Collins joins O'Melveny & Myers Singapore Investment Funds Practice

O’Melveny & Myers LLP announced on January 21 that Dean Collins, an experienced fund formation lawyer, has joined its Asia practice as a partner and a member of the Firm’s Investment Funds and Securitization Practice Group. He is resident in the Firm’s Singapore office.

"Dean’s arrival in Asia gives our formidable fund formation practice true global reach across the critical US, UK, and Asia markets," said Howard Chao, partner in charge of O’Melveny’s Asia Practice. "Dean is a clever, versatile, and entrepreneurial lawyer with experience as both a client and legal advisor in this area, making him a natural fit with our robust private equity practice in Asia.  His presence will enhance our ability to serve the rapidly growing Southeast Asia market."

Collins joins O’Melveny from Actis, a leading private equity investor in emerging markets, where, as a director, he was heavily involved in all of the firm’s significant and complex fund raisings. Dean’s vast experience also includes a tenure as a lawyer at an international law firm in the fund formation practice area, advising clients on investments, exits, spinouts, joint ventures, fund secondaries, and a range of other corporate finance matters.  Dean also has worked as a consultant for UBS Capital, Merrill Lynch International, and a number of private equity-backed businesses.

"The opportunities to help clients execute innovative and complex private equity and fund formation transactions in India, China, and the rest of Asia are immense," said Collins.  "With its extensive experience and client base, O’Melveny enjoys a competitive advantage in this arena.  I look forward to helping my new colleagues continue to leverage that advantage and build a pipeline of high-value dealflow in the region."

"Dean consistently proved himself to be a world-class fund formation lawyer whilst at Actis," said Actis partner Jonathon Bond. "Through his impressive knowledge of market terms, his negotiating skills and his ability to think completely outside the box, Dean has made an immense contribution to the success of Actis to date. We are pleased that Dean has joined one of our principal relationship law firms, and look forward to strengthening our relationship with O’Melveny in the future."

Collins is an admitted Solicitor, Supreme Court of England and Wales.