Dorsey & Whitney plans to open an office in Sydney later this year, with London-based capital markets partner John Chrisman set to transfer to Australia to head up the new branch.

According to the US firm, the office will be staffed by a handful of US capital markets lawyers and will provide an additional base for serving clients in Asian markets, including India and the Greater China region.

Chrisman, a US national whose practice covers a range of cross-border securities and M&A work, heads up Dorsey's India and Australia practices.

Commenting on the proposed office launch, he said: "Dorsey… has no present intention to practise Australian law in Sydney but instead looks forward to building its relationships with Australian law firms."

The office would add to a network that includes offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The Minneapolis-based firm has UK offices in London and Cambridge, where the firm advises on both English and US law. London-based litigation partner Paul Klaas currently heads up the firm's international practice.

News of the launch comes after Dorsey earlier this year announced record financial results for 2007, with profits per partner surging by 30% from $505,000 (£259,470) in 2006 to a new high of $672,000 (£345,270) last year. Total revenue, meanwhile, grew by 11% from $329.5m (£169.3m) to a new mark of $366m (£188.1m).

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