Hong Kong firms are set to win the right to practice mainland China law in a major coup that follows the granting of early licences to open multiple offices on the mainland.

Although there is still no sign of foreign firms gaining local practice rights or clearance to open more than one office in China, Hong Kong firms are to be granted both.

Last month the Chinese Ministry of Justice (MoJ) issued a batch of licences to firms that have applied for second offices in mainland China which, until now, has been banned under local bar restrictions.