Shearman & Sterling is set to open a new office in Shanghai after being granted a license by local authorities, the US firm announced today (10 April).

The office – which will be Shearman's third serving the China market, alongside operations in Beijing and Hong Kong – will be headed by corporate partner Andrew Ruff and is expected to open later in the spring.

Ruff, who was previously based in Hong Kong but has headed the firm's interim Shanghai team since last October, has spent over 10 years in the region focusing on M&A, infrastructure projects and project finance.

Shearman was among the first US firms to target Asia after opening its Hong Kong branch in 1978.

Other US firms to have launched in Shanghai this year include Chicago leader McDermott Will & Emery, which made its Asia debut in February after agreeing a strategic alliance with a breakaway group from leading Chinese corporate firm Allbright Law Offices. The new operation is practising under the banner of MWE China Law Offices.