Specialist after-the-event insurance broker The Judge has set up in Asia after entering into a partnership with international broker Lockton.

The tie-up with one of the world's largest privately-owned brokers means The Judge will offer litigation insurance in Hong Kong and Singapore.

The partnership went live at the end of June and the brokers have already seen a number of parties submit applications seeking funding for cases. It is understood the scheme could be rolled out beyond Singapore and Hong Kong in the future.

The move will mark The Judge as one of the first players to offer specialist litigation insurance in Asia, which shares similar cost rules to the UK.

The move comes after the Singapore legal market was opened up, with Allen & Overy, Norton Rose, White & Case, Herbert Smith, Latham & Watkins and Clifford Chance all granted licences to practise local law in Singapore.

The Judge director James Delaney commented: "Clients globally are looking for cost control and certainty in their litigation spend, regardless of where they're domiciled. In terms of legal expense insurance, in the main, Asia is a completely virgin market."

Angus Stuart, a Hong Kong-based litigation specialist at law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques in Hong Kong, said: "It's good to see that litigation risk transfer solutions are becoming a global market. Major corporate clients will be attracted by the ability to provide risk-capping certainty to their balance sheets, particularly if the cost of the hedge is attractively priced."