Leading City firms are bolstering their competition practices across China as they prepare for new anti-monopoly laws set to come into effect on 1 August.

Firms including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Lovells and Herbert Smith are among those strengthening their capabilities in the region, while DLA Piper has launched a new training initiative.

Lovells has seconded competition consultant Kirstie Nicholson from Brussels to Shanghai, while Freshfields seconded partner Alex Potter from London to Beijing at the beginning of this year to head up the Chinese antitrust, competition and trade practice. The magic circle firm also promoted Beijing-based Michael Han to counsel in the practice group late last year.