Dibb Lupton Alsop has scored a major coup in its bid to establish a full service office in Hong Kong by striking an exclusive alliance with Charlton & Co, the Hong Kong firm recently set up by ex-Ede Charlton partner Julia Charlton.

Charlton, whose former firm was unceremoniously dumped from the Arthur Andersen network in September last year, has moved into joint offices with Dibbs in Hong Kong's Bank of China Building.

Although Charlton's eight-lawyer firm will maintain its independence, her presence will give Dibbs valuable non-contentious expertise in Hong Kong.

The alliance will have 20 lawyers, including three Dibbs partners.

According to Dibbs managing partner Nigel Knowles, his firm's Hong Kong office had focused on contentious work, concentrating on shipping and marine litigation.

"But Julia brings a strong non-contentious practice," he said, "including corporate finance, capital markets and commercial joint venture work."

Knowles said Dibbs had been in touch with Charlton since Arthur Andersen had closed its Hong Kong operation and they had both made the final decision to get together last month.
He said there were no plans yet to make the alliance more permanent. "We just want to work hard at the association.

Where it might go in the future depends on how things work out and how Julia feels."

Justin Ede, who jointly ran Ede Charlton before being recalled to the UK by Arthur Andersen and subsequently joining Nabarro Nathanson, said: "In terms of Julia ensuring the long-term well-being of the practice, this sounds like an excellent idea.

It is good for her to have an international partner and she will be an asset to Dibbs."