of the largest and most complex transactions in the industry. With more than 225 corporate/M&A lawyers across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the firm represents buyers, sellers and advisers in sophisticated M&A transactions around the globe, spanning public and private transactions and multibillion-dollar deals across a wide array of industries. Dechert is ranked among the leading law firms by Bloomberg, LSEG and The Deal for the total number and value of global M&A deals.

David Cho is a partner of Dechert LLP; registration as a foreign lawyer in Singapore is pending.

About Dechert

Dechert is the law firm that helps business leaders lead.

For more than 150 years, we have advised clients on critical issues – from high-stakes litigation to first-in-market transaction structures and complex regulatory matters. Our lawyers in commercial centers worldwide are immersed in the key sectors we serve – financial services, private capital, real estate, life sciences and technology.

Dechert delivers unwavering partnership so our clients can achieve unprecedented results.