Mallesons Stephen Jaques will from this week operate in Shanghai under its own brand, after receiving an operating licence from the Ministry of Justice in Beijing. The firm was previously operating in Shanghai through an associated office acquired with the Kwok and Yih merger in 2004.
Chief Executive Partner, Robert Milliner, said the move demonstrated Mallesons' long-term commitment to China. "The Shanghai licence is another important step forward. It means we can operate in this growth market under the Mallesons' brand, thereby extending awareness of our firm and its capabilities," Mr Milliner said. "Increasingly our clients are doing business in commercial centres such as Shanghai and they want us on the ground with them."
Larry Kwok, Managing Partner, China said: “Strengthening our presence in Shanghai is an important element of our China strategy. It is also a follow-on to the dynamic growth of our other China offices. Our expertise ranges across mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, capital markets, dispute resolution, projects, construction and environment."
Nicola Wakefield Evans, Managing Partner, International said: "Shanghai is the epicentre of the world's fastest growing economy. International businesses cannot afford to bypass the amazing opportunities it offers".
Mallesons is transferring additional Mandarin speaking lawyers from Hong Kong and Beijing to the Shanghai office. Additionally, several partners will divide their time between the firm's Hong Kong and Shanghai offices. Nicola Wakefield Evans added: "The leveraging and sharing of expertise and resources reinforces our unified approach and ensures we serve our clients even better.”
Mallesons launched in Hong Kong 18 years ago, followed by Beijing in 1993 - one of the first foreign law firms to obtain a licence to practise in mainland China. Combined legal staff numbers in Greater China now stand at close to 100.