Strengthens Research and Innovation services in Southeast Asia for Bird & Bird through BlackOak personnel acquisitions
Singapore, 1 August 2025 — International law firm Bird & Bird has bolstered its presence in the restructuring and insolvency sector with the addition of partners Ashok Kumar and Darius Tay, along with their team, who have joined the firm from the boutique law firm BlackOak.
Ashok Kumar and Darius Tay are renowned specialists in restructuring and insolvency law, with a combined experience of over 40 years. Ashok, a seasoned veteran with 30 years of experience, and Darius, with 13 years under his belt, have built a strong reputation in the region for their expertise in both contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters. Their practice areas include banking and finance aspects, mergers and acquisitions in special situations, and regulatory compliance for fund managers, international firms, and financial institutions.
Before their move to Bird & Bird, Ashok and Darius led BlackOak, a firm they co-founded in Singapore in 2016. Under their leadership, BlackOak established a strong market presence in restructuring and insolvency matters, both domestically and across Southeast Asia.
The arrival of Ashok and Darius at Bird & Bird marks the establishment of the firm's Restructuring & Insolvency Group in Singapore and the wider region. This move comes at an important time when Singapore has emerged as a leading hub for international businesses. Jeremy Tan, Singapore managing partner at Bird & Bird, stated, "The addition of Kumar and Tay's team to Bird & Bird strengthens our Singapore and Southeast Asia capabilities, providing us with a strong foundation to support our clients in the region as they navigate complex restructuring and insolvency matters."
The move also allows Bird & Bird to expand its capabilities while maintaining existing partnerships. Kumar believes, "Joining Bird & Bird allows our team to expand our capabilities while maintaining our existing partnerships with clients and other professionals."
The team's arrival at Bird & Bird also boosts the firm's bench strength, particularly in the technology and intellectual property space. Shahin Foroughian, who recently joined Bird & Bird as a partner from Norton Rose Fulbright, added, "The team's arrival at Bird & Bird allows us to boost our bench strength with a very complementary specialist firm which is a market leader globally in the technology and intellectual property space."
With the addition of Ashok, Darius, and their team, Bird & Bird now has 14 partners in Singapore. The firm continues to grow its capabilities in the region, providing clients with comprehensive legal services to navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape.
[1] Singapore Business Review, "Bird & Bird hires restructuring and insolvency team in Singapore," 1 August 2025, https://www.singaporebusinessreview.com/news/bird-bird-hires-restructuring-and-insolvency-team-in-singapore
[2] The Straits Times, "Ashok Kumar and Darius Tay join Bird & Bird in Singapore," 1 August 2025, https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/ashok-kumar-and-darius-tay-join-bird-bird-in-singapore
[3] The Business Times, "Bird & Bird strengthens Singapore and Southeast Asia capabilities with the arrival of Ashok Kumar and Darius Tay," 1 August 2025, https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/bird-bird-strengthens-singapore-and-southeast-asia-capabilities-with-the-arrival-of-ashok-kumar-and-darius-tay
[4] Law360, "Ashok Kumar and Darius Tay join Bird & Bird in Singapore," 1 August 2025, https://www.law360.com/legalnews/asia-pacific/ashok-kumar-and-darius-tay-join-bird-bird-in-singapore
- The team led by Ashok Kumar and Darius Tay, who have joined Bird & Bird from BlackOak, specialize in both contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters, including compliance with regulatory requirements for various entities in the technology and intellectual property sectors.
- The partnership between Bird & Bird and Ashok Kumar and Darius Tay not only benefits from the expansion of capabilities but also maintains their existing partnerships with clients and professionals.
- The establishment of Bird & Bird's Restructuring & Insolvency Group in Singapore and the wider region, due to the arrival of Ashok Kumar and Darius Tay, positions the firm as a more formidable contender in the realm of corporate law, dispute resolution, and intellectual property, particularly in the technology sector.
